Accessing our services
We want to ensure that everyone has the same access to our services, whatever their personal circumstances. Our goal is to help people live independently, comfortably and with dignity. This could mean that we sometimes need to make alterations – called reasonable adjustments – to accommodate someone's needs.
We also believe that everyone should be able to access any information we provide online or in print. Please click on the link below if you'd like to view this webpage using our online accessibility tool 'Recite Me'.
What's a reasonable adjustment to a home?
A reasonable adjustment is a legal term, defined by the Equality Act 2010. It could, for instance, be a modification or alteration to someone's home to accommodate their needs as an individual with disabilities.
What's done will vary depending on personal circumstances and the nature of the disability but we'll do our best accommodate requests, even if the disability is not defined by the Equality Act. We want our customers to tell us what they need at the earliest opportunity.
We're dedicated to providing tailored support to customers by working with professionals such as occupational therapists. This ensures that any necessary adaptations - minor or major - are carefully considered and the implementation will be based on individual assessments.
Major adaptations, such as accessible bathrooms, will require funding. This is often via a Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) and sometimes via charitable funding. We'll ensure that the right solutions are implemented to meet each customer's needs and will make sure that the appropriate permissions are granted.
Sage Homes employees are given mandatory training to ensure that this approach is embedded when delivering our services. You can find out more about how we can make reasonable adjustments in our Helping You Access Our Services policy.
Who can make a reasonable adjustment?
Sage customers can make a request themselves. They can also do so via:
- A referral from a local authority or other relevant agency
- A family member who has been given permission to contact us
Our employees may also suggest a reasonable adjustment when they're aware it will support a customer's needs. Customers can challenge decisions about reasonable adjustments through our complaints process.
When you've been nominated for a new home
If you’ve been nominated for a home with us and you require an adaptation, we'll first need to check and confirm that the property will be suitable. We may also need to consult your occupational therapist for guidance.
We'll do our best to enable you to live independently and enjoy a good quality of life through the provision of aids and adaptations whenever it's viable and cost-effective to do so. We'll also make maximum use of any additional funding where it's available.
Policies
How to request a reasonable adjustment
Please contact us if you would like to request a reasonable adjustment. We’ll assess your needs and discuss what can be done. You can call Customer Services on 020 8168 0500 or email us at enquiries@sagehomes.co.uk.
If we do make an adjustment, we’ll ensure that we collaborate with you throughout the process and keep you fully informed about what’s happening.
Making our communications accessible
Digital access
We've added tools to our website and the My Sage Home portal to make them more accessible. 'Recite Me' offers users more options, for example, you can make font sizes bigger or view different website colours. There’s also a ‘read aloud’ tool and a button which translates content into over 100 languages. Learn more about Recite Me here.
Recite Me can be accessed above and also via the 'Accessibility tools' button at the top-right of the site and portal when viewing from a laptop. If viewing from a mobile device, the Recite Me icon can be seen at the top of the screen: 
Printed documents
We can make documents or letters available in different formats, including large print, easy-read, audio recordings or braille. We can also provide translation services or an interpreter.
If you'd like more information about our communication services, please email communications@sagehomes.co.uk or call 020 8168 0500.