Adaptations
Help with adaptations to your home
What are they?
If you are a disabled person, a home adaptation can help to give you more freedom in and around your home, and to access essential facilities within it. They normally include the type of works where structural changes are needed to your home such as:
- Fitting a stair lift
- Replacing a bath with a walk in shower or fitting an over-bath shower
- Adapting your home for wheelchair use (e.g. widening doors, installing ramps or a ceiling track hoist)
How do I get one?
All requests for either equipment or an adaptation must start with an assessment of your needs by Westminster Children and Community Services. If your need can be met with a simple item of equipment or minor adaptation, your assessor (therapist, social care worker or nurse) can usually arrange for this to be provided. Children and Community Services will aim to complete your assessment within 28 days of referral. In more complex cases, or where an adaptation to your home may be necessary, a referral will be made to an occupational therapist.
If you are an adult, social services will ask an occupational therapist from Dependability to contact you and arrange to visit to assess your needs. Dependability will aim to visit you within 10 working days of receiving the referral. If you would benefit from your home being adapted, the occupational therapist will draw up a detailed recommendation called a specification.
Westminster City Council cannot guarantee that your request for equipment or a major change to your home will be agreed. You will need to meet certain eligibility criteria. For major adaptations, the works must be necessary and appropriate to meet the needs of a person who has a permanent and substantial disability. This is usually assessed by an occupational therapist.
It is also important that the works would be reasonable and practicable in terms of the actual property. In some instances where an adaptation is not possible, moving home may be a more suitable option.
The next part of the process for this will vary depending on the tenancy of your property.
For more information please click on the link to the leaflet below:
Who do I contact?
You need to talk to your care manager or social worker, or contact your local Westminster Children and Community Services office.
Where to contactEquipmentOccupational therapy
Is there a charge?
City West Home and Housing Association Tenants should not have to pay for any adaptation agreed. If you are an owner occupier or private tenant you will have to pay, but you are entitled to apply for a disabled facilities grant. This grant is means-tested and if you are in receipt of a means-tested benefit it is likely that you will have little or nothing to pay yourself.
