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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.

View profile

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

Kelly

Kent, South East of England

Kelly is a highly regarded Occupational Therapist who works with both children and adults. Kelly covers the Kent area.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Self care, Postural management, Learning disability

Jonathan

Birmingham, Warwickshire

Jonathan is an expert Children's OT who specialises in complex and long term conditions, working with children and their families.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, London - West, Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Self care, Postural management

Carole

Fife, Scotland

Based in Fife, Carole provides expert occupational therapy helping adults with housing & equipment and rehabilitation needs.

View profile

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

Carien

Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Based in Scotland, Carien provides expert paediatric therapy helping children with handwriting, sensory and complex physical needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Cumbria, Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh (City of), Fife, Glasgow (City of), Midlothian, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Perthshire and Kinross, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration

Samantha

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Trained in advanced sensory integration and therapeutic listening techniques, Sam helps families by treating children at home, school and nursery.

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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

Paula

Warwickshire, West Midlands

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

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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

Ebby

Glasgow, West Lothian

Having worked internationally, Ebby provides expert occupational therapy helping adults with functional and neurological rehabilitation at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Argyll and Bute, Borders, Clackmannan, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh (City of), Falkirk, Glasgow (City of), Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration

Carlie

Merseyside, North West England

Having worked in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, Carlie provides expert occupational therapy to adult clients.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Salford

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

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

Nikki

Middlesex, South East of England

Qualifying in 1992, Nikki specialises in seating & postural management, housing & equipment and moving & handling for adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Visual perception, Self care

Eve

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Eve is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist working with children in the Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire areas.

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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

Anthea

Oxfordshire, South East of England

Qualifying in 1985, Anthea specialises in seating & postural management, rehabilitation and housing & equipment for children and adults.

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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, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

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

Sarah

Bristol, Somerset

Based in Somerset, Sarah is an expert OT working with clients with a range of physical, learning and sensory needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

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

Tuesday

North Yorkshire, North East England

Covering the North East and Yorkshire, Tuesday is an Expert Practitioner Occupational Therapist specialising in the field of rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Self care

Annabel

Kent, South East of England

Qualifying in 1998, Annabel specialises in housing & equipment and moving & handling for children and adults.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, PIPs, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Co-ordination, Self care

Sharon

London - South, Kent

Sharon covers South London, Kent, Croydon & Bromley and has a special interest in housing adaptions, seating & postural management.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Postural management

Sarah

Bedfordshire, East Anglia

Sarah is an experienced Occupational Therapist based in Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Jill

Manchester, North West England

Jill works with Adults at home in North West England, including the greater Manchester area, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Emma

Brighton, West Sussex

Emma is an expert occupational therapist working with clients with a range of needs in Hampshire, Surrey & Sussex.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, West Sussex, Brighton

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Certificate in Education

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Postural management

Sarah

West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Qualifying in 2007, Sarah specialises in seating & postural management, housing & equipment and rehabilitation for adult clients.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Self care, Social integration

Sam

Stoke-on-Trent, Newport

Working in the North West and West Midlands, Sam is an expert OT working in the area of Neurological Rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, East Midlands, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Newport, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

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

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

Helen

London - North, Hertfordshire

Helen is an experienced occupational therapist specialising in the field of neurology and covers the London, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire areas.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, London - North

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

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

Su

Kent, South East of England

Su is a highly skilled occupational therapist working with children with a wide range of special needs and disabilities.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Postural management, Learning disability

Corinna

Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Corinna provides expert occupational therapy helping adults with housing & equipment and seating & postural needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Northern Ireland, Ireland, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Postural management, Anxiety management & relaxation

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

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

Sarah S

Southampton, Hampshire

Sarah works with clients across Hampshire and provides detailed assessments and treatment plans to clients in their own homes.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Hampshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Social integration

Sarah

Swansea, Derbyshire

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

View profile

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

Jen

Suffolk, East Anglia

Jen specialises in rehabilaition, seating & postural management and housing & equipment for adults.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Anglia, London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Counselling, DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Balance, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, Sign Language, Anxiety management & relaxation

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