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Children's Occupational Therapy
About our service
Occupational Therapists (OTs) provide a community service for children and young people registered with a Herefordshire GP or Herefordshire council tax household (if referral is for home adaptations/equipment at home)
The role of the Occupational Therapist is to assess, evaluate, advise and/or provide intervention for children and young people whose participation in activities of daily living (including self-care, play, leisure and school) is significantly compromised by physical, motor, sensory or learning difficulties.
We also support children and young people where there are barriers in the physical environment at home or nursery/school that impact on function i.e. access to building and facilities, transfers, seating for function.
Assessments take place in a variety of settings including clinics, home, educational facilities, pre-school and other environments applicable to the child.
Standardised and non-standardised assessments are used to identify factors affecting a child’s ability to participate in activities of daily living and any difficulties with this. If appropriate, following assessment, interventions will be recommended which may include advice for parents/schools, workshops, group or individual treatment sessions, equipment or environmental adaptation recommendations.
The team work in partnership with children and young people, their families / carers, education, healthcare and social care professionals, and are part of a multi-disciplinary approach.
Children’s Community Occupational Therapy service leaflet. What is Children’s OT and what do we do.
Department outline
The department is staffed by seven Occupational Therapists and three Occupational Therapy Technicians, most are part time but working patterns provide cover across the working week.
All Occupational Therapists are HCPC registered.
Occupational therapy sensory workshop/sensory information and resources for parents and carers
Follow THIS LINK for more information about the Children's Occupational Therapy Sensory Workshop.
Occupational therapy Life skills workshop/life skills information and resources for parents and carers.
Follow THIS LINK for more information about the Children's Occupational Therapy Life skills Workshop.
Referrals
- Referrals should be made using the childrens occupational therapy referral form below and emailed directly to the team using the email address provided on the referral form. Please see below re advice line.
Who can refer?
Referrals are accepted from Health Care Professionals, Social Care Teams, and Education.
Referral advice line for those referring to the service
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Our Children’s occupational therapy referral advice line is open on Wednesday mornings, 9am to 11am, phone 01432 269584. The role of the WVT occupational therapists is to assess, evaluate, advise and/or provide intervention for children and young people (aged 0 to 18 or 19, if in special education), whose participation in activities of daily living (including self-care, play, leisure and school) is significantly compromised by physical, motor, sensory or learning difficulties.
The service supports children and young people (aged 0 to 18 or 19, if in special education), where there are barriers in the physical environment at home or nursery/school that impact on function i.e. access to building and facilities, transfers, seating for function.
How to contact us
Children’s Occupational Therapy Team
Benet Building
Ruckhall Lane
Belmont
Hereford
HR2 9RZ
Tel: 01432 269584
Links with other departments
The Occupational Therapy team works together with colleagues including Health Visiting, Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy and the Wheelchair Service
Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding Bank holidays)
The Childrens Occupational Therapy team is not an emergency service and there may be times when messages cannot be responded to the same day.
If medical advice or assistance is required consider phoning 111, 999, your GP, or the Children’s Ward if you have open access.
Equipment breakdown and repairs (i.e. hoists and hospital beds): contact NRS 0300 1000045
Useful links:
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Resources on activities to support sensory differences - Joining in with sensory differences
- BBC information, resources and ideas for activities for children - BBC Tiny Happy People
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Autism West Midlands resources, including links for Herefordshire based initiatives - Autism West Midlands