Call on 0330 024 9910

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

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.

View more

Leila

West Sussex, South East of England

Leila, an OT focusing on housing and equipment, functional rehabilitation, and moving and handling, brings her expertise to London.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, London - South, Brighton, Southampton

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Self care, Wheelchair accreditation

Lynette

Southampton, Hampshire

Lynette is an experienced Occupational Therapist supporting adults and older people with functional assessments, equipment provision and home adaptations.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Berkshire, London - West

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Community access, Balance, Self care

Janet

London - South, Kent

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

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

Emma

Warwickshire, West Midlands

Emma is an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist providing specialised care to children across the Midlands in various settings.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester, Wolverhampton, Derby

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support

Louisa

Plymouth, Devon

Louisa is an Occupational Therapist specializing in housing and equipment, seating and postural management, functional rehabilitation, and moving and handling.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Devon

Specialisms

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

Rosemary

Birmingham, West Midlands

Rosemary is an experienced Housing and Equipment Occupational Therapist providing care across the Midlands, North West and South West England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, East Midlands, East Anglia, South East of England, Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Joanna

Leicester, Northamptonshire

Joanna is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in functional rehabilitation, postural management, moving and handling and complex equipment provision.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Leicester

Specialisms

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

Jessica

Oxfordshire, South East of England

Jessica provides expert Occupational Therapy services, specialising in adaptations, equipment, rehabilitation, mental health, and enhancing independence across diverse needs.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Swindon

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, DFG Assessments, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Social integration, Mental Health

Jen

London

Jen provides expert Occupational Therapy assessments in Moving and Handling, Postural Management, Housing and Equipment, and Functional Rehabilitation.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, PIPs, Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management

Cheryl

Wolverhampton, Staffordshire

Cheryl is a specialist Occupational Therapist with expertise in rehabilitation, housing adaptations, and equipment provision, promoting independence and safety.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Cheshire, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

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

Amy

Somerset, West and South West of England

Amy provides Occupational Therapy across South West England and South Wales, with expertise in moving and handling and home adaptations.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Devon, Somerset

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

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

Hayley

Norfolk, East Anglia

Hayley is an experienced OT who delivers expert Functional Rehabilitation to clients across East Anglia.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, Norfolk, Suffolk

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, Anxiety management & relaxation

Harad

West Sussex, West and South West of England

Occupational Therapist Harad has over 20 years’ experience in neurological rehabilitation, functional rehabilitation and specialist equipment assessments.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, London, East Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

BOBATH, AMPS

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Postural management, DMO (Lycra) Splinting, Splinting, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation, TBI

Zoe

Wakefield, West Yorkshire

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

View profile

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

Clare

Essex, East Anglia

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

View profile

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

Sarah

Greater Manchester, North West England

Specialising in complex physical and mental health conditions, Sarah provides expert Occupational Therapy assessments to clients across North West England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Certificate in Education

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Fateha

London - East, London

Fateha is a Senior Occupational Therapist in London specialising in neurological rehabilitation, functional assessments, equipment provision and moving and handling.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

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

Liz

Liverpool, Merseyside

Liz is a therapist specialising in Functional Rehabilitation & Housing and Equipment for pain conditions and more.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Merseyside

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Counselling, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Daily living skills, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Melanie

Cardiff, Newport

Mel is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in functional rehabilitation, supporting adults across Wales and South West England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, West and South West of England, Wales, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, Torfaen, The Vale of Glamorgan

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Postural management, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Edwina

Belfast, Londonderry

Working in Northern Ireland, Edwina provides expert Hand Therapy to clients across the region.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Self care, Splinting

Katy

Cheshire, North West England

Supporting every stage of childhood, Katy specialises in paediatric Occupational Therapy across North West England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Merseyside

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, School Based Therapy/Support

Anne

Warwickshire, West Midlands

Located in Solihull, Anne is a highly experienced OT providing comprehensive assessments and rehabilitation for clients across the Midlands.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, PIPs, Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access, Planning & execution

Emma

Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Specialising in rehabilitation, Occupational Therapist Emma provides services across Yorkshire, the Midlands, the North East and North West of England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Midlands, East Riding of Yorkshire, Humberside, North Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, Hull, Derby

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Co-ordination, Mental Health

Lisa

London

In London and Surrey, Lisa, an Occupational Therapist, specialises in housing and equipment, moving and handling.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Surrey

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Sarah

Devon, West and South West of England

Specialising in neuro-rehabilitation, Sarah is an OT based in Devon, working with clients following neurological trauma or diagnosis.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Behaviour management, Postural management

Lynne

Middlesbrough, Durham

Lynn, an Occupational Therapist, specialises in seating and postural management and works in the North of England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Durham, North Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Middlesbrough

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, AMPS, CBT, Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Postural management, Learning disability, Mental Health

Joanne

Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

Working with adults, Joanne offers specialised Occupational Therapy services focusing on neurological rehabilitation, housing adaptations, functional rehabilitation, and equipment provision.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Scotland, Cumbria, Durham, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh (City of), Fife, Midlothian, West Lothian, Edinburgh, Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Middlesbrough

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation, TBI

Jessica

London - South, London

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

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London

Specialisms

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

Rachel

Bristol, Bristol

Rachel is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in frailty, dementia, falls management and functional rehabilitation across Bristol and North Somerset.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Avon, Bristol, Bristol, Bath

Specialisms

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

Fran

Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

Working in the North East of England, Fran is a dedicated Occupational Therapist specialising in housing & equipment.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, North Yorkshire, Newcastle upon Tyne

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

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