Step by step process for home adaptations

Step 1 - getting an OT assessment

Eligibility

Your child/young person is eligible if they:

• are under 18
• have a permanent and/or long-term diagnosis (longer than 12 months) or are pending one
• are not able to carry out daily activities like playing or interacting with their home or if their ability to do so is substantially affected.

Your child/young person's OT role

It is the OT role to assess and identify your child/young person's independence and safety needs at home. They will then recommend the appropriate adaptations;

• Minor home adaptations, or
• Major home adaptations.

Sometimes major home adaptations are not possible due to:

• landlords refusing permission
• It is not feasible to adapt the property.

The OT can support you with rehousing if either of these issues arise.

There are differences between minor and major home adaptations. Each are explained further on the introduction to OT service page.

How to get an OT assessment

Children with disabilities social workers can refer for OT assessments. You can request this with your child/young person's social worker.

If your child/young person isn't receiving social worker support the Childrens Single Point of Access (C-SPA) will take your referral.

Private OT assessments are available. A list of them can be found on the Royal College of Occupational Therapists website. You would need to pay for one of these. Private OTs can recommend major home adaptations. The Surrey County Council OT must approve the private OT recommendations in the first instance.

Private OT

Private OT provide OT assessments. They can recommend options to meet your child/young person's needs. Their assessment will need to detail:

• clear information on your child/young person's needs
• the home layout and use
• if equipment can meet your child/young person's needs
• if alternative techniques can meet your child/young person's needs
• if alternative arrangements within the home can meet your child/young person's needs
• if rehousing is an option
• and provide justification as to why major home adaptation is both necessary and appropriate.

The Surrey County Council (SCC) OT Service (also know as Children with Disabilities (CwD) OT service) will need a copy of the private OT's assessment. District/Borough (D/B) Councils must consult with the SCC OT service. The SCC OT Service must comment on the private OT's recommendations. If the assessment does not provide the information listed, we will notify you of this.

The D/B Councils must receive the private OT assessment and recommendations. The D/B Councils applies the Disabled Facility Grant (DFG) criteria to the recommendations as they providing the funding. If they meet the criteria, they will agree to support and fund the works.

If you choose to proceed with a private OT assessment, then you must:

• send all information the private OT provides you with to the SCC duty OT team at cwdot.duty@surreycc.gov.uk
• SCC duty OT will confirm/deny support for private OT recommendations
• You must fund the private OT fees
• You must not start any building work without first ensuring all SCC and/or D/B Council funding has been secured.

If you pay for any building work without SCC or D/B Council funding secured, it cannot be paid back to you afterwards.

You may find a DFG checkilst (PDF) helpful for you to tick tasks off as they become complete.