Occupational Therapy News OTnews February 2020 | Page 18

FEATURE HOUSING ‘In one property we also put biometric fingerprints at the front door so the child won’t abscond and raised the fences to the highest levels, as well as putting in digital pads in the kitchen and bathroom. It worked well for that family. ‘In other properties we had to do a lot of post- occupation adaptation requests so we can use that as evidence in future about cost.’ The autism work forms part of an ambitious programme in Tower Hamlets. That includes the council building its own properties – 2,000 new units across 16 schemes. The success of the borough’s multidisciplinary approach has garnered attention. A recent opening was attended by London mayor Sadiq Khan and Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs, and other local authorities have visited to see the work. Replicating success Case study Salim is a disabled child who had to share a room with his brother in his previous property, a a two-bedroom partially wheelchair adapted property on the first floor with a lift that frequently broke down. The family has now moved to a five-bedroom ground floor wheelchair accessible maisonette. The new property is fully wheelchair accessible with enclosed through floor lift, wet floor shower and ceiling track hoist in Salim’s bedroom. ‘Salim now has his own bedroom with enough space for his specialist equipment,’ say his family. ‘He now has privacy and dignity with his personal care which is completed while he is in bed, and as a full-time wheelchair user he will not miss school or hospital appointments due to lift breakdown.’ So what does the team recommend for other areas to replicate its successes, especially given that most areas will not have the rate of building that Tower Hamlets does? ‘I don’t think it matters about numbers – whether it’s five or 500, you still want those units to be right,’ says Nerys. ‘The key thing is to build links with your planning department and get them early in the development. If you do that early there’s a lot of will to make changes. on finished properties to ensure that the One of the ‘But if you do it fit is what was approved has helped positives of having two weeks before flag a few units in the borough that occupational therapists handover, when the had deviated from the plans, and kitchens and bathrooms enforcement teams have then got in the housing team is we are in, they won’t be involved. are experts in our role and happy if you ask to take Says Tom: ‘The borough is understand the policy them out.’ paying an awful lot of money for The team’s innovative these, so we are passionate about really well. approaches have getting homes for life built. And be run concurrently with its confident and up to date in your thinking. standard work on housing needs What do I want from a wheelchair property? assessments, so organisation is key. She What do I want for this family? How can you advocate recommends setting up a working group to ensure a for the wheelchair users?’ multidisciplinary approach stands the best chance of It’s an approach that reflects the wider work in success. Tower Hamlets – building relationships with planners Kaltun recommends thinking about the widest and developments in order to advocate for the possible range of residents in your area. ‘Think eventual tenants. outside the box,’ she says. ‘If you’re going to see a ‘We push those boundaries a bit,’ says Tom, wheelchair property, see what else is available in the ‘but you need to know those plans and forge those other potential properties. Think widely on how you relationships.’ can influence the developers at the developing stage.’ And Tom recommends making sure that an Andrew Mickel, OTnews journalist, email: enforcement process is in place too. Checking back [email protected] ‘‘ 18 OTnews February 2020