Occupational therapy service for children
We provide a client centred service for children with physical, perceptual, sensory and learning difficulties. The service is accessible to children from the ages of 0 to 16 years and aims to help each child overcome obstacles which may interfere his/her ability to function in the environments of:
- Home
- School/nursery
- Community facilities.
Occupational therapy assessment involves using specific tests to find out about a child's level of ability and his/her individual needs. An occupational therapist may assess the following skills:
- General development
- Motor skills including mobility, hand function, posture
- Co-ordination
- Sensory skills
- Perception
- Cognition
- Play
- Daily living tasks including dressing, toileting, feeding.
Therapy aims to facilitate the development of skills and abilities, helping children to overcome obstacles to learning opportunities. Intervention may involve:
- Individual or group treatment blocks (for 0-11 year olds)
- An Advisory Service for Secondary School Aged Children (for 11-16 year olds)
- Occupational therapy programmes for home and school
- Adaptive equipment (seating)
- Hand splinting
- Referrals
- An open referral system is in operation.