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Call for more information and costs or if you are enquiring for yourself or a family member you can use our online cost guide for individuals.

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

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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Jennie

South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Jennie is a highly experienced OT based in Doncaster. She provides Functional and Neuro rehabilitation for adults across Yorkshire.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Sheffield

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care

Michelle

Northamptonshire, East Midlands

Michelle is an expert OT specialising in Mental Health. She delivers assessments and rehabilitation for clients across Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Community access, Anxiety management & relaxation

Kate

Warwickshire, West Midlands

Kate is an experienced OT based in Stratford-upon-Avon, specialising in Housing & Equipment and Moving & Handling with adult clients.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, West and South West of England, South of England, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Coventry

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Daily living skills, Self care, Postural management, Anxiety management & relaxation

Lucy

Birmingham, West Midlands

Covering a client base across the West Midlands, Lucy is an expert OT specialising in Functional Rehabilitation and elderly care.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Birmingham

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care

Jodie

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Located in Sheffield, Jodie is an expert OT utilising over a decade of experience in Housing & Equipment and Rehabilitation.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Midlands, Derbyshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

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

Heather

Northamptonshire, East Midlands

Located in Northampton, Heather provides specialist neurological assessments to clients in their home environment across The Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Warwickshire

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, Splinting

Sarah

Somerset, West and South West of England

Based in Somerset, Sarah is an OT with expertise in Housing & Equipment assessments and interventions.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Devon, Somerset

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Self care, Postural management, Learning disability

Anthea

Oxfordshire, South East of England

Located in Henley-on-Thames, Anthea is a highly experienced OT who specialises in Seating & Postural Management and Housing & Equipment.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, South East of England, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Daily living skills, Community access

Julie

Cheshire, North West England

Specialising in Functional and Neurological Rehabilitation, Julie is an Occupational Therapist based in Crewe, just south of Liverpool and Manchester.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Conwy, Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham, Liverpool, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, PIPs, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Behaviour management, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Sharne

Hampshire, South of England

Sharne is an Occupational Therapist specialising in Functional Rehab as well as Housing & Equipment. Sharne visits clients across Hampshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, South East of England, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex, Brighton, Southampton

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Self care

Ian

Derbyshire, East Midlands

Based in Derbyshire, Ian is an experienced OT specialising in Rehabilitation, Moving & Handling, and Seating & Postural Management.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, Derbyshire

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BIA

Specialist skills

Counselling, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Behaviour management, Learning disability

Alex

West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Alex is an expert OT specialising in the field of Neurological Rehabilitation, covering Yorkshire and the North of England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Postural management, Splinting, Anxiety management & relaxation

Hazel

Cumbria, North West England

Working in the North East, Hazel provides expert care to clients with a wide rage of needs and conditions.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Yorkshire, Manchester

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Counselling, PIPs, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Stephanie

London - West, London

Based in London, Stephanie is an experienced OT offering Functional Rehabilitation and Housing & Equipment assessments and recommendations.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, London - Central, London - West

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care

Carole

Fife, Scotland

Based in Fife, Carole provides expert occupational therapy helping adults with Housing & Equipment and Rehabilitation needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Dundee (City of), East Lothian, Edinburgh (City of), Fife, West Lothian

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Counselling, PIPs, Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Behaviour management, Self care, Social integration

Paula

Warwickshire, West Midlands

Paula is an expert Occupational Therapist, delivering specialist Functional, Neurological, and Vocational Rehabilitation to clients the Midlands.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, South East of England, Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care

Amanda

Hampshire, South East of England

Based in Portsmouth, Amanda is a highly skilled OT specialising in Moving & Handling and Housing & Equipment.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England, South East of England, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex, Wiltshire, Isle of Man

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

BIA

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills

Joanne

London - East, Essex

Based in London, Joanne is a specialist OT offering neurological rehabilitation for clients with acquired brain injury and neurological conditions.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Community access

Lynn

Fife, Scotland

Utilising over 15 years’ experience, Lynn is a highly skilled OT providing expert care to clients across Scotland.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Borders, Clackmannan, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee (City of), East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh (City of), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow (City of), Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Perthshire and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian, Western Isles

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS, Postgraduate cert. Vocational Rehab

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Jennifer

Wrexham, Wales

Jennifer is an experienced OT based in Wrexham, providing clients across Wales and the North East with Functional Rehabilitation.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Wales, Cheshire, Merseyside, Shropshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Balance

Eve

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Eve is a highly experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist working with children across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, Sheffield

Specialisms

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

Hannah

Bristol, West and South West of England

Specialising in Brain Injury and Neurological Rehabilitation, Hannah is an expert OT based in Bristol.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England, Wales, Avon, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Bath, Swindon

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation

Samantha

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Trained in advanced sensory integration and therapeutic listening techniques, Sam is an expert Paediatric OT, supporting children and their families.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Humberside, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Manchester, Wakefield, Salford

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Social integration

Angela

Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Angela is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in Neurological Rehabilitation. She visits clients across North-West England and Scotland.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Scotland, Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Laura

Cheshire, North West England

Based in Stockport, Laura provides expert occupational therapy to clients in their own homes in Manchester and the surrounding areas.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Daily living skills, Self care

Emma

Plymouth, Cornwall

Specialising in Hand Therapy and Functional Rehab, Emma is a highly skilled OT based in Cornwall.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall, Devon

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Planning & execution, Self care, Splinting

Sarah

Glasgow, Renfrewshire

Sarah is an expert OT based just outside of Glasgow, delivering holistic assessments for clients across Scotland.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh (City of), Fife, Glasgow (City of), North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Postural management

Janet

Kent, South East of England

Janet is an expert Occupational Therapist specialising in paediatrics and neurological rehabilitation, she works with children at home and school.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Kent, London - Central, London - South, London - East

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Social integration, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Kate Louise

Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear

Katie is located in Newcastle and provides expert assessments and treatment plans to clients across the North of England.

View profile

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

Angela

Kent, South East of England

Based in Kent, Angela is a specialist OT in Housing and Equipment assessments and interventions.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

BIA

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

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