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Access in & out of the home

Find out how we can help

Peace of mind to move in and out of your home safely & independently

Whether it be getting to the car, the garden, the shops or social activities, being able to access the world outside our home is important for both mental and physical wellbeing. When mobility is reduced, even otherwise simple journeys can become a challenge.

We assist many people facing all variety of difficulties to maintain their independence and access to their community. Our experience also helps ensure that the solutions we provide, as well as being practical and cost-effective, are the best possible aesthetic fit for a client's own home.

How OT's help

Help with access into and out of the home is one of the most common reasons our clients contact us. Whether for a temporary or more long-term solution, the following are examples of challenges we can address:

  • Steps and stairs leading to a property, whether via a communal or private entrance
  • Access to a town-based property from street level
  • External ramps which may be too steep or in a state of disrepair
  • Access to a garden or driveway
  • Risk of falling
  • Reduced confidence moving into and out of the home after illness, injury or a period in hospital

Our assessment process allows a specialised occupational therapist to identify all such problems, make recommendations to reduce them, and (if desired) arrange for any recommended changes to be made.

Our approach

Our aim is to provide flexible, practical and cost-effective solutions for accessing your home and community. Our assessment may involve looking at:

  • Your current and likely future levels of mobility, hand and shoulder function
  • The home environment, including your garden, driveway or street access
  • The layout and style of your property, including shared access areas
  • Any equipment that you currently or are likely to need in the future, such as frames, scooters or wheelchairs
  • Your own, your family's or carer's specific wishes and goals

Common recommendations

Some practical solutions that we may recommend to help you access your home include:

  • Grab rails at the front door
  • Hand rails on existing steps or stairs
  • Installation of smaller half-steps
  • Installation of ramps with gentle gradients that allow for walking, scooters or wheelchairs
  • Installation of stair or platform lifts

We can help with

If required we can also provide assistance with:

  • Sourcing suppliers - we work with companies nationally to ensure we always offer competitively-priced solutions
  • Arranging and managing lift representatives or builders who may need to visit your home
  • Reviewing plans with architects and builders to ensure that any changes to your home are right for you, both now and in the future

Public sector, charities and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

Find out more

Common conditions we help with

Find out more about how our OT’s can help by visiting our pages dedicated to specific conditions associated with home access difficulties.

Why The OT Practice

We recognise the importance of knowing that you are in safe hands. That is why, when you first make contact with us, you will straightaway be able to explain your concerns to a member of our client management team who will be able to provide relevant information about our services, answer any questions you may have and provide guidance on next steps. This dedicated team will then remain in charge of your case through any subsequent assessment and treatment we provide.

Other reasons to rely on The OT Practice include:

  • We visit you in your own home and at a time convenient to you and your family, and are happy to offer evening and weekend appointments
  • We do not have waiting lists and so can offer appointments within 7 working days of referral or sooner
  • Our extensive nationwide network of registered occupational therapists allows us to find you the right local therapist
  • We can provide ongoing support for as long as you need it
  • Our clear, fixed pricing system will be provided to you in writing for you to consider in your own time
  • Your occupational therapist will be a specialist in their field, with over 5 years' clinical experience including time in social services or NHS practice
  • Our team are well connected to networks of local and national equipment providers, stair lift and building companies

Your Clinical Services Manager

Victoria

Victoria

Clinical Services Manager (Adults)

Victoria, an experienced OT, is the Clinical Services Manager supervising the team looking after adults cases, mainly working on referrals from case managers and solicitors.

Email the team

Services for businesses, organisations and the public sector

Local authorities

Our team provide individual or bulk assessments for local authorities looking to reduce waiting lists or ease pressure.

Find out more

Case managers

Comprehensive, goal orientated OT services for your clients in their own homes and community.

Find out more

Housing associations

Providing reports and recommendations for individual residents or working on large regeneration projects.

Find out more

Charities

Working with charities to provide reports and recommendations for grant funding applications.

Find out more

Construction companies

Individual or bulk housing assessments and recommendations for kitchen, bathroom or access projects.

Find out more

Care homes

We provide individual equipment recommendations or advice on environmental accessibility

Find out more

Next steps

Initial enquiry

During your initial call to us you can discuss your concerns with a member of our client management team, who will be able to understand what your difficulties are, provide information and advice on our services and identify the right OT from our team.

Quote

If therapist input is recommended, we will send you a detailed quote via email or in writing explaining what, after a full assessment, we would propose and how much it would cost, as well as rates for further work that might be recommended in the future.

Referral

Once you have had time to consider the options and costs, and if you would like to go ahead, the next step would be to fill in our online referral form. In the meantime, if you have further concerns or questions then our client manager will be happy to discuss them with you.

Assessment

Our therapist will then contact you within 24 hours to arrange a visit at your home. Normally this first visit will comprise a full assessment, after which you will receive a comprehensive written report.

Advice

The report will include a clear record of our findings and recommendations. These may include useful items you can buy or activities you can do independently, but they may also include more complex recommendations such as home adaptations or additional treatment by the occupational therapist. Where additional involvement is required, we will follow up the report with a detailed quotation so that you have all the information needed to make an informed decision.

As Private Occupational Therapists our aim is to provide choices and guidance to help you decide what the best options are for you

A few of our housing specialists

Meet a selection of our occupational therapists who are specialists in assessing access needs and planning adaptations.

