Seating and posture
Assessment for armchairs, wheelchairs, cushions and supportive seating, looking at comfort, pressure care, posture and the ability to eat, talk or use the hands.
Equipment, seating and posture assessments
Independent occupational therapy advice on equipment that suits the person, their carers and their home, covering seating and posture, hoists and slings, moving and handling plans and hands-on training for the people giving care.
- Seating and posture assessment
- Hoist and sling selection
- Moving and handling plans
- We do not sell equipment
Request a quote
Tell us a little about what you need and we will be in touch to discuss the next steps.
Our service
Equipment and seating assessments with Private Occupational Therapy
Private Occupational Therapy assesses people for seating, posture, hoists, slings and daily living equipment, and writes moving and handling plans for families and care teams. The business does not sell equipment, so advice is based on the person rather than a product range.
An occupational therapist begins with an initial conversation, then assesses the person where the equipment will be used: at home, in a care setting or at school. A written report follows with specifications and reasons, and follow-up can include equipment trials, carer training and a review.
Your first steps
- A conversation about the main problem first
- A quote before the assessment goes ahead
- A report detailed enough to compare suppliers
- Hands-on training for the people giving care
- Liaison with case managers or care agencies, with consent
Who it's for
Who needs a seating and posture assessment?
A seating and posture assessment is worth considering when someone spends long periods in a chair or wheelchair and is uncomfortable, slipping or developing marks on the skin.
Wider equipment assessments suit families and care teams who are unsure how to move someone safely, case managers sourcing equipment for a client, and parents whose child has outgrown their seating. Care agencies often need a written plan before a new package can start.
Signs an assessment could help
- Sliding down or leaning in a chair
- Red marks or pressure concerns
- Carers straining during transfers
- Uncertainty about which sling to use
- A new or changing care package
- Equipment that sits unused
- A child outgrowing their seating
- Decline after illness or a hospital stay
What's included
What an OT equipment assessment covers
Most assessments focus on one or two of these areas, depending on the main concern.
Hoists, slings and transfers
Choice of hoist, sling type and size, and transfer methods for bed, chair, toilet and car, so the person and carers stay safe.
Bathing, toileting and beds
Bath lifts, shower chairs, commodes, toilet frames, profiling beds and bed levers matched to the room and the routine.
Children's equipment
Specialist seating, bathing and positioning equipment for children, with growth and school use in mind.
Paediatric occupational therapyMoving and handling plans and carer training
When someone needs help to move, everyone involved should follow the same safe method. A moving and handling plan sets out how each transfer is done, which equipment and sling are used, how many carers are needed and what to do if the person is unwell or more tired than usual.
Plans for families and care agencies
Plans are written in plain English so relatives, personal assistants and agency staff can all follow them. They are reviewed when needs change, for example after a fall, a hospital admission or a change in weight.
Hands-on carer training
Training happens in the home with the actual equipment. Carers practise each transfer while the therapist watches and adjusts technique, which builds confidence and lowers the risk of strain for everyone.
What good equipment advice aims to achieve
The aim is equipment that gets used every day because it works. Typical goals agreed at assessment include:
- Sitting comfortably for longer
- Better posture for eating and activity
- Lower risk of pressure injury
- Safer transfers with less strain on carers
- More independence in the bathroom
- Consistent handling by every carer
Equipment needs often link to the building itself. If a doorway, staircase or bathroom is the real barrier, a home assessment and adaptations visit can be combined with the equipment review.
How it works
How equipment and seating assessments work
Professional referrals and self-referrals follow the same route.
First contact
Send a few details about the person, current equipment and the main problem, plus any deadline such as a care start date.
Assessment
Posture, skin, movement and transfers are assessed in the setting where the equipment will be used.
Trial and recommendations
Options are trialled where possible, then set out in a written report with specifications and reasons.
Training and review
Carers are trained on the agreed equipment, and a review checks that everything works as intended.
Assessments at home, in care settings and at school
Assessments take place wherever the equipment will be used: family homes, supported living, care homes, schools and workplaces across Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland, Northumberland and County Durham. Seeing transfers and measuring in the real space matters, so this work is done in person. The areas we cover page has more detail.
Reports and how they are used
Each assessment produces a report with recommendations, specifications and the reasoning behind them. Families use it to buy with confidence, case managers and deputies use it to support funding decisions, and care agencies add the moving and handling plan to their care records. Referrers can find more on our page for professionals.
Fees and funding
Assessments may be self-funded or paid for through a personal injury claim, a case manager's budget, an insurer or a direct payment where the funder agrees. The fees and funding page explains the options.
FAQs
Equipment and seating assessment FAQs
Can you check equipment we already have?
Yes. Existing chairs, slings and bathing equipment are checked for fit and safety, and the report says whether each item can be adjusted, kept or should be replaced.
Can you write a moving and handling plan for our care agency?
Yes. The plan covers each transfer, the equipment and sling to use and the number of carers needed, and training can be provided for staff.
Can equipment be tried before buying?
Where suppliers offer demonstrations or trial loans, these can be arranged during the assessment so you see how an item works before committing.
Is this suitable for someone with a neurological condition?
Yes. Seating and handling needs often change with MS, Parkinson's or brain injury, and this work can sit alongside neurological rehabilitation.
Book an equipment or seating assessment
Send a few details about the person, the equipment they use now and what is not working, and Private Occupational Therapy will reply with a quote by email.