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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

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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Darragh

Dorset, South of England

Darragh is a highly specialist Occupational Therapist who practices in Major Trauma & Orthopaedics & Neurotherapy.

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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

Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Certificate in Education

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Behaviour management, Planning & execution, Self care

Katie

London - South, London

Based in London, Katie provides expert Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling, Seating and Postural Management, and Functional Rehabilitation assessments.

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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

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Community access, Behaviour management, Balance, Co-ordination

Alexis

Norfolk, East Anglia

Alexis provides Occupational Therapy services in Rehabilitation, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling, Paediatrics, and Neurological Rehabilitation across East Anglia.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, East Anglia, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, 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, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, TBI

Heidi

Bristol, West and South West of England

Serving clients across the West and South of England, Heidi is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in Functional Rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Self care

Lucy

Norfolk, East Anglia

Lucy is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in mental health and physical rehabilitation, delivering holistic, patient-centred interventions across East Anglia.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Anxiety management & relaxation

Elena

Cardiff, Cardiff

Based in Cardiff, Elena helps children develop confidence, independence and everyday skills through Occupational Therapy.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Wales, Bridgend, Cardiff

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Zoe

Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Occupational Therapist Zoe, specializing in functional rehabilitation, serves the North East of England in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Motivational issues, Daily living skills, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Sally

Devon, West and South West of England

Housing and Equipment specialist OT works in West and South West England, specifically Cornwall and Devon.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall, Devon

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Jacqui

Surrey, South of England

Jacqui, an OT with a focus on housing and equipment, moving and handling, and functional rehabilitation, is based in Surrey.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Surrey, West Sussex

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Liz

Gloucestershire, West and South West of England

Liz is an expert Occupational Therapist specialising in rehabilitation, equipment, and mobility, serving Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Monmouthshire.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Specialisms

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

Gemma

Midlothian, Scotland

Gemma specialises in Moving and Handling, and Housing and Equipment, providing expert Occupational Therapy services across Scotland and Northern England.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Scotland

Specialisms

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

Jessica

London - South, London

Jessica is an experienced Neurological Occupational Therapist, offering expert rehabilitation services across London.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London

Specialisms

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

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.

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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, TBI

Louella

Buckinghamshire, South East of England

Specialising in Housing & Equipment for adult and paediatric clients, Louella is a highly skilled OT based in Buckinghamshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

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

Janet

Birmingham, West Midlands

Working in the West Midlands, OT Janet specialises in Vocational Rehabilitation, Housing, Postural Management; Fatigue, Anxiety and Pain.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Ergonomics

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Postural management, Splinting, Anxiety management & relaxation

Sarah

Derbyshire, East Midlands

Based in Derbyshire, Sarah is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist who visits clients across the West Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, 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

Victoria

Buckinghamshire, East Anglia

Specialising in Neurological and Functional Rehabilitation, Paediatrics, and Housing and Equipment, Victoria provides tailored therapy across East Anglia and Buckinghamshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Handwriting assessment & treatment

Rachel

Hertfordshire, South of England

Rachel is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist supporting children in the South of England with diverse developmental, behavioural, and learning challenges.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South of England, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Lise

Kent, South East of England

Lise is a Neurological Occupational Therapist specialising in rehabilitation, seating and postural management, moving and handling, and functional rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Essex, Kent, Surrey, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Postural management, Anxiety management & relaxation, TBI

Clare

Essex, East Anglia

Clare specialises in stroke and neurological rehabilitation, helping people regain independence through expert Occupational Therapy across the South east.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation, TBI

Joanne

Wolverhampton, West Midlands

With over 30 years of experience, Joanne specialises in functional rehabilitation, helping clients regain independence.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

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

Angela

Kent, South East of England

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

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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

Tracy

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Specialising in Neurological Rehabilitation, Tracy is an expert OT working across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Behaviour management, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability, Mental Health, TBI

Charlotte

Southampton, Hampshire

Charlotte is an OT based in Southampton, delivering specialist rehabilitation and housing assessments across the South of England.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Certificate in Education

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Balance, Planning & execution, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability

Ebby

Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Ebby provides expert Occupational Therapy, helping adults across Scotland with Functional Rehabilitation and Hand Therapy.

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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

Roberta

Northamptonshire, East Midlands

Roberta is an experienced OT based in Northampton, offering specialist Housing & Equipment, Seating, and Moving & Handling recommendations.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Warwickshire, Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

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

Marta

Surrey, South East of England

Based in Surrey, Marta is a highly skilled OT who specialises in Neurological Rehabilitation and supports clients across the South-East.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management

Jessica

London - South, London

Jessica Smith is an accomplished Occupational Therapist from London.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Self care, Splinting

Jennie

Hampshire, South East of England

Hampshire and West Sussex based occupational therapist Jennie specialises in mental health, Moving & Handling and Housing.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

, Hampshire, West Sussex

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Daily living skills

Laura

London - Central, Buckinghamshire

Lauren, an Occupational Therapist, specialises in housing and equipment, seating and postural management, and functional rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bridgend, Carmarthenshire, The Vale of Glamorgan, London - Central

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management, Splinting

Client feedback

Further reading

Our news & press

How Can Occupational Therapy Help Reduce the NHS’s Bed Capacity Problem?

With the public sector currently in crisis, considering a deeper relationship between the private sector and the NHS is essential. Utilising the independent sector fully will significantly reduce the bed capacity challenges facing the NHS today.

Read more

Interested in Private Practice

Supporting Housing and Equipment OTs in Clinical Practice

Alongside The OT Practice is a network of 300 OT associates working in the community, and this number is continuing to grow. Find out how Di, our expert Housing and Equipment Clinical Lead, offers support to our therapists and the advice she has to offer to those considering private practice.

Read more