Purpose

The council adopted a revised Financial Assistance Policy for Housing in January 2026.
In addition to the specific changes that were made to the policy it was proposed to renew the Senior Occupational Therapist in Housing (SOTH) provision through ECC, increasing to a full-time post from part time pilot, aligning with the other SOTHs within Essex.
The Occupational Therapist will work alongside housing officers to support the processing of disabled facilities grants and other adaptations / complex cases following successful part time provision.
The arrangement will be funded from the Council's Disabled Facilities Grant budget for an initial period of two years with a proposed cost of £145,096 over this period.
The aim of the arrangement is to provide a better service to residents and tenants who require home adaptations and to facilitate additional spending of the Council's disabled facilities grant budget. Housing officers will have direct access to an experienced Occupational Therapist for queries and assistance in designing adaptations.
This arrangement aligns Tendring with other districts already employing the services of full time Occupational Therapists in Housing.

Decision

To enter into and sign an agreement with Essex County Council for the provision of an Occupational Therapist working in the council’s Housing Grants team for two years with the option to extend.

Alternative options considered

The contract proposed by Essex County Council has taken into account the implications of LGR and it can be extended by mutual agreement until such time as the new authority takes over the statutory requirements of the services in question.