Community Occupational Therapy

The Community Occupational Therapy Team helps anyone who is elderly or disabled and is having problems with activities of daily living.  You can refer yourself for help, or someone else can contact us on your behalf.  All contacts to the Community Occupational Therapy Service are taken by Rothercare Direct.  They may be able to respond to your problem at the point of contact or they may pass your request to another agency, such as the Home Improvement Agency.  If they are unable to do this, your request will be passed to the Community Occupational Therapy Team.

What happens next?

An occupational therapist will assess the urgency of your request and either contact you straight away or within 28 days.  If you have not heard from us and your circumstances change following your initial contact with Rothercare Direct, then you should contact Rothercare Direct again, as we may need to respond to you more urgently.

Once your request is allocated to a member of the Community Occupational Therapy team, which could be to an Occupational Therapist or a Support Worker, they will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time to visit you and assess your needs.

What happens when the Occupational Therapist or Support Worker visit?

The occupational therapist or support worker will complete an assessment of how you are managing around your home and how you are able to get in and out of your home.  We will then be able to look at what services can be recommended to enable you to be more independent in getting into your home and doing the daily living activities around your home.  We may also, with your consent, refer you on to another service or professional who may be able to help you with some of the problems you are having.

We may arrange for a piece of equipment to be issued to you, such as a raised toilet seat, to help you to get on and off the toilet, or request an adaptation such as a second stair rail, to enable you to go up and down the stairs more safely.  We may also discuss with you whether you would consider moving to another property if you are struggling in your present property.

Equipment is provided by the Rotherham Equipment and Wheelchair Service (REWS), the Adaptations and Improvement Team process any adaptations we request on your behalf and the Medical Assessment Rehousing Team look at rehousing needs.

If you need further information, please contact Rothercare Direct.

You may also wish to view our service standards.

Other helpful websites are:

• Disabled Living Foundation
• South Yorkshire Centre for Inclusive Living
• College of Occupational Therapists

Service standard

View our Community Occupational Therapy service standard

Last Update: 21.11.11