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Kelly

Kent, South East of England

Kelly is a Kent based Occupational Therapist working with adult and elderly clients in their own homes across the south-east.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Self care

Holly

Manchester, Cheshire

Trained in advanced hand therapy techniques, Holly helps clients by delivering rehabilitation assesments in their home environment.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Liverpool, Manchester, Derby

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Co-ordination, Self care, Splinting

Aisling

London - North, Middlesex

Aisling is an expert occupational therapist working in the field of neurological rehabilitation with clients in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, DMO (Lycra) Splinting, Splinting, Wheelchair accreditation

Jacqueline

London - Central, Middlesex

Based in London, Jacqueline provides expert paediatric therapy helping children with handwriting, sensory processing and specialist seating needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, London - Central

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, BOBATH

Charlotte

Wiltshire, South of England

Based in Hampshire, Charlotte is an expert housing and rehabilitation OT, working with clients across the south of England.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Berkshire, Dorset, East Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills

Jan

London

Jan is an expert rehabilitation occupational therapist, delivering specialist neurological, vocational and functional assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, Essex, London - Central, London - East

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Planning & execution, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Val

Cornwall, West and South West of England

Val is an accredited Best Interests Assessor, delivering specialist assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, West and South West of England, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Isles of Scilly, Bristol, Plymouth, Salford

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS, BIA, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Counselling, DFG Assessments, Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Daily living skills, Community access

Cath

Wiltshire, West and South West of England

Cath is a highly skilled paediatric occupational therapist, working with children and their families in their own homes and schools.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Postural management

Donna

Kent, South East of England

Working in Kent, Donna is a highly skilled clinical specialist in working with clients with trauma and orthopaedic needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Self care

Katrina

Hampshire, West and South West of England

Qualifying in 2007, Katrina specialises in housing & equipment, seating & postural management and moving & handling for adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England, South East of England, Dorset, Hampshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Catherine

Sheffield, West Yorkshire

Working across Yorkshire and the East Midlands, Catherine is an expert OT working with clients with Vocational Rehabilitation needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Midlands, Derbyshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Daily living skills

Lucy

Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

Qualifying in 1999, Lucy specialises in seating & postural management, rehabilitation and housing & equipment for adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS, Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Behaviour management, Co-ordination, Self care, Social integration

Rebecca

London - South, Surrey

Rebecca is a well regarded occupational therapist covering the South, South East and South London.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Surrey, London - South

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Jane

Wiltshire, South East of England

Qualifying in 2000, Jane specialises in housing & equipment, rehabilitation and seating & postural management for adults and children.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England, South East of England, Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Hannah

West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Qualifying in 2010, Hannah specialises in seating & postural management, housing & equipment and rehabilitation for children and adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Manchester, Wakefield, Hull

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration

Kirsty

Glasgow, Glasgow (City of)

An expert occupational therapist, Kirsty works with children with a range of conditions in West Scotland in their own environments.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Glasgow (City of), Glasgow

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Counselling

Joanne

Worcestershire, West Midlands

Based in Warwickshire, Joanne specialises in seating & postural management, moving & handling and functional rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Leicester, Stoke-on-Trent

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Self care, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation

Sacha

Wiltshire, South of England

Working across the south, Sacha is an expert Occupational Therapist providing housing adaptation advice and rehabilitation to her clients.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Joanne

Suffolk, East Anglia

Jo is an expert OT working with clients with neurological conditions in their own homes in East Anglia.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Self care

Alex

London - Central, Middlesex

Based in London, Alex provides expert occupational therapy helping adults with brain injury, neurological disorders and physical disabilities.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care

Sarah

Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

Sarah provides expert neurological and functional rehabilitation to adult clients at home. She is based in Cambridgeshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Susan

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Qualifying in 2004, Susan specialises in housing & equipment, seating & postural management and moving & handling for children.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicester, Derby

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution

Suzi

Plymouth, Somerset

Based in Plymouth, Suzi provides occupational therapy to adults and children in their home environment. She specialises in rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall, Devon

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Self care, Postural management, Wheelchair accreditation

Kate Louise

Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear

Working in the North of England, Kate provides expert assessments and treatment plans to clients to help them gain independence.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Postural management

Caroline

Brighton, West Sussex

Caroline is an expert occupational therapist working with clients with neurological conditions in their own homes in the South East.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Berkshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, Brighton

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation

Aimee

West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Based in West Yorkshire, Aimee provides expert occupational therapy and delivers specialist housing & equipment assessment to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Midlands, Derbyshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, PIPs, Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access

Jenny

Carmarthenshire, Wales

Based in Wales, Jenny provides expert occupational therapy to adults and children. She specialises in housing & equipment and seating.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Wales, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Swansea

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, BOBATH, Train the trainer, Chailey Postural Management

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Wheelchair accreditation

Beverley

Cardiff, The Vale of Glamorgan

Beverley is an experienced Occupational Therapist covering South Wales and Mid Wales. Beverley has experience treating both adults and children.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Wales, Avon, Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, Torfaen, The Vale of Glamorgan, Bristol, Cardiff

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Chailey Postural Management

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Jo

Wrexham, North West England

Based in Cheshire Jo works with adults with a range of difficulties to enhance their well-being and quality of life.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Sarah

Derby, Worcestershire

Sarah is a highly motivated and experienced Occupational Therapist who is based in the West Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Sheffield, Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Derby

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management

Jura

London - East, London

An expert occupational therapist based in London, Jura specialises in seating & postural management, moving & handling and rehabilitation.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London , London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Postural management, Wheelchair accreditation

Client feedback

Further reading

Our news & press

Introducing Emma, Clinical Team Lead – Housing & Equipment

At the beginning of the year we announced our launch of ‘Specialist Clinical Teams for 2019’. For the first appointment of our clinical leaderships we introduce you to Emma, our Housing and Equipment team lead.

Read more

Our Experts' Blog

Case Study: Training

In this article Louise describes how she used training as part of her treatment programme with Rob during his rehabilitation following significant orthopaedic trauma. The case study brings to life how training can be an invaluable tool in a the rehabilitation journey.

Read more