Special Needs Home Support Move On Scheme

Author: Redditch Borough Council   |   23/03/2009

The Council owns its own housing of 6,080 properties as the demand for housing outweighs the supply with 3,000 people on the Council’s waiting list; we had to look at ways of making best use of the Council’s stock. Through our equipment and adaptation work we recognised that properties were being adapted that later required further larger adaptations but were not necessarily enhancing or meeting the entire needs of the family. Our Tenancy Officers would be aware of families that were requesting stair lifts and walk in showers through the Occupational Health Therapist. However the Occupational Therapist’s role was only to assess the health needs of the person to help them remain in their property. The Tenancy Officers tried to assist with moving tenants when they were aware of these situations but due to work loads and no funding to help with the moves there were very few moves taking place. Properties were being adapted with, for instance, through ceiling stair lifts, when the person eventually did not require the property we were finding it hard to re-let and in some cases were having to take out the equipment which was not suitable to use in other properties or we were not able to store the equipment until it was needed.