Equipment and adaptations

7. Adaptations

61

7. Equipment and adaptations

62 www.stockporthomes.org

Equipment and adaptations

There are different types of equipment that can be provided by Social Care.

Equipment and Adaptations ServiceIf you are a Stockport Homes customer with a disability and you want to make sure you can live safely and independently in your home, you can get in touch with the Adaptations Service at Stockport Homes. Stockport Homes can offer certain adaptations within the home to assist people to remain independent within their own environment.

Stockport Council’s Social Care Department can provide a range of equipment to help meet your needs and enable you to maintain your independence.

If it is found that providing you with equipment can meet your needs, then Social Care will arrange this for you. There are different types of equipment that can be provided including:

• Equipment to help with bathing such as a bath board, bath seat or shower chair.

• Equipment to help access the toilet such as a raised toilet seat, toilet frame or commode.

• Equipment for people who have difficulty preparing a meal such as a perching stool, kettle tipper or tap turners.

If you think you would benefit from such equipment you can contact Social Care using the Stockport Direct telephone numbers at the back of this handbook.

What is an adaptation?

An adaptation is a physical alteration to your home to allow you to live as independently as possible. There are two types of adaptations:

1. Minor adaptations, such as:

• grab rails; • a half step; and • a door entry system.

2. Major adaptations, such as:

• a through floor lift; • a stair lift;• an outside ramp; • a level-access / walk-in shower;• a track hoist; • a transfer lift;• widening doorways; and• moving light switches and plug sockets.

63www.stockporthomes.org


Customers in Stockport Homes’ properties do not pay anything for this service.

Assessment procedure

If you require equipment or a minor adaptation then an Occupational Therapist or Equipment and Adaptation Officer will generally complete a telephone based assessment of your needs and either provide a prescription for you to collect equipment from a named supplier or will directly provide bespoke equipment. If a minor adaptation is required this will be ordered through Stockport Homes.

If you require a major adaptation you will receive a visit from Stockport Homes’ Occupational Therapist who will discuss your situation and options with you and complete a full assessment. If eligible for an adaptation, this will be ordered.

Home adaptations

The Occupational Therapist or Equipment and Adaptations Officer from Social Care will assess you for the required adaptations to the property. If eligible for an adaptation, a request will then be forwarded to Stockport Homes.

How can I access the service?

You can access the service by contacting the Adaptations Service at Stockport Homes or your area housing office.

You can also contact Social Care, using the Stockport Direct telephone numbers at the back of this handbook.

How much will it cost me?

All adaptations for Stockport Council tenants are free of charge. However there is a limited amount of money allocated for this work each year and Stockport Homes must ensure that spending is targeted as effectively as possible.

How long will it take?

Minor adaptations will be completed within 10 working days.

If eligible for an adaptation Social Care will classify your priority for the adaptation as either immediate, high or low.

The time taken to complete the adaptation is based on the priority given. In the first instance you will be visited by a



Stockport Homes surveyor to assess the property and draw up the technical specification for the adaptation. This visit will be completed within three working days if your assessment concludes you are an immediate priority, five working days if you are assessed as high priority and 10 working days if you are a low priority. Target timescales for the main types of adaptations are detailed below:

What happens after the adaptations have been completed?

All adaptations come with a warranty from the contractors who fit them. When your adaptation is fitted you will be given the contact details of who to speak to should there be a problem with your adaptation during the life of the warranty. This will be explained to you when your adaptations are installed.

After the warranty expires you will need to report any problems with your adaptations to our Repair Team at the Contact Centre on 0161 217 6016.

Stockport Homes will arrange regular servicing of particular adaptations, for example stair-lifts.

Completion target

Description of work Immediate priority High priority Normal priority

Moving light switches and plug sockets

5 working days 10 working days 20 working days

Over bath showers 20 working days 30 working days 40 working daysWidening of doors 10 working days 15 working days 20 working daysLevel access showers 40 working days 50 working days 60 working daysRamps 20 working days 40 working days 60 working daysStraight stair lift 15 working days 35 working days 60 working daysCurved stair lift 35 working days 45 working days 70 working daysTrack hoist 15 working days 40 working days 60 working daysTransfer lift 30 working days 40 working days 60 working daysThrough floor lift 30 working days 40 working days 60 working daysClosomat WC N/A 40 working days 60 working daysGround floor WC N/A 40 working days 60 working daysFencing 15 working days 40 working days 60 working days

65www.stockporthomes.org


Information on moving to an adapted home

The Adapted Homes Register is a service that matches disabled people to homes adapted to their needs. The register involves Stockport Homes and Adult Social Care working in partnership.

We aim to make better use of housing that has already been specially built or adapted for disabled people. The register makes sure that when an adapted property becomes available to let, we offer it to someone who may benefit from its adaptations. The information you give on your Adapted Homes Register application form tells us what adaptations you need.

We also work closely with housing associations to ensure that more new homes are built that are suitable for disabled people. Many of these homes will be suitable for wheelchair users and include bathrooms with level-access showers.

Why there’s an Adapted Homes Register

• We can better match the housing needs of disabled people with suitable accommodation.

• We can make better use of homes that already have adaptations.

• We can avoid unnecessary spending on adaptations. This ensures that we use our money to help those in most need.

• We can build up accurate information about adapted housing - where it is and what features it has.

• We can predict more accurately the demand for housing from disabled people in places where housing is planned.

Homes available through the Adapted Homes Register

• Properties that are accessible for wheelchair users.• Properties with a stair lift or through-floor lift.• Properties with level-access showers or walk-in

showers.• Purpose built properties.

We aim to make better use of housing that has already been specially built or adapted for disabled people.



How we match people to homes

Properties which are fully wheelchair accessible are allocated via the Adapted Property Panel which is attended by officers from Stockport Homes and Social Care. Households are matched with properties on the basis of need, risk and the kind of adaptation suitable for them.

All other properties with adaptations will be advertised via our choice based lettings service Homechoice. All applicants will be eligible to bid for these properties but those accepted on the Adapted Property Register will be given priority when allocating such. Properties which will be advertised will include those with a level access or walk in shower.

For properties with minor adaptations, we allocate properties in the usual way through Homechoice.

How do I apply for an adapted home?

To apply for an adapted property you must be eligible and registered with Homechoice. For more information, please contact the Homechoice Team by calling 0161 474 2975 or emailing [email protected]

To register with Homechoice

• Complete a Homechoice register application form. When we have accepted your application we will send your details to the Adaptations Service.

• We may offer a home visit to discuss all housing options. We will make a phone call if the applicant is out of the area.

• If appropriate we will complete an Adapted Homes Register form and enter your details on the register.

If you want to find out more or you are interested in an adapted home, please get in touch with the Homechoice Team, contact details can be found in the ‘Accessing our services’ section of this handbook on page 10.

We select households on the basis of need, risk and the kind of adaptation suitable for them.

Documents

Equipment and adaptations