Foundations, the national body for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and home improvement agencies in England, has recently developed and launched its Trusted DFG Assessor Course.

In collaboration with The OT Service, the ‘Trusted DFG Assessor: Assessing and Adapting the Home’ course meets the required OCN standards and integrates the Foundations DFG decision-making process, ensuring practical and effective learning.

The course successfully combines assessment skills with an in-depth understanding of the DFG process, empowering professionals to make informed, confident decisions in their practice.

The Trusted DFG Assessor Course is a Level 4 OCN certified course that allows professionals to complete robust DFG assessments for home adaptations, evaluate the suitability of the environment, and provide a safe and preventative solution.

Delivered by leading experts in the housing sector, the course gives professionals the skills to understand the needs of the client and their environment, weigh the risks vs benefits, assess the legislative purposes of the DFG, and be able to decern when to pass cases back for a more complex assessment.

By taking the course, professionals will understand the purpose of the DFG relating to accessing the home and be able to complete a robust risk assessment. Professionals will also know when to prescribe daily living equipment and adaptations to the home.

Further learning outcomes include being able to measure an individual for major adaptations and understand environmental factors that may impact on the ability to install adaptations.

Professionals will also be aware of the daily living equipment and adaptations available and understand the role of the Trusted Assessor and when to refer clients to occupational therapy services.

In addition, the Trusted DFG Assessor Course will teach professionals how to set out which adaptations are “necessary and appropriate” with particular reference to facilitating access to the home and garden, access to the bedroom, and access to a shower, toilet, or washbasin.

Foundations has two upcoming locations for professionals to register for the Trusted DFG Assessor Course.

The first event takes place from 9.30am-4.30pm on 13 and 14 May at AKW Parsons House, Middlewich, Cheshire. Interested professionals can register here.

The second event takes place from 9.30am-4.30pm on 9 and 10 June at AKW Liberty House, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire. Interested professionals can register here.

The course was developed in response to feedback from the Foundations DFG Assessment 2023 Summit.