Independent Living - Equipment and Adaptations
Information on Equipment Provision:
- How do I qualify for Equipment Provision?
- What happens during the assessment?
- What happens after the assessment?
- What happens when the equipment is delivered?
- Do I have to pay for the equipment?
- How do I return the equipment?
Information on Adaptations Service:
- How do I qualify for Adaptations?
- What is the Adaptations Service?
- What is an Adaptation?
- How is the Adaptation funded?
- How will my application be dealt with?
- What happens next?
- General Information
- How do I request an assessment?
Equipment Provision
How do I qualify for Equipment Provision?
Warrington Borough Council provide equipment to increase or maintain your independence or to help the person who cares for you. If you have a permanent and substantial disability and live in the Warrington area you may qualify for equipment provision.
Before the Council provides your equipment, you will need to have an assessment either from a member of the Independent Living Services (ILS) Team or another Occupational Therapist working in the community. The type of equipment that you get will depend upon your level of disability and your home environment.
What happens during the assessment?
A member of the Independent Living Services Team will visit you at home to discuss any difficulties you are having and may suggest ways to improve your situation through providing equipment.
The team will make sure that the equipment provided meets your individual needs. For example, they may:
- Demonstrate using the equipment during your home assessment visit or at the Centre for Independent Living in Warrington.
- Arrange for a home demonstration carried out by a specialist supplier of equipment.
What happens after the assessment?
Once your assessment has been completed, the equipment will be supplied by the Community Equipment Service. It will be delivered by a member of the Independent Living Services Team, another Occupational Therapist or a driver/fitters from the Community Equipment Service.
Specialist equipment that is not automatically in stock will be ordered as needed.
What happens when the equipment is delivered?
When equipment is fitted and demonstrated, you will be asked to sign a receipt and be given a copy for your information. Where necessary, instructions will be issued as a reminder of how to use the equipment safely.
The equipment provided is for your use only and should not be used by others. Misuse could cause an accident.
Do I have to pay for the equipment?
No. The equipment is provided on loan from the Community Equipment Service for as long as you need it, but it remains the property of this service.
How do I return the equipment?
When you no longer need the equipment please contact the:
Independent Living Services Team
Bewsey Old School
Lockton Lane
Warrington WA5 OBF
Telephone: 01925 444034
The equipment will be collected or alternatively you can return it to:
The Community Equipment Service
Unit 17, Wharf Street
The Wharf Industrial Estate
Howley
Warrington
WA1 2HT
Telephone: 01925 236141/142
If any of the equipment should become faulty, you should contact Adult and Children's Social Services on 01925 444034 during office hours and 01925 444400 at other times.
For further advice on equipment you can contact Disabled Living Centres where they have a range of equipment on display. It is advisable to make an appointment before visiting.
Disabled Living Centre, Lifehouse, Units 4-5 Dempster Building, Summers Road, Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool, L3 4BL
Telephone: 0151 296 7742
Disabled Living, Redbank House, 45 Chad's Street, Cheetham, Manchester, M8 8QA
Telephone: 0161 214 5959
Centre for Independent Living, Beaufort Street, Warrington, WA5 1BA
Telephone: 01925 240064
Adaptations
How do I qualify for Adaptations?
To find out if you qualify for adaptations you will need to have an assessment from a member of the Independent Living services (ILS) team. If you have a permanent and substantial disability and live in the Warrington area you may qualify for adaptations to your home.
What is the Home Adaptations Service?
Warrington Borough Council provide adaptations to increase or maintain your level of independence in the home, reduce the risk of injury or to alleviate the physical demands on your carer. The type of adaptation provided will depend upon your level of disability and your home environment. Independent Living Services (ILS) staff will discuss the most effective solutions with you. There are a range of adaptations which can meet the needs of disabled people and these are recommended according to the Council's agreed criteria.
There are two types of adaptations:
Minor Adaptations
These may include grab rails, stair rails and other small works.
Major Adaptations
These are larger alterations and examples include ramps, stair lifts, ground floor facilities and widening doors.
Minor adaptations, that is work which costs less than £1000, are provided free of charge.
Major adaptations are normally funded by a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) which is administered by the Council's Private Sector Housing team. A DFG is a government grant for the funding of adaptations and is available subject to an assessment of your finances.
If you prefer to organise your own Disabled Facilities Grant Application rather than use the Council service, this is possible and you will be given advice on how to proceed.
How will my application be dealt with?
For all adaptations where you do not own your property, you will need to get approval from your Housing Association or landlord before any work can proceed.
For minor adaptations, a member of the Independent Living Services Team or other Occupational Therapists will complete any necessary documentation to be sent to landlords or arrange for an order to be placed if the property is owner-occupied.
The procedure for major adaptations is more complicated because of the range of adaptations available and so the following guidelines may vary.
Where structural alterations are required, it will be necessary to determine whether it is technically possible to do the work in your property before the adaptation proceeds any further.
Initial enquiries will be made regarding your DFG application, including an assessment of your finances. Once these enquiries are completed your application can proceed. It is a complicated process, which may involve obtaining plans and planning permission as well as details of your income and proof of ownership.
If you do not qualify for a grant or the grant is not enough to cover the cost of the work; there may be other types of funding available. The Occupational Therapist will discuss any options with you.
Adaptations will be provided to meet your needs, which were identified during your assessment. The details will be discussed with you at every stage. Once the plan has been agreed with you, approved contractors will be asked to quote for the work. When grant approval is received the order can be placed and the work carried out.
The Council has wide-ranging responsibilities to people who live in Warrington. This means that it is important that resources are managed efficiently to ensure that the Council can meet the large demand on this service. The individual cost for a major adaptation can be very high and it is expected that people who use this service will have particular regard for the points listed below:
- People should live in their property for a minimum of five years once a major adaptation has been provided, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
- People with disabilities should contact the Independent Living Services Team before moving house, to seek advice about whether or not they are likely to need more assistance.
- Only one application for a major adaptation should be made unless special circumstances apply.
- Repairs to adaptations cannot be undertaken, but service and maintenance contracts can be entered into for stairlift and vertical lifts to ensure that this equipment is in good working order.
To apply for an assessment for equipment and adaptations please contact:
Tel: 01925 444239
Email: asc@warrington.gov.uk
Local information regarding disabilities can be found on the Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP) website
Further information on adapting your property is available in our information pack Home Adaptations for Disabled People
