AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessible showering and kitchen solutions, is pleased to announce a new partnership with The Occupational Therapy Service to deliver a fully integrated Clinical Adaptation Service for housing associations and local authorities.
The new service combines independent occupational therapy expertise with AKW’s established design, manufacturing, surveying and supply capabilities, creating a single, coordinated pathway for housing adaptations. The partnership has been developed to improve outcomes for residents, deliver greater value for money, and reduce pressure on statutory occupational services.
A connected approach to housing adaptations
The Clinical Adaptation Service enables occupational therapy assessments, adaptation specifications, surveying, quotation, and materials supply to be delivered through a single coordinated visit, led jointly by AKW and The Occupational Therapy Service.
By removing fragmentation across multiple stages of the adaptation process, the service helps to reduce delays, minimise errors and ensure that solutions are both clinically appropriate and technically robust.
Delivering improved efficiency and value
The integrated model supports housing providers and local authorities by streamlining what has traditionally been a complex and multi-stage process.
Housing providers benefit from a single point of contact from assessment right through to specification and supply, faster turnaround times, and a reduction in abortive works and re-adaptations. This approach also supports improved resident satisfaction and long-term asset performance using high-quality, standardised solutions.
For local authorities, the service provides access to independent occupational therapy assessments without impacting existing statutory resources, helping to reduce waiting lists and backlog pressures. Clinically robust recommendations also support Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and capital funding decisions, while improving compliance and auditability.
A clinically led end-to-end solution
The Clinical Adaptation Service includes:
- Independent, person-centred occupational therapy assessments.
- Clinically led adaptation specifications aligned to residents’ needs.
- Professional surveying and technical validation.
- Transparent quotations with strong cost control.
- High-quality, durable materials designed for long-term use.
By aligning clinical assessment with technical delivery, the service reduces duplication, improves accuracy, and supports better budget predictability for commissioners and housing providers.
Supporting better outcomes for residents
The partnership is focused on delivering long-term, sustainable outcomes for residents by ensuring adaptations are appropriate from the outset.
This includes supporting greater independence and safety within the home, reducing the risk of falls and hospital admissions, and enabling homes to adapt as residents’ needs change over time, ultimately improving wellbeing, dignity and quality of life.
A differentiated approach in the market
Unlike traditional delivery models where clinical assessment, surveying and supply are managed separately, the partnership between AKW and The Occupational Therapy Service provides a fully integrated, clinically led solution designed for the housing sector.
This connected approach ensures that adaptations are delivered efficiently, accurately and with long-term performance in mind.