I have a disabled daughter, she is 5 years old. She had complex needs as is a full time wheelchair user. Currently we are in a home where her needs aren’t being met and her occupational therapist has ruled as unsuitable. The occupational therapist wrote a housing report that explained the requirements and relevant adaptations needed to meet the needs of her disability. We are on a bidding system scheme through our county council to bid on potential properties with the intention to adapt. We have been number 1 in the system on 7 houses over the cause of a year, all owned by Bromford Housing Association. 5 of these properties were instant rejections by Bromford as they deemed them unsuitable as they stand, in which every property isn’t going to be suitable until the relevant work is completed to meet the needs. I did raise with my local MP and medical officer at the council and it was agreed when we are considered for a property, my daughters designated Occupational Therapist had to view any to deem them suitable. I’ve had issues with communication from Bromford, being ignored and also told me bidding on houses is wasting their time as well as my own. The 6th I visited with the OT, the local authority Grants Officer, and neighbourhood coach from Bromford housing, from the viewing we all agreed it was suitable and for the potential adaptions. Our case was put to Bromfords Adaptations Team, it took between 1-2 months for a response, in which they rejected. I requested as to why of the rejection and was told it wasn’t ‘feasible’. Some time later we were then number 1 on the 7th house, again me and the OT viewed along with the neighbourhood coach, who was the same person previously. Whilst visiting the property we agreed if it was ago ahead they’re was the relevant space to use until the work needs would be completed (from Paperwork to finish of build is estimated 2 years as advised by Grants Officer) it was a lot more space than we have now as we’re in a 2 bed property with no adaptions. They’re also was more than enough space at the back of the house for the adaptions needed, whilst we were viewing a member of the Bromford team was fitting in a kitchen explained that the good thing with the property was that in the outer building/side house they were decommissioning the toilet in that area and that the water mains needed for a wetroom/shower room were already there, decreasing potentially costs and construction. I expressed that I was happy with the viewing and agreed it was suitable. This again was put to the adaptations team at Bromford. Frustratingly again this was rejected, I asked for an appeal which is in Bromford guidelines but was told I wasn’t eligible because the rejection was down to the adaptations team. I also contact customer services to raise a complaint but again was told as I wasn’t a tenant to raise an appeal, they do not keep the properties on hold for appeal either so this property was bypassed to the next in line. The occupational therapy requested to speak to the adaptations team for a explanation as we were initially told that the rejected was due to it not being suitable. The team got back to the OT who asked for them to contact me to explain as she didn’t want to relay anything wrongly. I received a phone call on Tuesday, I spoke to a lady from the adaptations team who explained to me that it was rejected not based on any structural issues, as far as this was the house was suitable for adaptations however from the Housing Report produced by the Occupational Therapist. They said it wasn’t factual enough and assumed I would not move into a property until the adapts have been made and these should be done immediately, very confused I listened on and was also told they weren’t sure on where the funding for the work was coming from. They know the local authority would cover £30,000 of the quoted £45,000. As per legislation from Disabled Children, A legal handbook states ‘if a disabled child has an assessed need for an adaptions to a home which costs more than the maximum amount for a DFG, the law may require the shortfall to be met by the children’s services authority and/or the housing association’. The basis off which we were refused were because of this and this could of been resolved if relevant parties communicated, my daughter now has to keep suffering. If communication was used between Bromford, The council & Occupational Therapy, we still would not be in the position we are now. I feel as Bromford are people blaming for their incompetence and discrimination towards my daughter as they’ve described as ‘complex case’. Housing authorities, Children’s services and councils have the the duty to cooperate to ensure disabled children have their housing needs met.
I’ve had issues with getting back in contact with the adaptations team as I requested a list of each house that has been rejected and a explanation to as why, and yet again I am being ignored. They bleat on their website that they are an inclusion company however I have yet to see any form of this.
As I was writing this noticed a email from my daughter’s Occupational Therapist as a response from the adaptations team at Bromford.
They’ve stated at the last property we were most recently declined on, they aren’t willing to cost the shortfall and that they advise us to wait for a partial adapted house or wait for a purpose built home. This is pure discrimination on my daughter and her disability as they aren’t willing to accommodate her needs at all. They have let us be considered for properties, go through the lengthy process and they knew they weren’t going to meet needs. They know as a company there is no partially adapted properties available nor purpose build homes in our county. This is I’d say unlawful. As you can imagine how much upset and stress this is causing, why should my child be discriminated against because of her disability.
Has anyone had any similar situations?
I feel we are getting no where and my daughter is only young she is constantly growing and getting harder to for me carry up and down the stairs in the home.
Thanks, G x
