If you’re an Oxford City Council tenant with a disability and your home is becoming difficult to live in safely, we can offer a range of adaptations to help you stay independent. Our Disabled Adaptations Team works with Occupational Therapists (OTs) to identify your needs and arrange suitable alterations.
Types of adaptations available
Minor adaptations
These can often be installed without an OT assessment:
- grab rails
- other small supportive aids
Major adaptations
These require an OT assessment to determine what is 'necessary and appropriate', such as:
- over‑bath showers or level‑access showers
- access ramps
- stair lifts
- changes to kitchens and bathrooms to improve mobility
- other fixed mobility‑related home modifications
Who can apply?
Any Oxford City Council tenant whose disability affects their ability to safely use their home can apply.
For major adaptations, an OT will consider your individual situation and level of urgency.
How to apply
How to apply for minor adaptations
For minor adaptations such as grab rails, please contact us on 01865 249811.
How to apply for major adaptations
Step 1: Request an Occupational Therapy Needs Assessment
You must first contact Oxfordshire County Council Social and Health Care Team to request an assessment.
You will need to provide the following:
- your date of birth
- GP details
- contact telephone number
- description of the difficulties you’re having and what you think might help
Request a needs assessment (Oxfordshire County Council)
Step 2: Your OT assessment
An Occupational Therapist will:
- visit your home
- discuss the challenges you face
- assess how you move around and use your home
- recommend adaptations to Oxford City Council
Step 3: Council review and arranging the work
Once Oxford City Council receives the OT recommendation, the Tenancy Management Team will acknowledge the OT, notify the tenant we have received the OT recommendation, triage the proposals to understand whether works can begin immediately (for minor works) or contact the tenant for further information on their household circumstances.
We will:
- consider proposals
- arrange any property surveys
- appoint contractors where required
- for larger addaptations or extensions, we will need to carry out a detailed assessment of whether works are possible and affordable, where we propose to proceed, we will carry out a feasabilty assessment (large works may also require us to get planning permission and building control approval before work starts)
Timeframes for work to be completed
We complete straightforward adaptations as quickly as possible.
More complex work may require surveys or specialist contractors, which can extend timeframes. You will be kept informed throughout the process.
Tenant responsibilities
You may be asked to:
- allow access for assessments and works
- use adaptations appropriately
- report faults or problems as soon as possible
If your home can't be adapted
If adaptations are not feasible, we may discuss a move to a property better suited to your needs.
Contacts
To request an OT needs assessment contact the Social and Health Care Team at Oxfordshire County Council (via their needs assessment service).
For queries after the OT has sent a recommendation contact the Oxford City Council Contact Centre on 01865 249811.
