Adaptations to Council Accommodation
Are you or a member of your household finding it difficult to remain active and independent in your council home because of a disability or ill health?
If the answer is yes, it may be that life could be made easier by having adaptations made to your home.
Adaptations can be provided to assist you or a member of your household with a variety of daily living tasks.
What are adaptations?
The Housing Service considers requests from tenants who need to have their homes altered or adapted because of a disability to enable them to remain in their home.
These are called adaptations and examples include:
- grab rails/staircase rails
- lever taps
- raising / lowering toilets
- doorbell (flashing light unit)
- external handrails
- external lighting
- over bath showers and flooring
- socket raising/lowering
- alterations to doorways for wheelchair access
- extra handsets/alterations to controlled entry systems
- kitchen alterations for wheelchair users
- level access showers and flooring
- dtair lifts/through floor lifts
- internal alterations and, in some cases, extensions
Who is eligible?
Requests for aids and adaptations will normally only be considered if the disabled person is either the tenant or his/her partner, or a member of the tenant's immediate family and must be permanently resident in the household.
Requests for work will not be approved where an application to purchase the property has been received. Where there are large arrears of rent, requests will only be met after consideration by the Housing Officer.
How do I request adaptations?
Minor adaptations
Minor adaptations can be requested by contacting us direct (contact details on back page).
Examples of minor adaptations are:
- raised toilet seats
- bath rails
- bath hoists
- additional banister rails
- lever taps
- grab rails / hand rails
Major adaptations
Major adaptations have to be requested via Adult Social Care who will arrange for an occupational therapist to visit you at home to complete an assessment of your needs.
They will then discuss with you and us what is the most appropriate way of meeting your needs.
Examples of minor adaptations are:
- wheelchair ramps
- step alterations
- toilet/shower combined unit
- stairlifts
- level access showers
- over-bath showers
To arrange a visit by an occupational therapist, contact the Council's Adult Social Care Team on 0300 3733 301 or email customerservicesASC@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
You will be involved and kept informed from the start of the process to the finish. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or have somebody with you who knows you well whilst the assessment is being progressed.
Who pays and arranges for adaptations to be carried out?
We make the final decision on whether an adaptation request can be met—giving due consideration to minimal and essential and reasonable and practical. Once the adaptation has been agreed, we fund all work from minor through to major alterations.
Who gets involved?
Depending on the type of adaptation, Adult Social Care, a Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist could be involved.
Once you have made an application the Occupational Therapist will arrange to complete an assessment normally within 12 weeks.
The Housing Service’s Needs Assessment Officer will also be involved in the process.
How long could it take?
If you need only a toilet raiser, then it is only a case of having it delivered, but if it’s a level access shower, then plans have to be drawn, put out to tender, and a contractor appointed.
Please remember that the work will be done as quickly as possible, without compromising safety. We need to ensure a satisfactory outcome providing you with the ability to carry out your everyday needs.
What inconvenience is there to my home?
The inconvenience in your home will depend on the work to be undertaken, but you will be informed at the start and your home will be treated with respect whilst work is being carried out. You will not be on your own - we will support you.
What support is available during the process?
The Housing Service will keep you informed of the progress of your application. Should works be required in your home we will ensure you are kept informed of who will carry out the work and when.
If you have any concerns at any time, you should contact us on (01229) 876577.
Would you be prepared to move if necessary?
Sometimes it may not be ‘reasonable or practical’ to make your home suitable for your long term needs, in which case your needs might be better met by a move to alternative accommodation.
Tenants living in houses who are unable to manage stairs and who require level access bathing and bedroom facilities will be encouraged, wherever possible, to transfer to ground-floor accommodation rather than have expensive adaptation work carried out in a property which is unsuitable for their needs.
However, there may be certain occasions when a transfer to another property is not practicable, in which case adaptation work will be considered.
Non-Fixed Equipment
Non-fixed equipment, such as bath seats, bath boards and shower stools are provided by Adult Social Care following an assessment.
If you feel you would benefit from such non-fixed equipment, please contact Adult Social Care on 0300 3733 301
In summary:
- an ‘Adapted Home’ is one where items have been specially fitted to the property itself—from minor fittings to major installations.
- the adaptations usually stay in the home as long as the tenant needs them.
- it is the Council’s aim ‘to maximise the tenant’s independence and quality of life’.
- tenants of any age can apply for an adaptation for themselves or members of their household.
- the Council allocates money each year for adaptations to be carried out, but there are limited resources available.
- both the tenants and the Council have agreed policies and procedures to make the best use of the monies and stock that is available.
For more information
If you have any queries, call our Housing Needs Officer on (01229) 876577 or email: housing@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk