Waiting list for occupational therapy more than halved

The waiting list for Shropshire Council’s occupational therapy has more than halved as a result of closer working with housing services.

A number of occupational therapists now sit with the private sector housing team, which has meant that between April 2015 and July 2015, the waiting list has reduced by 63% from 365 service users in April, to 135 service users in July.

This improvement is a result of increased interaction and communication amongst staff about the Disability Facilities Grant (DFG) process – a fund that people can apply for to get adaptations in their home, allowing them to remain independent for longer. Face-to-face discussions have enabled this process to run more smoothly, and queries are now being dealt with in a much more timely and efficient way.

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, said:

“This is fantastic news. It just goes to show how a relatively simple change like this can make a big difference to people’s lives.

“People are now getting a better response, much quicker and it’s something we’re focusing on across adult services. It’s all part of our commitment to supporting people to live happily in their own homes for as long as possible.”

Previously, all of the occupational therapists worked within north Shropshire. Due to the success of the arrangement, there are now plans to bring them all together to work with the private sector housing team.

All of the therapists also continue to work within the communities they support where they assess service users within their homes and environment, giving them advice, equipment and both minor and major adaptations.