Overview
Open Monday to Friday from 8.45am until 4.30pm
The Children's Occupational Therapy Team is based within the Nottinghamshire County Council Disability Family Support Service.
The team provides specialist assessment for disabled children and young people resident in Nottinghamshire up to the age of 18, who have a permanent and substantial disability or sensory loss which has an adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities within the home environment.
Occupational Therapy aims to provide support and intervention to help children and young people with disabilities develop to their full potential, taking into account the stage of development the child/young person has reached. It can assist with overcoming practical problems and maximising a child/young person's independence in their own home, as well as supporting parents/carers to care for their disabled child/young person safely.
Following assessment, the support from Occupational Therapy could include:
- Assistance in arranging minor alterations such as grabrails and second stair rails.
- Assistance in arranging essential major adaptations such as ramps, lifts or larger scale works. Funding of the adaptation work will depend on who owns the home - the OT worker will explain this and make any necessary recommendations to the relevant agency.
- Support and advice on moving to a more suitable property to meet long-term needs.
- Advice on managing everyday tasks, such as managing personal care and safe mobility around the home.
- Assessing transfers and provision of plans to promote safer moving and handling.
- Provision of specialist equipment on long term loan such as specialist cots/bed, bathing equipment and toileting equipment.
- Specialist equipment on long term loan for children/young people who are Deaf/deafened/hearing impaired, blind/visually impaired, or have dual sensory impairment.
- Provision of specialist seating on long term loan to support postural care and development.
- Advice, guidance and signposting to appropriate services.
The Children's Occupational Therapy team does not assess or provide wheelchairs or provide equipment to meet short term needs e.g. following surgery.
Contact
Referral
Referrals requesting an assessment are taken directly through the Occupational Therapy Duty point which operates daily 08:45-16:30 (excluding Bank Holidays). Referrals are accepted from parents/carers, children/young people and professionals or people involved in their care. Tel 0115 8041273.
To be eligible for assessment by the children's Occupational Therapy team a child must be resident in Nottinghamshire, be under the age of 18 and either:
- Have a severe physical disability
- Have complex health needs
- Have a severe learning disability
- Have severe autism
- Be Deaf/deafened/have hearing loss, blind/have sight loss or have dual sensory loss.
Children/young people will be deemed to have severe autism if they are eligible for a service from the Children's Disability Service (Social Care) or is in receipt of one of the following:
- Short breaks in a specialist placement (eg Minster View, Caudwell House, Contract Care etc)
- Education at a Special School
Inclusion
Supporting
- Autism
- Multi-Sensory impairment
- Learning difficulties
- Physical disability