Who does what at each step
The role of parent carers and families
Contents
- Introduction
- The role of parent carers and families
- Who's involved in an OT assessment
- Who's involved in funding the adaptation
- Who's involved in planning the adaptation
- Who's involved in the building work
- Who's involved once the work is complete
The role of parent/carers and the family is to plan for your child/young person's needs.
- Keep a diary: Note down any challenges your child faces and concerns you have. Share this with your child/young person's Occupational Therapist (OT).
- Work with the professionals: Always be as open, honest and respectful when sharing information. Understand each professional's responsibilities to ensure the correct one can respond.
- Learn about occupational therapy. OTs assess your child/young person's needs and recommend adaptations. OTs can recommend major home adaptations if no other options are available. Understanding Social Care OT input will help you understand the process better.
Owner occupied homeowners
Some District/Borough (D/B) Councils use experienced Home Improvement Agencies (HIA). HIAs have their own surveyor/architect to project manage major home adaptations. You can choose to use HIA services or not. HIAs/private surveyors/architects/project managers all apply fees. The amount differs depending on provider and is always a percentage of the total cost of the work. Please ensure you are aware of all fees before proceeding.
You can also manage the project yourself (with Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding). Please be aware, it can be very challenging to manage alongside your everyday caring role. A qualified surveyor/architect/building project manager to complete the work is essential. Your D/B Council and the OT will need to agree their fees and credentials before they provide any input.
Service and maintenance of specialist equipment
Specialist equipment is sometimes installed as part of the major home adaptations. This equipment will need servicing and maintaining. This becomes your responsibility after the warranty period has expired.
Social housing tenants
Some D/B Councils are social housing landlords in Surrey. All project management of the major home adaptations is your D/B Council's responsibility.
Some Housing Associations are social housing landlords in Surrey. They will provide all project management for the major adaptations work. They offer two options:
- recommend their in-house project management service
- use the preferred provider of your D/B Council.
Private rented tenants
Private landlords must provide permission for major home adaptations to their properties. Their permission will need to be sought in the first instance by their tenant. If agreed, then appointing a suitable project manager will need to be approved with your D/B Council.
Sometimes private landlords decline to give permission for major home adaptation work. For further support to appeal this decision refer to the Shelter website.
Service and maintenance of specialist equipment
Specialist equipment is sometimes installed as part of the major home adaptations. This equipment will need servicing and maintaining. This becomes your landlord's responsibility after the warranty period has expired.
Temporary accommodation
Major adaptations may cause your home to become uninhabitable for several weeks/months. This may mean you will need temporary rehousing. You should explore options like staying with family or friends, if possible. If these are not an option, then further support may be possible from your child/young person's OT. Social housing tenants may access temporary rehousing support from your housing provider.
During the work, your child may need more support and respite care. Please discuss this with your child/young person's social worker as soon as possible.
Important information to remember
- You must sign feasibility and major adaptation reports for them to proceed.
- Family preferred schemes for owner occupied properties are possible. The extra adaptations will be outside the OT recommendations. You will have to fund the extra cost of these works. Speak the OT and D/B Council before proceeding with your choice of work. See Step 3 - funding for further information.
- Sometimes major home adaptations are not possible. OTs may provide a rehousing report and support you in finding a suitable home if this happens.