Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) for Disability Modifications for Occupational Therapists
Who can initiate a request for modifications?
Registered occupational therapists who have been engaged by an authorised applicant on the NSW Housing Register, or a current tenant of a Homes NSW managed property (with appropriate consent in place); that work for NSW Health, aged care services, or an Allied Health Agency, including occupational therapists engaged through the NDIS or NDIA.
How do I request Home Modifications (Disability) for my client?
To minimise delays during the Home Modifications (Disability) process, we require a completed and signed Consent form to allow Homes NSW to discuss and exchange information about the client’s modification needs with a third party, or their agency support worker. It is ideal to lodge the completed consent form/s, signed by the client, at the same time an application for Home Modifications (Disability) is lodged.
The below consent form enables a client to nominate another person to act on their behalf. The client is required to sign the consent form nominating the occupational therapist to act on their behalf.
To enable Homes NSW staff to discuss any part of an application or the installation of disability modifications with the client’s occupational therapist or support person, including an NDIS support person, the client is required to also sign the below consent form:
When and how do I submit an occupational therapist report and the Occupational Therapist Summary Report?
Standard Modifications
Some Standard modifications do require an occupational therapist report and the Occupational Therapist Summary Report. Refer to the Table of Standard Modifications showing those Standard Modifications that do require these reports.
These reports can accompany the request for Standard Modifications when contacting the Maintenance Hub. If the reports are not lodged when requesting the Standard Modifications at the Maintenance Hub, they can be provided at a later date, generally around 7 days.
Homes NSW will contact the client, and the person for which the client has provided consent for us to do so, and request the occupational therapist report and the Occupational Therapist Summary Report. When Homes NSW receives the reports they will be provided to the Maintenance Hub to complete their assessment and decision.
Major Modifications
Every request for Major Modifications requires an:
- Application for Home Modifications Disability, and
- occupational therapist report, and
- Occupational Therapist Summary Report, and
- any necessary consent/s.
Applications for Major Home Modifications (Disability) are best lodged with the client’s Housing Services client service team, either in person or by email.
When an application for Home Modifications (Disability) is received without the reports
- the client’s Housing Services client service team will contact the client, and the person for which the client has provided consent for us to do so and request the occupational therapist report and the Occupational Therapist Summary Report be provided to the client service team, generally within 7 days. Housing Services will then provide the Application and reports to Housing Portfolio for their assessment of the application and to provide an outcome.
For approved housing applicants, once a public housing property has been identified and the client has accepted the offer of housing, the application for Home Modifications (Disability) can be lodged.
What do I do if I identify anything that may impact the health, safety or welfare of a client?
Any urgent health or safety concerns should be reported immediately to the Maintenance Hub by calling 1800 422 322.
Additionally, the Occupational Therapist Summary Report asks you to identify and:
- Immediately report any general property maintenance, including health and safety repairs to the Maintenance Hub 1800 422322. The Maintenance Hub operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- List all items from the Table of Standard Modifications that are required for the client to live safely in the property while the request for Major Modifications is assessed to determine an outcome.
What is the basis of assessment to approve a request for Home Modifications (Disability)?
Most Standard Modifications do not require any supporting evidence or an occupational therapist report.
For Standard Modifications to be approved:
- the modification requested must be listed on the Table of Standard Modifications
- any supporting documentation (if required) has been received
- Homes NSW has obtained any council or other approvals (where required). For clients in Headlease properties this includes approval from the property owner.
Homes NSW Housing Portfolio team will assess every request for Major Home Modifications (Disability) individually and on a case-by-case basis, as every person’s situation is unique.
There are two main factors taken into account:
- the required modifications are specifically related to the medical or disability need of the client for them to sustain a successful tenancy (that is, can they live safely and independently in the home)
- whether the home can be suitably and physically modified to meet the needs required.
For more information see the Approval Criteria section of the Home Modifications (Disability).
Why could a Major Disability Modification request be declined?
Reasons for declining your request may include (but are not limited to):
- the location cannot be easily accessed by builders to make the required changes,
- the way the property was originally built means it cannot be reasonably reinforced,
- the property may be for sale or redevelopment in the future,
- the property is headleased to an external property manager (eg. Private Landlord) who has declined the request for modifications,
- The changes may impact the property’s fire safety requirements.
What other reasons could affect my request?
Requests may be declined if they are not specifically health or disability related.
There may also be tenancy reasons, such as the person requiring the modifications is not an authorised occupant of the property or the property is over occupied.
How can I know the progress of my client’s request for Major Home Modifications (Disability)?
Homes NSW will aim to confirm receipt of an application for Major Home Modifications (Disability) within 3 working days.
Housing Portfolio will decide the outcome of your client’s application for Major Modifications and inform the relevant Housing Services’ client service team of that decision. Your client’s will receive a written response informing them of the decision on their application Home Modifications (Disability).
If the client has provided an appropriate consent to Homes NSW nominating you, you can contact your client’s local Housing Services client service team at any time during the application and Major Modification process, by phone or email.