Supporting you with adaptations to your home
We want to help our residents to be happy and feel comfortable in their own homes by making adaptations to the property to allow them to live independently based upon their individual specific needs. Adaptations are defined as either minor or major, dependent upon their cost and complexity. All major adaptations can only be undertaken on the advice of, and referral from, an Occupational Therapist from Oxfordshire County Council. To provide our tenants, and people living with them, with a better and speedier service, Soha directly funds an Oxfordshire County Council Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapist coordinator.
Minor adaptations
Minor works are any adaptations where the cost including VAT is less than £2,000. These are funded directly by Soha. Some examples of items that might be considered as minor adaptations are shown below:
If you would like us to consider a minor adaptation, please let us know either by visiting our offices, calling us at no cost to you on 0800 014 15 45 (Freephone), or emailing us dfg@soha.co.uk . We can then advise you whether we can carry it out ourselves or whether the works require a referral from an Occupational Therapist. The access team Occupational Therapists can be contacted on 0345 050 7666.
Self-refer
Examples of straightforward adaptations that you can self-refer and do not need to have the input of an Occupational Therapist.
- Grab rails
- Hand rails
- Shower seats
Self-refer minor repairs that do not require a referral from an Occupational Therapist will usually be undertaken within 28 days.
Occupational Therapist referral
Examples of less straightforward adaptations that would probably need to have the input of an Occupational Therapist to make sure they meet your needs.
- Raised toilets
- Path widening
- Small ramps
Adaptations that require input from an Occupational Therapist will take longer, as we have to wait for a referral. We aim to complete these within 28 days of receiving all the information we need.
Major adaptations
Major adaptations are any repairs costing over £2000, including VAT. All major adaptations must be funded through a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), provided by South Oxfordshire District Council or Vale of White Horse District Council.
Some examples of items that might be considered as major adaptations are:
- Level access showers
- Stairlifts
- Ramps
- Off-road parking and dropped kerbs
- Extensions
The process of applying for major adaptations
1. Occupational Therapist visit
An Occupational Therapist will visit your home and take notes of recommendations on how your home can be adapted.
2. Completing your application and choosing a contractor
Soha receives information from the Occupational Therapist involved. Our specialist Technical Officer then organises a visit with you. This first visit must be carried out within 6 weeks of receiving the referral from the Occupational Therapist. The purpose of this visit is to fill in the application form together and measure up for any works that may be recommended. In most cases, this application form needs to be sent from Soha back to the Occupational Therapist to confirm plans moving forward. Unless the works being carried out are for a level access shower, multiple quotes need to be received by Soha from multiple contractors, and this has the potential to take longer as we deal with multiple external bodies.
3. Sign-off from Occupational Therapist
We may need to send quotes to the Occupational Therapist to make sure they are happy with the chosen quote, and to make sure that the Occupational Therapist is happy with the works proposed. Occupational Therapists then need to sign off these plans before we can continue.
4. Council decision
The application is sent over to the relevant local authority by Soha for grant approval. When they respond to us, we will write to you to confirm this has been approved. This letter also includes information about the contractor that will be carrying out the works. From the date you receive the letter, we have 12 weeks to carry out and finish the works needed, with the exception of property extensions, which have the chance to be longer-term projects.
5. Raising the work and agreeing a start date
Soha is able to raise the job to the contractor. Once the contractor has scheduled the work, they will contact you directly to arrange access at a time that suits you.
6. Completion and sign-off
Once the work is finished, it needs to be signed off by our specialist Technical Officer and, in most cases, signed off by the attending Occupational Therapist too.
Because of the longer lead times on some projects, especially major projects that need the involvement of multiple third parties, if you don’t hear from us, this is not a cause for concern.
Who does what?
Occupational Therapist (OT)
will provide Soha with the initial referral for works required in a property. They sign off any quotes and proposals that Soha makes where needed. They get involved again at the end of the process to sign off works that have been completed.
Your council
do not usually get involved until the application is sent for approval. However, they do have more involvement if a property extension is taking place, where they will involve one of their own surveyors.
Soha
receives the referral, books in a visit with a specialist Technical Officer, gets quotes for the work if necessary, Soha also draws up plans/ recommendations/ specification for the contractor, and sends over quotes for approval. Soha is responsible for raising the job, monitoring any major works with regular inspections, and signing off completed work with the Occupational Therapist.
Contractor
responsible for contacting the resident to schedule attending to carry out works, and complete works to the high standard that we would expect.
Other services we can provide to help
Handyperson Service – If you need help with some basic DIY and you are over 70 and living in your own home, our handyperson service can help. Our handyperson can put up shelves, fix your broken doorbell, clear gardens or put together some flat pack furniture. Contact us to find out more about this service
Disability Action and Awareness Group – The Disability Action and Awareness Group (DAAG) represents the interests of Soha’s disabled residents. By putting forward the views of disabled people, it contributes to the continuous improvement of Soha’s services. Please contact us for more information.
We can help signpost you to the access team to assist with your care needs
We can help signpost to the sensory impairment team
Our offices are also fully accessible, so feel free to come in to discuss any of your needs
Frequently asked questions
Why is it taking so long?
Multiple external people are involved in the process of aids and adaptations, and this can extend timescales. Our staff work very hard to ensure that we do not further impact lead times.
Can I choose my own contractor?
No, Soha go through a process of sourcing trusted contractors to carry out any aids and adaptations work.
Can I self-manage this project?
No, Soha oversees all Disabled Facilities Grants work in your home. We do not permit self managing Disabled Facilities Grants work.
Does my stair lift carry a warranty?
Usually, the contractor that installed your stair lift gives us a warranty of 12 months as standard. Soha can then take over on servicing and repairs on a service charge, for a yearly fee. Please note, that the cost of this service charge is subject to change. If you'd like more information on these charges please contact us for further guidance.
How long will this take?
Soha are committed to ensuring works are carried out in agreed timescales and our team work proactively to ensure this. However, we cannot control the work of external third parties that are involved in this process too. We will contact you if anything changes with your application.
What if my condition changes?
If you have had a change in your condition and an adjustment in your home no longer meets your needs, we would recommend contacting your occupational therapist for further guidance in the first instance.
What if I move house?
Your local authority will have some terms and conditions related to what happens if you move. If you move house within 5 years of a Disabled Facilities Grants work being carried out, depending on the circumstances, it is at the local authority's discretion as to whether you would need to pay back the cost of the works. This is not Soha's decision. If you need further information on this, we are happy to advise at the time of you moving and would recommend you contact us.