Getting an occupational therapy assessment

What does an occupational therapist do?

An occupational therapist (OT) helps people manage everyday activities. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists says an OT will "consider your strengths, abilities and health care needs", find out what you want and need to do, and look at whether your home helps or gets in the way. That can include "adaptations to your home".

For your bathroom, an OT can:

• watch how you get in and out of the bath or shower, and on and off the toilet
• suggest equipment, such as a bath board, shower seat or raised toilet seat
• say where grab rails should go
• recommend bigger changes, such as a level-access shower, if they are needed

Why get an assessment first?

• Safety. An OT can tell you what is safe for you, now and as your needs change.
• Cost. In England, aids and minor adaptations costing £1,000 or less are free if your assessment shows you need them. See free equipment and small adaptations.
• Grants. Councils usually need an assessment before they will give a grant for bigger work.
• Avoiding mistakes. A specialist bath or a wet room is expensive. An assessment helps you choose the right thing.

How to ask in England

1. Contact adult social care at your local council. The NHS says you can "call them or do it online". You can also find your council through GOV.UK (opens another website).
2. Ask for a needs assessment. The NHS says "the needs assessment is free and anyone can ask for one". You can ask for yourself or for someone you care for.
3. If you may need changes to your home, you may be referred for a separate home assessment. The NHS says "having a home assessment is free".
4. An OT visits you at home. The NHS says they will "ask you questions and walk around with you to see what you struggle with", and that assessments usually take at least an hour.

Wales

If you own your home, the Welsh Government says to contact your local council, which "may send an occupational therapist to see you". If you rent from a private landlord, the council or a housing association, it says to contact your landlord.

Scotland

mygov.scot says to contact your council's social work team, who will arrange a care needs assessment. Care Information Scotland says you can refer yourself to an OT through your council's social care department, or ask your GP, nurse or social worker to refer you.

Northern Ireland

nidirect says that in most cases you need a referral to your local occupational therapy service at your Health and Social Care Trust. It says you may be able to refer yourself, or your GP or social worker can help you get in touch.

Getting ready for the visit

• Think about what you find hard, and when (for example, at night or when you are tired).
• Write down any falls or near-misses.
• If someone helps you, ask them to be there.
• Have a list of your medicines and conditions to hand.
• Ask what will happen next and how long it might take.

Private occupational therapists

If you do not want to wait, or want advice the council does not give, you can pay for a private OT. RCOT says private OTs "will charge a fee for their services", and "there is no set fee", so ask what they charge and what it includes.

• You can search the Find an occupational therapist directory (opens another website) run by RCOT's independent practice section.
• RCOT recommends contacting more than one and comparing.
• All OTs must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). RCOT says the number usually looks like "OT" followed by five numbers. You can check the HCPC register (opens another website).

If you are hoping for a grant, ask the council first whether it will accept a private occupational therapist's report.

Questions people ask

How do I get an occupational therapist to visit?

Contact adult social care (social work) at your local council and ask for an assessment for equipment or home adaptations. In Northern Ireland, contact the occupational therapy service at your Health and Social Care Trust. In England, the NHS says the needs assessment and the home assessment are free. You can also pay for a private occupational therapist.

This guide is general information, not medical, financial or legal advice. Everyone’s needs are different. Speak to an occupational therapist, your GP or the organisations we link to before making decisions.