What is an Occupational Therapist?
An Occupational Therapist is a highly trained person who is skilled in identifying the physical, psychological and social needs of people. They can work with you, your family and your carers to find ways of managing your daily living activities, mobility and your condition generally. This can take the form of advice, rehabilitation, referring you to other agencies, or helping you to obtain any specialist equipment or adaptations to your home that you might need.
What does an Occupational Therapist do?
Occupational Therapists receive referrals and work with you alongside Social Care Assessors, to provide the best and fastest service to help you manage your problems.
How can I get help from an Occupational Therapist?
You should ring your local Access Team in the first instance. The person you speak to will then determine what type of help you need and whether you require a visit from an Occupational Therapist from Social Services or an Occupational Therapist from the NHS.
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Giving Advice
There is an Occupational Therapist in the Access Team who is able to advise over the phone. If your problem is more complicated you may need an Occupational Therapist or Social Care Assessor to visit you at home. The Access team should be able to help arrange this meeting. -
AssessmentsIf an Occupational Therapist or Social Care Assessor visits you, they will look at your particular difficulties and how these are affected by your immediate surroundings. They will look for ways to make your home safer and easier to use. If you have not been visited by a social worker before they will also look at any other services you or your carer may need. With your permission this information will be passed to other Social Workers to begin meeting your needs, for example, someone coming to your home to help with personal care.
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Equipment
Often problems you may have can be solved with advice or with the use of equipment. An Occupational Therapist can advise you on appropriate tools taking into account your abilities and disabilities, your carers and your home. You may also wish to purchase equipment yourself. Age Concern produce a factsheet on Disability Equipment.
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Adaptations
These are permanent changes that can be made to your home. Many are minor changes such as grab-rails or stair-rails; some may be major changes such as the fitting of stair-lifts and ramps, which require careful planning.
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Minor Adaptations
Occupational Therapists will make recommendations on minor adaptations. These will require the agreement of whoever owns the property. If the property is owned by the local District Council or Housing Trust, they may make the changes themselves.
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Major Adaptations
These are normally only considered after all other options have been looked at. This is because a major adaptation is a big decision, which may involve disruption in your home and will usually involve you in a financial assessment.
Once your Occupational Therapist has agreed with you that a major adaptation may be a solution, you will usually need to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant. If you are a District Council or Housing Trust tenant, different rules may apply. The Occupational Therapist who visits you will explain these differences. Note: your local District Council administers Disabled Facilities Grants.
If a major adaptation is agreed for your home, your local Home Improvement Agency will manage it (e.g. Care and Repair, Staying Put Schemes). The Home Improvement Agency will help you with forms and explain the process. They may also be able to help you with housing repairs and renovation with which the Occupational Therapist is not involved. The Home Improvement Agency will stay in touch with the Occupational Therapist while the changes are being made to your home, to ensure that the needs agreed with you are being met.
What is the legal framework for Occupational Therapy Services in Social Services?
Community Care is often subject to review and change and people are often confused about legislation and their rights. Listed below are the main pieces of legislation and guidelines under which Occupational Therapists work within Social Services.
We will always try to be clear about how we work and the rules we work to. If you would like to talk to an independent person about this you can contact:
Framework 1
The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 – is the main legislation with which Social Services for adults are provided. Occupational Therapists will assess your needs within this act if they are the first person from Social Services to visit you. Sometimes they will be asked to visit you by another member of staff from Social Services – this is called a specialist assessment, which is added to your Community Care assessment.
An assessment of your needs under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (1970) will be included in your Specialist Assessment.
Framework 2
The Children Act (1989) – sets out Social Services’ responsibilities to Children. Occupational Therapists have a particular responsibility in contributing to services that safeguard and promote the welfare of disabled children by the act, and within the criteria of the local authority.
Assessment for the provision of service under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (1970) will also be included in the Occupational Therapist’s assessment of a disabled child.
Framework 3
The Carer’s (Recognition and Services) Act (1995) – ensures that an Occupational Therapist will take account of the needs of carers in a Community Care Assessment or assessment as part of the Children’s act. They will arrange for a separate Carers Assessment to be undertaken. |