Report Requirements
In addition to the required forms, Occupational Therapists must ensure they include the following information as part of their home modifications report, concept drawings and specifications. Incomplete requests will delay the outcome for a patient and increase the administrative effort for both the prescriber and the program.
Here is a checklist to help you ensure adequate detail is included to support the request:
Client details:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Preferred daytime contact number
- Alternative daytime contact number
- If an interpreter is required
Occupational Therapist (OT) details:
- Full name
- Organisation
- Email address
- Preferred daytime contact number
- Days (and time) available
- Disclaimer that includes OT roles and responsibilities
- If supervision is required and has been sought (this is necessary for any OT who is prescribing home modifications that is not within their usual scope of practise. Please speak to the EnableNSW SASH HM team if unsure).
Document requirements:
- Use organisation letterhead and departmental templates
- Insert page numbers (preferred format – page X of Y)
Requirements for all home modification requests (minor or major)
- Date of home visit
- Clear and concise description of modifications required (i.e. scope of works)
- Property considerations such as steel framed house, double brick walls, aluminium cladding, existing flooring
- Location of existing fixtures
- Environmental considerations such as clutter, access, ongoing constructions works
- Measurements are in millimetres (mm), use a computerised drawing program if available
- Relevant measurements on the diagrams and in the report including (but not limited to) length of rail, key fixture points, height from finished surface
- Photographs and/or drawings of proposed work
- Work, Health and Safety (WHS) issues or concerns
- Reference Australian Standards (AS 1428.1: 2021) and indicate if proposed works deviate from Australian Standards
Additional requirements for all MAJOR home modification requests
- Date of joint home visit with a certified builder/provider (completed or planned)
- Plan of home layout. This may be referred to as ‘birds eye view’ or ‘mud map’ for overview of home and property
- Structural considerations that may impact the modifications
- Ramp measurements including height of steps, dimensions of landings/platforms, gradients, length of ramp, proposed material
- For all bathrooms: existing and proposed floor plan, dimensions, elevations (including windows), fixtures, zoning (if applicable)
- Specific information for installation of platform lifts, stair lifts, ceiling hoists etc