Delivering housing solutions for older people and people with disabilities
We offer home solutions that can help you to manage staying safe at home. We can talk to you about the range of services available.
The Home Solutions Team includes our Team Support Officers, Keyworkers and Surveyors.
We work across Cornwall offering solutions that can help people stay safe at home. This includes:
Adapting your home
Providing you with equipment
Financial advice and assistance
Moving you to more suitable and appropriate accommodation
household maintenance and repairs if you have a disability and/or are over 60
You can access the complete Cornwall Home Solutions support information for people with disabilities:
Housing Assistance Policy key points - easy-read version
Please note:
Relocation Support Grant: Clients moving out of temporary accommodation may only be eligible where:
you have an ongoing DFG (Disabled Facilities Grant) relocation support case
the move is supported by a named Occupational Therapist and
funding has been pre-approved.
Requests for adaptations to accommodate non-prescribed wheelchairs or mobility scooters will not be eligible.
Housing support, advice and assistance
Home solutions offer advice and assistance to people with disabilities. This is for things like moving home or adaptations to help live independently at home. We may be able to assist by providing the following:
Explaining your housing options to help you to decide which solutions are best for you
Supporting you to find a more suitable property if a house move is deemed most appropriate to meet your needs
Advising on what financial support may be available to help with a house move or adapting your home
Giving advice about reliable local builders and contractors
Signposting to other local support services
Checking your eligibility for a Disabled Facilities Grant. Assisting with access charitable funding
Helping with any adaptations you decide to have carried out in your home
Drawing up plans and specifications for adaptations to your home
Obtaining any necessary permissions (such as planning or building control) required to adapt your home
Getting estimates, instructing your preferred contractor and monitoring works in progress to adapt your home
Coordinating input from a range of professionals such as occupational therapists as and when needed
Handyperson services, to carry out small jobs around your home
Our team have a broad range of experience to support your individual needs. We are committed to using TrustMark registered contractors. Contact us on 01872 224707 or email adaptationsteam@cornwall.gov.uk
Handyperson safety related works
The way we deliver the Handyperson Service has changed. We now provide a grant-funded service for safety-related work. Examples of typical safety-related tasks include:
installing or checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
fitting door chains and key safes
clearing and cleaning slippery pathways
reducing indoor fall hazards
carrying out minor tap repairs
replacing light bulbs.
We no longer offer assistance with general domestic household tasks. The grant is means-tested, and if eligible, customers will receive safety-related work at no cost. All eligible work will be carried out by our approved contractors.
Occupational therapy
An occupational therapist helps people of all ages overcome challenges completing everyday tasks or activities – what we call ‘occupations’.
Occupational therapists see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations. They look at relationships between the activities you do every day – your occupations – alongside the challenges you face and your environment.
Occupational Therapy staff will help you find practical solutions to lead a more fulfilling life. Occupational Therapists have;
a specific statutory role to assess individuals who could benefit from adaptations within their home environment. This might include providing access in and out of your property or to principal living areas such as the kitchen, living room or bathroom. They also work closely with the Technical Officers and the Handyperson service who install minor adaptations to support activities of daily living.
can offer advice on adapting your home to meet your needs and make recommendations to facilitate that.
may provide specialist advice to ensure that individuals are able move to a suitable property if their existing home cannot be adapted.
as part of their intervention, occupational therapists may use their specialist knowledge and expertise in using equipment to promote independence and wellbeing.
provide help and training in daily activities.
build confidence and participation in leisure, learning and work activities.
The Occupational Therapy staff visit you at home, assess your needs and work with you (and your family) to secure a solution. Often advice or minor adaptations and equipment such as grab rails, or a bath seat, can be enough to help you get back to managing independently and can be fitted very quickly. Occupational Therapy staff will talk with you about all options, including moving to a more appropriate property.
Sometimes larger adaptations are needed like a ramp or stair-lift and we recommend what will best suit your situation. These solutions may take longer to arrange, or your needs may be better met by moving home.
The Council offers a range of support to help you find a solution that’s best for you. To find out more, visit our Health and Social Care pages
Referrals for Occupational Therapy
Or contact Adult Social Care on 0300 1234 131.
You can request help for a child via the following link: Early help - Cornwall Council or by calling 01872 322277