Staying Independent at Home

Occupational Therapy

Our Occupational Therapy Team helps people with disabilities of all ages to be as independent as possible in their everyday lives. Sometimes, the things we take for granted in daily life such as getting in and out of the bath, on/off the toilet or armchairs can become difficult. We will visit you in your home, or invite you to one of our Assessment Clinics, to see what we can do to help you with your safety and independence.

How Can the Occupational Therapy team benefit you?

  • We will work with you to help you find a new way of doing a task such as preparing a meal or drink, dressing and personal hygiene, getting in, out and around your home.

  • Providing equipment to help your daily living.

  • Providing small adaptations such as grab rails.

  • Arranging big adaptations such as ramps or stairlifts.

  • Working with your carer to offer them advice in the best way to support you.

  • With your consent, we can help guide you to relevant services who may be able to help.

Am I eligible?

  • People who live in the Doncaster area.

  • People who are permanently disabled.

  • Residents who have significant difficulties in their daily life and want to be more independent.

  • Carer/s for a disabled person/s and who are going through difficulties.

How do I apply?

Firstly, please get in touch. You can do this yourself, or get someone like a friend, relative or any health or social care professional to contact us. If you have a sensory impairment, please contact the Adult Sensory Team. We will contact you as soon as we can to arrange a clinic appointment or a home visit.

We will then look at the information you give us to decide if we can help. If so, we will then contact you to arrange a clinic appointment or a home visit.

You can call the team on 01302 737391.

For more information on the Adult Sensory Team, including how to contact them, please see the Council website.

What is an assessment?

A member of the Occupational Therapy team will look at how you manage with everyday activities. Together with you, and your carer, we will work out what meets your needs. The assessment usually takes about an hour. If English is not your first language, we can arrange for an interpreter to be there.

After the assessment, we will send you a written summary of what is agreed.

If your needs change or you move house, please contact the Adult Social Care and Wellbeing team on 01302 737391.

Is there a charge?

The assessment and small adaptations are free of charge. Any equipment provided will be on a long-term loan, also free of charge.

You may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant towards the cost of big adaptations. This is a means-tested grant and you may need to pay a fee. We will explain how this works.

If you are a council tenant, adaptations will be free of charge.

 

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need an assessment? Can’t you just supply me with the equipment?

There are lots of ways to help people deal with the problems they are having. This could be doing the activity a different way, supplying equipment, getting help or having things like a stair lift or a second banister rail in your home. The assessment decides exactly what you need to help with your personal problem.

Why do I have to come to a clinic? Can’t you come out and see me at home?

A clinic is held at the Stirling Centre for people who might need equipment and/or minor adaptations such as grab rails. There is a very high demand for this service and the clinic was set up so that we could help people more quickly. If there is a reason why you are unable to come to the clinic, you will be offered a home visit.

Do you provide walking sticks and walking frames?

No, you would need to ask your doctor to refer you to Physiotherapy.

Do you provide wheelchairs?

No, you would need to ask your doctor to refer you to the Wheelchair Service.

Where am I on the waiting list and when will I be seen?

We receive 80 to 100 referrals a week and decide how quickly they will be seen based on:

  • the person’s medical condition,
  • what they need help with
  • whether there is any risk of injury to the person or their carer.

As we cannot predict the types of referrals that we receive, we cannot give people an idea of when they will be seen. However, if you feel that your condition has changed or your needs have increased, then please contact us and we will look again at your request.

If you no longer need our service, then please contact the team on 01302 737391 and let us know.

How do I get to speak to my Occupational Therapist?

Please ring  01302 736000. When told to, please dial zero and say the name of the person you want to speak to. You will be automatically put through.

Can I arrange to have some unwanted equipment collected?

Please ring NRS, our equipment store, on 0300 100 0243 to arrange this.

My equipment is not working – how do I get it replaced?

Please ring NRS, our equipment store, on 0300 100 0243 to arrange for replacements to be provided.

The equipment I was issued no longer meets my needs. What should I do?

Please contact us on 01302 737391 to make a new referral to our service.

When will my stair lift/shower/rails be fitted?

Please ring our Adaptations Team on 01302 737388 or 735757.

Can I have a dropped kerb as it is hard to park in my street?

We sometimes recommend dropped kerbs for people who face difficulty walking, but you would have to have an assessment by one of our Occupational Therapists who would decide whether you qualified for this.

If the only problem is difficulty in parking on your street, we would not provide a dropped kerb. However, you could contact Highways via 01302 736000 to see whether you could fund this yourself.

Can I have a ramp for my mobility scooter?

We would consider this for people who are full-time wheelchair users or where the person is unable to walk even short distances and/or manage steps safely, but you would have to be assessed by one of our Occupational Therapists.

My shower is finished; how do I get a shower seat?

Please contact your Occupational Therapist who will order this for you.

Can I have an adaptation such as a level access shower or a ramp removed from my St Leger home?

You would have been allocated an adapted property because this meets your needs. Adaptations will therefore not be removed.