Paediatric Housing & Accessibility
Helping children and young people access their home, participate in everyday life and develop skills for life — safely, comfortably and as independently as possible.
Home is where children develop many of the skills they use throughout life. The right environmental adaptations can give children opportunities to do things for themselves, practise new skills and participate more fully with their family.
Tell me about your child
What Is a Paediatric Housing & Accessibility Assessment?
A specialist occupational therapy assessment of your child's functional needs within their home environment.
I consider your child's current abilities, safety, independence and participation, alongside the physical layout of the property and the demands of everyday activities. I also consider how needs may change as your child grows.
My role is to understand what your child needs from their home environment and provide clear, practical OT recommendations. The aim is not simply to adapt a home, but to create an environment that supports your child to participate, develop independence and develop skills for life.
Where adaptations are clinically indicated, I provide clear recommendations and an OT report that can provide professional evidence for the relevant application or housing process.
What I Assess
Adaptations I May Recommend
Minor / smaller adaptations
- Grab rails and support rails
- Threshold and minor access changes
- Small bathroom adaptations
- Other straightforward environmental changes that improve safety and independence
More complex adaptations
- Ramps and level access
- Level-access showers
- Wet rooms
- Accessible bathroom adaptations
- Accessible toilets
- Door and access alterations
- Bedroom adaptations
- Fixed-track hoisting
- Specialist equipment space
- Through-floor lifts
- Significant accessibility alterations
- Additional bedroom or bathroom accommodation
- Extensions where clinically justified
Please note: I do not provide stairlifts or stair adaptations as part of my paediatric housing service. I do not offer kitchen adaptations as a listed service, and I do not promote dedicated sensory rooms as a housing adaptation service. Where relevant, I can consider how the environment can be made more supportive of a child's sensory and regulation needs.
Understanding the Different Housing Pathways
The route you take can depend on the type of property you live in and whether the issue is an adaptation to the current home or the suitability of the home itself.
Private Home
Initial consultation → OT assessment → recommendations/report → appropriate grant application → local authority decision → works
Private Rental
A similar grant pathway may apply, but landlord, property and tenancy requirements also need to be considered.
Local-Authority Home
Contact council first → council advises on process → OT assessment where required → council considers adaptation/works
Current Home Is Unsuitable
Housing needs/application → professional evidence → OT report where required → local authority considers housing suitability/priority
My Role in the Process
I can:
- Assess your child's functional needs within the home
- Identify environmental barriers affecting safety, participation and independence
- Consider current and future needs
- Provide clear clinical recommendations
- Provide a written OT report
- Provide supporting clinical rationale for relevant housing or grant processes
- Liaise with relevant professionals where appropriate
I do not:
- Approve grants
- Determine financial eligibility
- Make local-authority housing decisions
- Provide architectural drawings
- Provide structural engineering
- Undertake building or construction work
- Guarantee that a grant or adaptation will be approved
Grant eligibility, approval and funding decisions are made by the relevant local authority or housing body. An OT report provides clinical evidence and recommendations; it does not guarantee grant approval.
Who carries out the work?
Where an adaptation is approved, the actual works are arranged and carried out through the relevant housing or local-authority process and/or appropriately appointed contractors. My role is to provide the OT assessment, clinical rationale and recommendations. I do not carry out building work or act as the contractor.
Travel
Home and school-based services are available within my local service area. A travel/petrol surcharge will apply for appointments outside my usual local area. I will let you know about any applicable travel charge before the appointment is arranged.
Important information
Housing grant schemes, eligibility criteria, application processes and local-authority decisions can change. Families should check current requirements with the relevant local authority or housing body. My assessment and report provide professional clinical information and recommendations. They do not guarantee grant approval, funding or completion of any particular adaptation.
Getting started
Start with a free 15-minute Initial OT Consultation via Google Meet.
Tell me a little about your child and what you're hoping to achieve at home. I'll get back to you using your preferred contact method and we can talk about what might be most appropriate.
Tell me about your child