The Children’s Occupational Therapy service offers a child and family centred approach to support children and young people with their independence in all aspects of daily living, such as self-feeding, dressing and participating in play and school activities. The service is available to children and families across Hertfordshire.
We work in partnership with parents/carers and other colleagues to promote positive outcomes for children by using a range of approaches that are individually tailored to each child and family. This may include the provision of an activity plan, specialist equipment, treatment sessions or training to parents, carers and school staff. This is achieved through individual assessments, treatment, advice and multi-agency working.
The Children’s Occupational Therapy Service in Hertfordshire is integrated across health and social Care, which means in addition to the support above the service can also provide assessment and advice on adaptations to your home or child’s school environments to meet their specific needs.
The Children’s Occupational Therapy Service supports children from 0 - 18 years old.
We also support young people aged 18 - 19 years old who have a statement of Educational Need or an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who are attending schools in Hertfordshire.
Please use the links on this site to find out more about us and how to contact the Children’s Occupational Therapy Service.
Children's Occupational Therapy Service poster
Children's Occupational Therapy leaflet
Health related issues
Children and young people are referred to the service for an assessment of their functional ability from other NHS Health Professionals, such as your GP, Health Visitor or School Nurse.
Home environmental issues
Referrals can be made by anyone involved with your child including you as parents or carers.
All referrals sent to the service are triaged using a selection process based on the information provided by the referrer to see if the child meets the criteria for an assessment.
Once a referral has been accepted the family will be contacted to arrange an appointment with the occupational therapist (OT). The first assessment is likely to be in one of our many clinics across Hertfordshire, however for difficulties with environments then these will take place in your home or child’s school.
In Hertfordshire
Children who have significant difficulties with 2 or more areas of everyday functional skills that OT can impact on due to physical, motor or sensory based difficulties and are:
- registered with a GP from Herts Valley CCG or East and North Herts CCG or
- children who attend a special school within Hertfordshire but are resident outside or have a GP outside the above named area can be accepted for school related input.
Children living within a Hertfordshire with long term disability or chronic illness that significantly affects their access to their home environment can be accepted for:
- equipment and adaptations within the home or educational setting
- moving and handling assessment/advice with in educational setting
During the appointment you will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have about your child’s development of functional skills.
The occupational therapist will assess what your child is able to do through observation of play and activities, they might also use a standardised assessment which will help them measure your child’s performance against national age norms, and they will then decide if your child has a need for further OT involvement.
After the initial assessment the occupational therapist may decide to do one or more of the following:
- provide advice and treatment. Treatment can be an activity programme for home and school practice, individual therapy sessions with the therapist or therapy assistant, or group sessions with other children with similar difficulties and needs
- recommend specialist equipment for use at home, in school or nursery
- offer advice on adaptations to support your child’s independence or care needs at home and/or in school
- offer training to parents, carers and Education staff on how best to support your child with functional activities, this advice is usually delivered via workshops and presentations
- write a report to provide information or access to other services
We offer a flexible service supporting children in the most appropriate environment, whether that is a clinic, at nursery or school or at home. We work closely with parents, teachers and pre-school staff and all members of the team around the child or young person to achieve this.
If required, the occupational therapist will work through an interpreter should a child or their family have difficulty communicating in English.
The Children’s Occupational Therapy service has provided some resources for parents and people who work with children.
This is general advice to help overcome some common difficulties in everyday activities including dressing, ball skills, using a pencil.
Please read the General Principles for Completing Activities first.
Activity Recording Sheet
Fine Motor Skills
Explaining Using Scissors and Rulers
Using a Pencil
Developing Coordinated Hand Use
Gross Motor Skills
Explaining Ball Skills
Explaining Riding a Bike
Postural Control, Balance and Motor Planning
Starter Activities for Balance, Coordination and Strength
Self Care Skills
Developing Dressing Skills
Developing Feeding Skills
Sensory Processing
Applying Sensory Strategies to Personal Care
Understanding Sensory Difficulties
School Strategies
Getting Ready for Secondary School
Attention and Organisation in the Classroom
Our service works closely with Hertfordshire County Council for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). More information about SEND can be found at hertsdirect.
All our Occupational Therapists are registered with the Health Professions Council www.hpc-uk.org and work to standards set by Trust, the College of Occupational Therapist and Children, Young People and Families.
www.hemihelp.org.uk - UK based charity for children and young people with hemiplegia.
www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk - Supporting children, families and adults with dyspraxia.
www.scope.org.uk - Cerebral Palsy information and support.
www.muscular-dystrophy.org - information and support to people with muscular dystrophy.
www.hertsdirect.org - Hertfordshire County Council provides services for children, schools, libraries, environmental services, older people and people with disabilities.
www.cot.co.uk - The professional body for occupational therapists and OT staff in the United Kingdom.
Have you heard of the Local Offer? If you are a young person with, or have a child with special educational needs and disabilities, (SEND) the Local Offer is Hertfordshire’s central source of information for SEND services and support. Visit www.hertsdirect.org/localoffer for an easily accessible one stop shop.
Hertfordshire Children’s Occupational Therapy Service
Danestrete Child Development Centre
Southgate
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 1HB
Tel: 01438 737782
Fax: 01438 737799
Email: Please contact the team for the email address if you wish to make an internal referral from a secure email address.
Referrals made by professionals should be discussed with the child’s parent and agreement given.
Referral form
Parental referral form
If you would like to share your story, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email pals.hchs@nhs.net.
We would also love to hear about your experience on our service, please complete a survey by clicking here.
