What's New
MAY 2010 - IMPLEMENTING CHANGING PLACES SUSTAINS AN ‘OUTSTANDING’ FACILITY
A college already rated ‘outstanding’ in its approach to social and educational
inclusion has continued to exceed basic requirements, right through to its
provision of personal hygiene facilities………
Harrow College, with help from the UK’s leading disabled toileting solutions
provider Total Hygiene, has become the latest educational facility in the UK
to install a ‘Changing Places’ toilet, part of the criteria under the new BS8300:2009
Accessible Building Design Code of Practice.
Within the student refectory area, to optimize accessibility, the ‘Changing
Places’ toilet at Harrow not only includes an overhead hoist coverage system,
changing table, shower with shower seat, privacy screen and height adjustable
wash basin and a Clos-o-Mat ‘wash and dry’ toilet, all supplied, installed
and commissioned by Total Hygiene. The ‘Changing Places’ facility complements
Harrow College’s established commitment to disability equality, which has already
resulted in it being rated ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED for its approach to social
and educational inclusion.

Ian Kavanagh, facilities manager at the College, explained, “Our Occupational
Therapist asked for a package of facilities to support current students- primarily
a Clos-o-Mat toilet, adjustable table and hoist. We researched for the best
advice and guidance to meet that requirement, and as a result developed a partnership
for the project with Total Hygiene. The company helped us create the most accessible
facility possible within budget, that went beyond immediate needs and will
provide the flexibility to accommodate most students’ requirements for the
foreseeable future, so delivering ‘best practice’.”
The ‘Changing Places’ concept has been pioneered by the Changing Places Changing
Lives consortium, to provide combined toilet, shower and changing room for
use by people with complex and multiple disabilities who require the help of
up to two carers. Core requirements are for a minimum 12m2 room equipped with
peninsular toilet, changing table, hoist, shower and seat, disposal bins, height
adjustable wash basin and privacy screen. To date there are over 100 facilities
across the UK, in locations ranging from colleges to leisure centres.
Total Hygiene is the consortium’s sole commercial partner, and in addition
to being able to supply, install and commission the core Changing Places equipment,
can provide additional aids to further extend inclusivity of the facility-
such as the Clos-o-Mat ‘wash and dry’ toilet and Aerolet toilet lift.
The Clos-o-Mat is the only WC of its kind developed specifically for the disabled,
and with WRAS approval to enable legal connection to the mains water supply.
The unit looks like, and can function as, a conventional WC but includes integral
douche and drier to eliminate the need for the user to wipe clean after toileting.
The Aerolet toilet lift can be fitted over a conventional WC or Clos-o-Mat,
and replicates natural body motion, gently raising and lowering the user to
position them accurately over the toilet as required whilst enabling the feet
to remain in contact with the floor and maintaining the centre of gravity above
the feet for balance. After toileting, the Lift can be raised by degrees to
ease access for cleansing.
Total Hygiene is the UK’s biggest-selling manufacturer of toileting aids,
with over 30,000 Clos-o-Mats now installed throughout the country. The company
has over 40 years’ experience restoring dignity and independence to disabled
people in toileting, and is unique in its provision of a national design, installation
and commissioning service, backed up with its own in-house team of dedicated
service engineers. Full details of the products and services are available
on this website.
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