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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

Your Clinical Services Manager

Victoria

Victoria

Snr Clinical Services Manager

Victoria, an experienced OT, is the Clinical Services Manager supervising the team looking after referrals from our case managers, solicitors and other professional clients.

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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Tracy

Leeds, West Yorkshire

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

View profile

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

Anne-Marie

London - South, Kent

Anne-Marie is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in Moving and Handling, serving clients across London and surrounding areas.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Kent, London - South, London - East, Brighton

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, PIPs, Daily living skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care

Julie

Cheshire, North West England

Specialising in Functional and Neurological Rehabilitation, Julie is an Occupational Therapist based in Crewe, just south of Liverpool and Manchester.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Conwy, Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham, Liverpool, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, PIPs, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Behaviour management, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Mary

Staffordshire, East Midlands

Mary is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in rehabilitation for long-term conditions, providing tailored therapy across the Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, West Midlands

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

TBI

Karina

London - West, London

Specialising in Seating and Postural Management, Functional Rehabilitation and Moving and Handling, Karina provides occupational therapy services in London.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Planning & execution, Postural management

Caroline

The Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

Caroline is an Occupational Therapist from Wales, providing Housing & Equipment support to adults with a variety of functional needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Wales, Bristol, Herefordshire, Wiltshire, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Postural management

Lois

Perthshire and Kinross, Scotland

Based in Scotland, Lois specialises in Functional and Neurological Rehabilitation, providing expert assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Angus, Clackmannan, Dundee (City of), Falkirk, Fife, Perthshire and Kinross, Stirling

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills

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

Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Self care

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

Rosemary

Birmingham, West Midlands

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

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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

Emma

West Sussex, South East of England

Emma is an OT located in West Sussex, working with clients with housing needs in the South of England.

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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

Deanne

Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

Based just outside of Middlesbrough, Deanne is an Occupational Therapist specialising in Functional Rehabilitation and Housing & Equipment.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Cleveland, Durham, North Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Middlesbrough

Specialisms

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

Harriet

Buckinghamshire, South East of England

Harriet is an expert functional rehabilitation Occupational Therapist, delivering specialist assessments to clients in South East England and London.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Bedfordshire, London - North

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Daily living skills

Fiona

Edinburgh, Borders

Experienced in providing specialist Neurological Rehabilitation, Functional Rehabilitation and Moving and Handling assessments, Fiona covers Scottish Borders, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Scotland, Tyne and Wear, Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh (City of), Falkirk, Glasgow (City of), Midlothian, Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle upon Tyne

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Counselling, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Splinting, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health, TBI

Jennie

South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Jennie is a highly experienced OT based in Doncaster. She provides Functional and Neuro rehabilitation for adults across Yorkshire.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Sheffield

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care

Lisa

Birmingham, West Midlands

Lisa is an advanced OT in Functional Rehab, Stroke & Neuro Rehab, Moving & Handling covering the West Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills

Sharon

London - West, London

Sharon is an experienced Occupational Therapist in London, specialising in Housing and Equipment and Functional Rehabilitation for mental health conditions.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Mental Health

Laura

Devon, West and South West of England

Laura works in Cornwall Devon, Dorset and Somerset where her OT services focus on ADLs, community access and DFG assessments.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment

Specialist skills

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

Helen

Staffordshire, West Midlands

Helen is an experienced OT specialising in Neurological Rehabilitation and covers the London, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire areas.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent

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, TBI

Liz

Cornwall, South of England

Based in Cornwall, Occupational Therapist Liz provides comprehensive, client-centred assessments in Neuro, Seating and rehabilitation.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Cornwall

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

BOBATH, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, Splinting, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation, TBI

Sylvia

London

Covering North London and Hertfordshire, Sylvia specialises in Housing & Equipment, Functional Rehabilitation and Moving & Handling.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Hertfordshire, London - Central, London - North, London - East

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Catherine

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Working across Yorkshire and the East Midlands, Catherine is an expert OT working with clients with Vocational Rehabilitation needs.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Midlands, Derbyshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Daily living skills

Yvonne

Wiltshire, West and South West of England

Qualifying in 1991, Occupational Therapist Yvonne provides expert Functional Rehabilitation, Moving and and Handling, and Housing and Equipment assessments.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening, Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Learning disability

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

Tanya

Hertfordshire, South East of England

Tanya is an OT in Housing & Equipment and Moving & Handling, visiting clients across Hertfordshire, London, and East Anglia.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, South of England, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Northamptonshire, Suffolk

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, DFG Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Social integration, Postural management, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability

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

Sue

Bristol, Bristol

Sue specialises in Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural Management, and Moving and Handling assessments for both children and adults.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Avon, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Wiltshire

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills

Suzanne

Cheshire, North West England

Suzanne provides expert occupational therapy services, specialising in rehabilitation, equipment and adaptations and functional assessments across North West England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Laura

Oxfordshire, South East of England

Trained in advanced postural management and rehabilitation techniques, Laura provides expert Occupational Therapy to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, London, South of England, South East of England, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Warwickshire

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, TBI

Lisa

London - South, Kent

Lisa is an expert Housing and Equipment Occupational Therapist, delivering specialist assessments to clients in London and Kent.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Kent, London - Central, London - South

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BIA

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills

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