Housing Adaptations
This leaflet describes the agreed procedure for adaptations
and is an example of partnership working in Suffolk to provide
better services for people with disabilities.
Making a difference
Aspiring to Excellence
Contact Form
If you would like further information regarding housing adaptations please
complete this form or contact a member of the Supported Housing Team
on 0300 3300 900.
Name:
Address:
Completed by:
Date:
To help us deal with your enquiry, please tick the following boxes
as appropriate
No
Some
difficulty difficulty With help
Transfers
Getting in/out of bed
Getting in/out of a chair
Getting in/out of the bath
Getting in/out of the shower
Going up the stairs
Coming down the stairs
Getting in/out of your front door
If there are steps can you manage them?
Unable
Havebury’s Commitment
Following a request for adaptations, Havebury will:
Work with you to provide an acceptable solution if your present home does
not meet your needs.
Keep you informed of the progress and length of time an adaptation (or
move) will take.
Keep a record of your needs for adaptations (if it has not been possible to
carry out the work) and keep records under review.
Publish information for tenants regarding the budget for adaptations, the
number and cost of adaptations carried out and the number awaiting
funding.
In the first instance or for further information please telephone Havebury on
0300 3300 900 (low call rate applies).
Tenants statutory rights
Your statutory rights under these acts are not affected:
The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (sections 1 & 2).
S.23 of the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.
Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
A step by step guide to housing adaptations
Housing adaptations include a range of measures which assist people within our
neighbourhood to lead more fulfilling lives. Stair riders, grab rails and ramps are
typically the kind of aids that can be provided to help people stay in their homes
and play an active part in the community.
Havebury no longer undertakes means testing when assessing applications for
housing adaptations.
There are two types of adaptations that are carried out: minor and major. Minor
adaptations are those that can be dealt with directly by Havebury without the
need to involve an assessment from an Occupational Therapist. Examples of
minor adaptations are the fitting of grab rails, lever taps and additional stair rails.
Major adaptations include level access showers, stair riders etc and this type of
adaptation will require an assessment from an Occupational Therapist.
This leaflet explains how your request for an adaptation will be dealt with.
Step One
You can make your request to the Customer First Occupational Therapist. This can
be done by contacting Customer First on 08456 023023.
Or you can contact Havebury on 0300 3300 900. If the adaptation you require
is minor such as the installation of grab rails or lever taps; Havebury will process
your request. For more major adaptations your enquiry will be forwarded to
Customer First by Havebury.
You do not need an occupational therapy assessment to contact Havebury
regarding minor adaptations.
Step Two
If your request for an adaptation(s) is to be dealt with by Adult Community
Services or Children and Young People Services.
Either
a)
The Occupational Therapist will assess your request with you and
if an adaptation is needed to your home, will recommend the
necessary adaptation(s) to Havebury.
The Occupational Therapist will indicate to Havebury what priority
the adaptation has. The priorities are as follows:
Priority 1: Where there is an immediate danger to health and safety. These
adaptations will be dealt with urgently.
Priority 2: Where, if an adaptation is not carried out, a threat to health or
safety may develop or other difficulties may arise, such as
a delay in discharge from hospital.
Priority 3: Where the absence of an adaptation prevents or seriously
inhibits the performance of tasks essential for daily living,
or severely restricts movement within the resident's home.
Priority 4: Other less urgent needs.
Or
b)
If the work is more complicated, the Occupational Therapist will arrange a
visit to your home with a Technical Inspector from Havebury to discuss
with you what is possible, before making a recommendation.
Minor adaptations should take no longer than five weeks and major adaptations
no longer than eleven weeks.
Step Three
Havebury will then consider the recommendation and decide if the adaptation
can be carried out.
Havebury will consider matters such as:
Your wishes and preferences.
Whether the cost of adapting your property is reasonable.
Whether there is another property available now or in the near
future that would meet your needs
It may be the case that adapting your present home is just not possible
at a reasonable cost or that another property may meet your needs. The
important thing is that Havebury, the Occupational Therapist and you,
work together to reach a solution which assists you.
Step Four
Once the adaptation has been agreed by all, Havebury will arrange for the work to
be carried out. The length of time this will take will vary greatly depending on the
extent of the work to be done, as well as other factors such as availability of
funding, availability of parts, equipment, services and adverse weather conditions.
To give you an idea:
Providing rails to prevent falls where there is immediate danger to health
and safety should be done within days.
Installing a flush floor shower could take up to eleven weeks.
If major work is proposed then it will take time to draw up the plans and
get the necessary permission.
Major Works Only - Once permission for an adaptation has been agreed,
Havebury will give you an idea of how long the work will take to complete.
Step Five
When the work is completed, Havebury will contact you to ensure that the work
has been carried out to your satisfaction. If there are any problems Havebury will
liaise with you to resolve them.
Six months after the work has been completed, a member of Havebury's
Supported Housing team will visit you to assess whether the adaptation still
meets your needs.
If you are unhappy at any stage in the process, or you think that things are taking
longer than they should, please contact Havebury.
If things have still not been resolved to your complete satisfaction then you
should ask about how to make a formal complaint.
Supported Housing Team
Havebury Housing Partnership
FREEPOST ANG20802
Bury St Edmunds IP33 3ZP
NO STAMP
REQUIRED
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To receive this information in large print, on audio or a translation, please call:
0300 3300 900 (low call rate applies)
The Havebury Housing Partnership
Telephone 0300 3300 9900 (low call rate applies)
Email
[email protected]
Website
www.havebury.com
Havebury House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 3SP
Fax 01284 722156
Havebury House
Manor Road
Haverhill
Suffolk CB9 0EP
Fax 01440 718499
Havebury respecting diversity and difference
REFERENCE: HAVE07 HA 08/09