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Children's Occupational Therapy (NHS)

A children’s Occupational Therapist helps a child who has a disability or additional needs to be as independent as possible at school, nursery and/or home by working with the child and their family. We aim to work closely with the child’s family/carers and any other professionals involved.

Occupational therapists are available to help children develop skills in self-care, education, and play. An OT can provide input and advice such as:

  • Postural Control (ability to sit and stand)
  • Hand Skills (e.g., grasp & release of objects) – co-ordination of fine and gross motor skills, eye-hand co-ordination and function
  • Perceptual Skills (how we visually interpret the world)
  • Self-Care - toileting, dressing, bathing, feeding etc.
  • Sensory Processing Skills (such as touch and movement)
  • Development of school-based tasks including writing, scissor skills etc.
  • Minor adaptations to the home and school
  • Specialist equipment for schools
  • EHCNA reports 

Who do we see?

In order to access the service the child must be registered with a GP within the Wandsworth Borough. The Occupational Therapy service is only commissioned to see children of primary school age unless the child has a physical disability.  Children with a physical disability affecting their mobility will be seen up to 18yrs.    Children who attend a Specialist Resource Base or a Special School will be seen by the on site OTs and not by Community OT. 

We ask that schools and nurseries refer to our service providing evidence that a selection of advice and activities have been implemented from the Ordinarily Available Provision document that was published by Wandsworth Council.  In addition we have developed a toolkit called the OT Activity Pack for schools that will help them implement advice and recommendations on a universal level.  Children should only be referred to Occupational Therapy should they require specialist input.  The OT Activity Pack is downloadable from this page. 

UPDATE ON THE SERVICE:

Our waiting list is currently beyond 18 weeks due to a major shortage on staffing across the capital.   Please bear with us over this very difficult time.  We will endeavour to resume all services as normal once we are able to do so. 

We are currently able to offer face to face assessments and reviews, but where clinically indicated may offer this via telephone or virtual platforms with parents and SENCO’s.  

Following your child's assessment, you will be provided with an Occupational Therapy report which will ask that parents’ contact the service directly to book a review for their child.  This is part of the Patient Initiated Follow Up pathway which is a key part of the NHS’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping providers manage waiting lists and to see those who are most in need.   Please note that the responsibility therefor rests with the parent to book a review.  If we do not hear from you by the end of the agreed period, it will be assumed that an appointment was not required, and your child will be discharged from our service back to the care of the GP.

We currently have a very high DNA (did not attend) rate which affects the management of our waiting list.  We ask that parents let us know in good time if they are unable to attend their child's appointment.  We operate a strict DNA policy of 2 DNAs leading to the child being discharged.  

We will be delivering regular Parent and school training sessions.  Please see Leaflets in the section top right for more information. 

  • If your child’s care is deemed urgent, your child's care will be prioritised and a therapist will be in touch to discuss the best way forward in assessing your child.
  • If you feel that the therapist can make a good assessment via video or telephone calls and you would prefer that then you can request this via our email address below.
  • If your child has an EHCP your therapist will be contacting your child’s SENCO in order to set up the most appropriate method of review.  If you would like to have a telephone contact from a therapist, please send a request to your therapist and or to the generic inbox mentioned below.  

 Please may we request that families contact the childrensot@stgeorges.nhs.uk inbox which is being monitored by a member of the team daily. Non-urgent queries will be recorded but may not receive an immediate response.

 

Contact details:

Our administrator can be phoned on the following number:
Tel: 020 8725 5748
Our operating hours are 9am-5pm Monday – Friday (year round)
We are closed on Bank Holidays

 

Below are a few helpful tips from your Children’s Occupational Therapy team:

  • NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - www.nhsggc.org.uk/kids/resources 
    • Contains downloadable resources for child development and life skills
    • Motor skills and activities
    • Postural Program and Self-Regulation Strategies

 

If your child has Autism you can access the Occupational Therapy services at WAAS.  See link below. 

 

Key staff

Head of Children's Therapies - Jo Harrington-Hill

Clinical Team Lead for Children’s Occupational Therapy – Elgonia Dreyer

Administrator for Children’s Occupational Therapy – Faye Ward

 

Referrals

  • Please refer to the referral criteria attached.
  • Using our referral form (word) –  The referrals can be sent via email:   childrensot@stgeorges.nhs.uk or via post: Children’s Occupational Therapy, Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton Lane, Roehampton, SW15 5PN.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Lesley Mensah
Contact Position
Administrator
Telephone
E-mail
childrensot@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Website
www.stgeorges.nhs.uk
Parent Organisation
Children's Specialist Therapies

Where to go

Name
Children's Therapies, Ground Floor
Address
Queen Mary's Hospital
Roehampton Lane
Roehampton
London
Postcode
SW15 5PN
Get directions
Notes

Parking is available onsite at a charge of £2 per hour.  Local roads around the hospital may provide free parking.

Queen Mary's Hospital - Car Park (parkopedia.co.uk)

Time / Date Details

When is it on
Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm

Availability

Referral required
Yes
Referral Details

Professionals working with families in Wandsworth can make a referral using the form under the downloads section top right of this page.

We ask that schools and nurseries refer to our service providing evidence that a selection of advice and activities have been implemented from the Ordinarily Available provision document that was published by Wandsworth Council.  We have developed a OT Activity Pack for schools that will help them implement advice and recommendations on a universal level.  Children should only be referred to Occupational Therapy should they require specialist input. 

Local Offer

Description

What is Wandsworth’s Local Offer ?

To access these services you need to be:

  • Referred by your doctor/consultant or other health practitioner,
  • Referred by a professional using the form under the downloads section.

The SEND Local Offer team value all feedback you may have about this service or the Local Offer in general. We invite you to click this link to leave your comments.

Last updated: 05 Jan 2024