Health occupational therapy for children and young people

About health occupational therapy

Our health occupational therapy service works with children and young people aged 0 to 16 (19 if in a special school or college), who have physical, developmental or sensory processing difficulties which significantly impact their motor skills or their ability to function in daily life.

Health occupational therapy helps children and young people develop or further the skills they need to use in their everyday lives.

We can help children by:

• increasing life skills such as getting dressed, eating independently or using the toilet
• taking part in their education, for example:
  • helping with activities like handwriting
  • organising themselves
  • being better able to join in with play times, games and PE lessons

This help is achieved through play, activities, and exercises that the child or young person can do at home, in their early years setting or at their school.

There's a separate social care occupational therapy service for children. This team assesses whether any changes should be made to a family's home to help the child or young person and organises any necessary equipment.

How the health occupational therapy service works with children and young people

The health occupational therapy service helps assess children and young people's areas of difficulty at:

• their home
• their early years or childcare provider
• their schools
• Seaside View Child Development Centre

We also work with other professionals across education, health and social care.

After seeing the child or young person, a health occupational therapist may write a report outlining the areas in which the child or young person needs help. This advice may include:

• activity programmes
• examples of how to change everyday tasks so that they are easier for the child to do
• suggestions of equipment that may make it easier for the child or young person

Parents and carers can help their child by encouraging them to participate in any recommended activity programmes or to practice their exercises regularly. 

How a child is referred to health occupational therapy

Any health or education professional can refer a child or young person to the service. All referrals go to the Seaside View referrals panel. The panel will decide whether occupational therapy should be involved.