We work with people of all ages, from children to older people.
If you are an adult or a person with a physical disability experiencing difficulties living safely at home, you can get in touch with Adult Social Care or the Housing Department for help.
Step one - Getting in touch
If you think that you need help with adapting your home, then contact our
Access Service Team
1 Grey Friars,
Leicester,
LE1 5PH
Telephone: 0116 252 7004.
We will ask you about the problems you are facing and how you are coping at the moment.
After our Access Team have spoken to you and gathered your details and information, they will let you know what will happen next.
If we think we may be able to help you, your details will be passed by the Access Team to our Promoting Independence Unit.
This unit has Occupational Therapists, Community Care Workers and Social Workers and the type of problem will determine which worker will be available to visit you.
All visits will be undertaken with an interpreter if required.
Step two - The comprehensive assessment
The comprehensive assessment is the name for what happens when we come and visit you at home.
An Occupational Therapist or Community Care Worker will talk to you about what you find difficult.
We will have a look at your home environment and see what can be done to help.
We might ask you to show us how you go about doing things - getting up stairs, for example. We may also need to gather information from other people e.g. your doctor.
Step three - Finding an answer
Once we have assessed your needs, we will discuss with you ways in which we might be able to help. We will always look at things in three stages:
Stage 1 - Is there a different way of doing things?
For example, we might show you a safer way for getting yourself in and out of bed.
Or we might talk to you about whether there is anyone else who can give you help, to save you having to do something yourself. We might give you advice about equipment which you could buy for yourself.
Stage 2 - Equipment and minor adaptations
Next, we will look at whether there are any simple pieces of equipment or minor adaptations which we can provide to help.
If we agree that we can provide a simple piece of equipment or minor adaptation, we aim to provide it within seven working days.
The equipment is on loan and will need to be returned when it is no longer needed.
Stage 3 - Major adaptations or moving house
If it is not going to be possible to do things in a different way, or to sort things out with equipment or minor adaptations, we will always discuss with you whether it would be better for you to move house instead. We call adaptations ‘major’ if they cost £500 or more.
If you rent your home from the City Council, Housing will provide any major adaptations you need.
If you own your home or rent from a private landlord, you may be able to get a means tested Disabled Facilities Grant to cover all or part of the cost of the major adaptations.
If you live in a Housing Association property you should ask your landlord for help.
Step four - After the assessment
If major adaptations are required and if you agree to major adaptations, a recommendation will be sent to the Housing Renewal and Grants Service.
Your case will go on the waiting list in what we call Priority Points Order (PPO).
The Housing Renewal and Grants Service will keep in touch with you regularly to let you know how the recommendation is progressing.
When a member of staff from Housing visits you they will plan and manage the adaptations for you. They will discuss with you what you might have to pay, if anything, before you agree to go ahead. If you rent your home from the City Council, all adaptations are free of charge.
Step five – See flow chart:
