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Millbrook Healthcare took over the contract for Worcestershire’s Promoting Independent Living Service on 1 April 2020 to deliver the home improvement agency for the six district councils in Worcestershire.

As part of the Promoting Independent Living Service, Millbrook’s team of customer service coordinators, technicians, caseworkers/technical assistants, technical officers and an occupational therapist, will provide a range of services.

These range from home adaptations, housing repairs, occupational therapy services and hospital discharge packages.

Under the new contract, the provider will deliver minor adaptations and handyperson services. This covers work up to £1,000 aimed at preventing falls at home by installing independent living aids, such as rails, ramps, half steps and fixed toilet frames, to make it easier for residents to move around their homes safely. It also provide miscellaneous items to help people stay independent for longer, such as key safes and lever taps.

Millbrook Healthcare will also offer major adaptation services, covering work over £1,000 that have been assessed by an occupational therapist (OT) or trusted assessor to help people live at home and to enable safe access to their bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.

The provider will also receive dedicated funding to facilitate hospital discharges. This means Millbrook Healthcare will carry out works to clients’ homes, like installing stairlifts and accessible showers, to facilitate fast-track hospital discharge for patients, who would otherwise be prevented from being discharged to go home.

Working closely with the local community teams, Millbrook Healthcare will further provide occupational therapy services that can be accessed for ongoing cases by its team, private clients and those who have been waiting the longest time on the community team waiting list.

Additionally, essential repairs will be carried out where there is a health and safety risk to householders. This includes roof, chimney, window renovations, heating and electrical works. Millbrook will assist with essential heating repairs for those with health conditions impacted by poor heating, using funds provided by the Foundations Independent Living Trust.

The provider will also help to find alternative housing for clients who are unable to continue living in their current home, such as by navigating the choice-based lettings systems for local housing associations, helping owner occupiers access services to arrange for sale of their home, helping to organise removal services, or information about local care home and retirement housing.

Kate Curran, Service Centre Manager at Worcester HIA, said: “Joining Millbrook Healthcare Group in April 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, was an interesting time with lots of challenges, not least because we couldn’t carry out some of our jobs on site.

“However, over the past year, we’ve come together as a team to make a difference to people’s lives and we’re pleased that with lockdown restrictions easing, we can get back to all our jobs on site.”

Millbrook Healthcare specialises in the provision of community equipment, wheelchair, assistive technology and home improvement agency services to the NHS and local authorities.

Last month, the provider was announced as one of two successful bidders to deliver technology-enabled care (TEC) services throughout Essex to support independent living.

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