If you are having difficulty with day to day transfers and your mobility because of a medical health condition(s)/disability and would like to know what would make things easier and safer for you, you can contact the Occupational Therapy Service. They will assess your needs and make recommendations which may include the need for an overhead track ceiling hoist.
An overhead track ceiling hoist is used when a person is unable to stand and bear weight themselves to support them being moved from place to another. The person is held in a sling to be moved and lifted safely. Some types will lift a person from one place within a room. Other types can lift someone from anywhere in a room.
Angus Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) will arrange and fund this solution in council and owner occupied/privately rented homes and a recommendation will be made to your landlord if you reside in a Housing Association property.
OT will discuss alternative equipment options that may be more suitable in meeting your needs.
Who is involved?
Occupational Therapist (OT) (Angus Council)
An OT will be responsible for assessing your needs and recommending the overhead track ceiling hoist, other adaptations and/ or equipment that are essential in meeting your needs to allow you to live safely and independently in your home. Your OT is responsible in determining the need and urgency for the overhead track ceiling hoist and in organising the works. Your OT will also ensure that appropriate permission from the owner of the property has been obtained prior to any works being carried out. Your OT will also be responsible for ensuring that the overhead track ceiling hoist is serviced and maintained, and this will be arranged via the Dundee and Angus Equipment Service.
Contractor
The contractor is the person who has been asked to quote for the adaptations that have recommended for you.
For council and owner occupied/ privately rented homes, your OT will obtain a minimum of 2 quotes for the installation of the overhead track ceiling hoist and will ask representatives from the hoist companies and/or contractors to visit to assess the works required and prepare their quote.
The contractors may need to visit along with your OT and others if required, to discuss the works required. The contractor is responsible for raising any issues that may affect the installation of the overhead track ceiling hoist. The contractor is responsible for providing an estimate of the costs for the overhead track ceiling hoist and any associated works.
Housing Associations may have different contractors they can use for this type of solution. Your OT will advise you on this if this applies and how the works will be arranged.
Admin
Admin staff will raise the order required for the overhead track ceiling hoist. They will monitor the order and will liaise with your OT if any start dates are provided. Admin staff will reconcile any invoices received upon completion of the overhead track ceiling hoist installation.
Others
Other people may need to be involved to agree the installation of an overhead track ceiling hoist and any other associated works. We will tell you if this applies to you.
Your responsibilities
- It is important you understand your need for an overhead track ceiling hoist and the arrangements being put in place. You can contact your OT at any time.
- It is important you keep us informed of any changes in your circumstances that may affect the overhead track ceiling hoist being considered for you.
- Contractors and other personnel will need to visit you, so it is important that you allow these workers into your home. ALWAYS ask to see the caller’s identification before allowing them into your home.
- You must agree to use the overhead track ceiling hoist as instructed to ensure it remains in safe working order.
- You must agree to being contacted by the OT service to review the ongoing suitability of the overhead track ceiling hoist for you.
- You must agree to any new assessments being completed to ensure the overhead track ceiling hoist remains suitable for you.
- You must allow access as required to ensure the overhead track ceiling hoist is serviced and maintained.
Funding
The OT service currently fund overhead track ceiling hoists in council and private sector properties although this could be subject to change. The overhead track ceiling hoist will belong to Angus Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP).
AHSCP will meet the ongoing servicing and maintenance costs.
AHSCP will meet any removal costs should the overhead track ceiling hoist no longer be required.
If you require the overhead track ceiling hoist to be removed and then reinstated, for any reason, this must be completed by our agreed contractor and any costs incurred will be your responsibility.
The OT Service will discuss alternative funding options with you if this is required.
If you are a Housing Association tenant, the OT service can make recommendations to them if an overhead track ceiling hoist is required. Please refer to the major adaptation Housing Association section.
What happens next?
The overhead track ceiling hoist pathway information in the next section gives information on the stages involved. Remember, the timescales for overhead track ceiling hoists can vary and depend on several factors. These could include:
- The urgency for the overhead track ceiling hoist as per the OT assessment
- The design and specification for the overhead track ceiling hoist required
- The need for associated works – electrical work, strengthening work to existing roof joists
- Availability of the contractor to undertake the works
- The need for any alternative arrangements while works are being completed.
Overhead Track Ceiling Hoist Pathway – Council and Private Sector Housing
Stage 1 Initial approval in principle
This means an OT has assessed your needs and obtained approval in principle for the overhead track ceiling hoist to be installed from the designated OT/Team Manager (OT).
Timescales for this stage will vary from person to person.
Stage 2 Quotation preparation and obtaining permission
Your OT and the contractors will visit you in your home or alternatively, the contractors may visit themselves to consider the overhead track ceiling hoist installation. Your OT must obtain a minimum of 2 quotes or have clear rationale for why only 1 quote should be obtained. The contractor will take sizes of the room to allow a quotation for the overhead track ceiling hoist and any associated works to be prepared. It is important that you ask any questions you may have about the works.
Your OT will also liaise with the owner of your property if that is not yourself to ensure they are in agreement to the works being completed. We may be unable to support an overhead track ceiling hoist being installed if we can not obtain the required permission. We must obtain written permission before we are able to proceed.
Timescales for this stage will vary from person to person.
Stage 3 Final approval
Your OT will contact you upon receiving the quotations to ensure you agree with the works and decide on the preferred contractor. Your OT must approve and confirm the works they are supporting. This will then be reviewed and considered by the Team Manager (OT) who has 3 working days from receipt of the request.
Once approval is given the Team Manager (OT) will inform Admin so an order can be placed with the contractor.
Stage 4 Appointment of contractor
Your OT and/ or the contractor will advise you on the installation date for the overhead track ceiling hoist when this is confirmed. Your OT will continue to liaise with you while you are awaiting the overhead track ceiling hoist being installed. If any works are required to support the overhead track ceiling hoist being installed, your OT will arrange this. If you need to cancel the overhead track ceiling hoist once the contractor has been appointed, please inform your OT immediately.
Timescales for this stage will vary from person to person.
Stage 5 Completion of works
Whilst the works are on site, please contact your OT if any issues arise. Your OT will visit you at home to ensure the overhead track ceiling hoist is suitable in meeting your needs and will provide any necessary demonstration on the safe use of the overhead track ceiling hoist. Your OT will complete/ update any required documentation to support use of the overhead track ceiling hoist.
Timescales for this stage will vary from person to person.
Stage 6 Payment
Once the works are complete and you and your OT are satisfied with them, admin will process the payment for the works.
Overhead Track Ceiling Hoist Pathway – Housing Associations
The Housing association pathway will outline the stages involved.
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