Occupational Therapy

The Community Occupational Therapy team works to improve your ability to do everyday tasks if you're having difficulties. We will assess you in your own home and suggest new ways of doing things, possibly by providing equipment or adaptations. These web pages will provide you with some information on:

The Community OT service

How to refer to our service

Contact Us
Access Care Team
01343 563999
accesscareteam@moray.gov.uk
To process your referral to the Community OT service, we require some details about your request. To ensure we can prioritise it effectively, we may ask for information regarding your health, occupational performance, support system, and home environment.

Direct Access for MINOR Adaptations - in development.

Moray community connecitons - AskSARA - An information tool to give you advice about privately purchasing products to assist your daily tasks.

How to organise collection of OT equipment you no longer need. - in development.

The Blue Badge Service in Moray - Blue Badge Scheme - Moray Council
 

Who we support

We provide equipment and adaptations for people at risk who meet the following criteria.

You are disabled as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act.

You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

You live in Moray as defined in Moray’s Policy Statement, Ordinary Residence. Care Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)

You are struggling with everyday tasks and without this support there is a ‘critical’ or ‘substantial’ risk to your safety, health and independence.

This means one of our staff have assessed that you need intervention and without this input there is a high risk that you will come to harm and won’t be able to do essential everyday tasks. This could mean you might not be able to go to the toilet, wash or dress yourself or access your home.

A full definition of ‘critical’ or ‘substantial’ risk is in Moray Council’s Eligibility Criteria for service provision.
 

What happens when you contact us?

If you feel that equipment or an adaptation to your home could help, you can refer to the service by contacting the Access Team

One of the team may call to ask you some questions to find out how we can help.

If you are eligible for support, you will be added to a waiting list – how long you will have to wait depends on how urgent your need is and how many other people are waiting.

If your situation changes while you are waiting, please call us again.

Once you get allocated a worker, they will arrange a time to come and visit you at home. If they think that an adaptation to your house or some equipment could help you, they will talk you through the next steps.
 

Choice and Self-Directed Support

You should be given as much choice as possible about your preferred solution as long as it is feasible, does not add to the cost and meets the outcomes identified by our assessment.

Self Directed Support options may be available in some circumstances; cases will be considered on an individual basis.
 

Understanding your needs now and in the future

An important part of our assessment is understanding what is important to you and how you support yourself in your day-to-day life. This is known as self-management, and it is one of the Scottish Government’s Health and Wellbeing priorities.

We will look at ways to help you help yourself as much as you can, supporting you to maintain or improve your abilities. This means that sometimes we will recommend exercise as well as lifestyle changes or refer you on to other services who can support you.

We will aim to provide equipment that supports you to maintain the physical ability you have rather than equipment that might reduce your levels of physical activity.

We may talk to you about:

  • What’s important to you, your family and your carers.
  • What you are able to do and what you are struggling to do.
  • Any risks to you being able to live independently both now and in the future.
  • Any support you have (both paid and unpaid).

We may need to speak to your medical professional, with your permission, to help us understand your long-term needs, and those of your carer.

Life limiting illness: We would not generally recommend an adaptation if we will not be able to complete it in time to provide you with significant benefit.

Short-term condition: We will not fund an adaptation if your symptoms are likely to improve in less than 12 months. If you have a short-term condition that is likely to continue for more than 12 months we will usually only provide advice or equipment.

Recovery after surgery: We will not fund an adaptation if you are due to have surgery or are in an active rehabilitation programme as your function should hopefully improve. We may review your situation following your surgery and post-operative recovery period.

Changes in circumstance: We will recommend removing any equipment and adaptations if, following a re-assessment, there is considerable risk to you and/or your carers.

Going on holiday: We will not provide equipment as we are unable to safely assess the environment.

Unsafe use: Though OT input will be aimed at increasing independence and facilitate positive risk taking, an OT will not knowingly prescribe a piece of equipment or adaptation when they know that this may cause harm, increase risk or be used in an unsafe way.

Carers: If you receive care and support from another person, their views and needs will be taken into account during the assessment process.
 

Assessing your home

The Scottish Government requires us to discuss alternative housing options at the earliest possible opportunity. If your home is not going to be suitable to meet your long-term needs, you may need to look at alternative housing as we will NOT adapt your home.

We will NOT adapt your home:

If health and safety regulations mean we cannot do this safely;

  • If we cannot find a cost-effective solution when compared with other options that are available
  • If your home is scheduled for demolition or in a state of serious disrepair;
  • If you are looking to move home;
  • If you move from a home which has been adapted for you to a home which needs to be adapted unless there is a reasonable rationale behind the move;
  • If you move into a home that has been adapted for someone else, we will not remove the adaptation unless previously agreed;
  • If you don’t have basic amenities (e.g. toilets or sinks) we will not provide these;
  • If you live in a housing association home and your landlord can offer an alternative home that meets your needs;
  • We will not provide alternative heating or alterations to heating systems.
  • Additional rooms & extensions

We will always consider other options before recommending an additional room or extension.

These might include:

  • Moving to a more suitable home.
  • Stair lifts or through floor lifts.

If an additional room or extension is recommended, we will work with the architect and the Housing Team (for Council tenants), the Housing Association (for Housing Association tenants) and Environmental Health (if you own your home).
 

If you live in more than one home

If you are cared for permanently in two settings on a regular basis, and you are a resident in Moray for a substantial part of each year, we will consider adapting your property in Moray.

If you make significant use of two properties in Moray, we will consider adaptations for your own home first. We will not recommend major adaptations for your second property.

If the Service user is a child who has a Court ordered Dual Parental Responsibility in place and requires adaptation in both properties we will assess the need and follow the adaptation process for both properties.
 

Getting help moving

If you live in a council house you can contact the Housing Services Team who can help you find a suitable house.

0300 123 4566

housing@moray.gov.uk

You may also find out online information about applying for Council Housing useful: Housing Options Guide - Moray Council
 

Permissions, Maintenance & Decorating

The homeowner/landlord must give permission for any adaptation, and if it is for a communal area we have a majority consent of those affected. Adaptations in communal areas should not affect other’s use of the area or add hazards. For example, a Stairlift in a communal staircase would affect people using the area in an emergency and be a trip hazard.

Maintenance and removal of all equipment and/or adaptations are the responsibility of the home owner/landlord – this includes any associated decorating.

The exception to this is Straight Stair lifts and Ceiling Track Hoist systems - see relevant section.
 

Funding

Funding for major adaptations depends on who owns your home.

If you own your home or rent a home privately, we may be able to support you to apply for a Home Improvement Grant.

To apply, an Occupational Therapist from Health and Social Care must agree the work in writing.

If you live in a Council or Housing Association property the landlord will normally fund the adaptation.

The final decision on whether an adaptation takes place will lie with owners of the property.

We will always recommend the most cost-effective solution. If you would like a more expensive option, you are responsible for paying for the extra cost. This must still be a safe and functionally appropriate option that is agreed by the assessing Occupational Therapist.

We generally do not provide small equipment which is widely available to purchase such as small kitchen aids, bathing aids or shoehorns. However these may be provided in exceptional circumstance to aid acute recovery or reduce care needs.

You can also contact 0300 123 45 63 and ask to be referred to our Welfare Benefits Team to ensure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.
 

Contact Us

Access Care Team

01343 563999

accesscareteam@moray.gov.uk

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