Unfortunately, there is a great demand for the service, so if you apply for the service your name will be added to a waiting list to be assessed.
What is an 'assessment'?
An assessment is the way we obtain relevant information about you to help us to work out if you are eligible for services. A member of the occupational therapy team will visit you at home to talk to you about the help you feel you need and look at how you cope with everyday tasks, especially those you find most difficult. This is so that we can build up an accurate picture of your situation. This is called an ‘assessment’.
Adults
We use the Government’s 'Fair Access to Care Services' guidelines to help us to decide whether or not you are entitled to care services. Unfortunately, if you are assessed as ‘low’ or ‘moderate’ need or risk, you will not qualify for care services from the council. However, we may be able to offer you advice and some other help, or put you in touch with other organisations who may be able to help.
We can also put you in touch with ‘Starting Point’, which is a helpline that provides information and advice about local services which help people to live independently, for example, cleaning, shopping, meals, handymen, lunch clubs and so on.
Children
All decisions about eligibility are based on the framework for the Assessment of Children in Need for children and their families, and the eligibility criteria of Children and Young People’s Services.
How can an occupational therapist help?
They can suggest solutions to enable you to be more independent, or to help your carer to look after you. They can also:
- advise on how to perform tasks more easily;
- recommend or provide special equipment, for example, to help with bathing or using the toilet;
- advise on adaptations or alterations to your home, for example, a second stair rail or stairlift;
- support you in moving to more suitable accommodation;
- put you in touch with other people who may be able to help, such as a physiotherapist, social worker, or private companies who provide equipment.
How much does the service cost?
There is no charge for the information, assessment, advice or equipment provided by the member of staff from the occupational therapy team.
If you live in a council-owned property, there is no charge for any adaptations to your home that the occupational therapist recommends.
If you own your own home or rent privately, there is no charge for small adaptations. However, there is a charge for larger adaptations. A grant is available to help you to pay the charge. For adults, this grant is ‘means-tested’– we will ask you for details of your income and savings and, depending on your financial situation, you may or may not be asked to contribute to the cost of the adaptation. There is no means-test carried out on the grant available to assist with adaptations for a child.
What happens after the assessment?
Once a member of the occupational therapy team has visited you and assessed your needs (this may take more than one visit), they will make a recommendation about the type of equipment you need or work that needs to be carried out to your home.
If a major adaptation is required, then we will pass on your case to either Wigan and Leigh Housing for council-owned property, or the Environmental Services Department for owner-occupied or privately rented property, for the works to be processed.
When the work is complete, we will contact you to check that it meets your needs.
How to apply for the service
Contact the Central Duty Team, or complete the on-line referral form.
