Children's Therapy Services - Occupational Therapy

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Esther Cummings
7 years ago
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1 Children's Therapy Services - Occupational Therapy Our Occupational Therapists support babies, children and young people who have conditions which affect their physical and functional development. What does your service do? We work with children who have neurological, developmental, and orthopaedic conditions who may also have complex long-term medical, social and learning needs. The focus is on maximising a child or young person's physical ability within their everyday activities at home, in education and in their community. Occupational therapists work together with Physiotherapists to achieve the outcomes outlined here. Occupational therapists tend to work more on the practical activities of your child's daily living such as bathing; toileting; attention and concentration; school work and handwriting; hand eye coordination and visual perception. The team identify the best combination of activities and equipment (such as seating), for your child. Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists also work with Speech and Language Therapists on aspects of feeding. Occupational Therapists will see some children individually. Self-management and independence is an important aspect of the service. Treatment sessions vary greatly depending upon your individual need and include:

The focus is on maximising a child or young person's physical ability within their everyday activities at home, in education and in their community.

2 Regular assessments where we identify the most appropriate therapy interventions for you. We offer you an individual programme to meet your particular needs involving either individual therapy or specialist group work. Developing your treatment programme which may include exercises and positioning. We can train other people who help you such as your family (parents, grandparents and brothers and sisters), your respite carer and your teachers to do your exercises and positioning with you if we all agree to do this. Fine motor skills assessment and advice to support your everyday activities. Assessment and advice about specialist equipment designed to improve your functional ability and mobility. Social Care (Independent Living Service) provides some specialist equipment for you and some will come from the Health Service. Therapists will make detailed assessment of your need and apply for funding from the correct provider. If an item is required and there is no funding available, your therapist will help you submit applications for funding from charitable organisations. Contribution to your Education Healthcare Plans, support you at Team Around the Child and other meetings and reports. A Therapist may act as your Keyworker. Occupational Therapists will share their findings with members of the wider team if you and your parents / carers give permission. Signposting you and your family / carers to helpful activities and to other organisations, including referral to Mobility Services or Orthotics if needed. Provide training in the Cool kids and Cool characters approach. The training is free to all education settings in Wolverhampton and takes place regularly throughout the year. Provide online resources for all Wolverhampton schools enabling them to identify appropriate activities which can be built into the school day to support movement, sensory and fine motor activities such as developing handwriting skills.

Developing your treatment programme which may include exercises and positioning.

3 Who are your users? We work as part of the multidisciplinary team who support children and young people from birth to 16 years of age, or up to 19 years of age if you are still in full-time education. Our therapists have extensive knowledge and experience in recognising and managing a range of conditions which impact on physical and movement development If you are registered with a GP in Wolverhampton, attend school in Wolverhampton, or live in Wolverhampton, you can access our service. If you attend school outside Wolverhampton, it might be better for you to have your therapy with the local team. For example, if you go to school in Walsall, the Walsall Therapy Team may work in that school already and it would be in your best interest to have your care given by the Walsall Therapy Team so that you are working with just one set of therapists. This also means that we make the best use of our direct therapy to provide services to Wolverhampton, without our therapists spending time driving long distances. We transfer your care to a more local therapist if you and your family / carers move out of the Wolverhampton area. We will supply your new therapist with written information about your care and work with them for one handover session if that is needed. This helps you to have a smooth transfer of your care from one therapist to another. If this is not possible because you are moving far away, we will supply detailed written information to your new therapist and offer to discuss your care with them by telephone if needed. How can I start using the service? We accept referrals from health professionals such as your Health Visitor or GP. The Gem Centre receives and allocates referrals into this service. Referral can be made by letter or on a referral form which are available at all our health centres.

Wolverhampton, attend school in Wolverhampton, or live in Wolverhampton, you can access our service.

4 What can I do if I am unhappy about a decision that your service makes? All decisions regarding therapy are made in consultation with you and your family or carers. We get the best results when we work closely with the other people who are involved with you, and we aim to plan your treatment in partnership with these people. This means that the whole team who support you can adapt to give a unified approach, usually helped by - Team Around The Child. Joint planning means that we try to ensure that you and your family / carers are happy with decisions. If you are unhappy, please discuss your concerns with your child's therapist first and then with the service lead if you feel that is necessary. How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making/planning? We use different types of communication, including using an interpreter if you need one. Our therapists create an individual programmes for you. Most treatment sessions take place directly with you, and we also provide written information for you about your care.

This means that the whole team who support you can adapt to give a unified approach, usually helped by - Team Around The Child.

5 What about methods of communication with parents and carer's? We are happy to communicate with you by , telephone or text message, although the most effective communication is face-to-face, and we will see you when you attend your appointments. How accessible is your service? We are flexible about where therapy sessions take place in order to best meet your needs and to use our resources wisely. The Gem Centre is fully accessible, and we do offer appointments at other venues, including your school or home. Members of our team work in special schools on a regular basis. What skills and training do staff have in relation to SEN and disability? Our Occupational Therapists specialise in the treatment of children and young people. We follow local and national professional guidelines, and have supportive management training and review structure. Our therapists have had further training in Bobath, neuro-development, sensory integration, orthopaedics. All staff are DBS checked and undertake on-going mandatory training and continuing professional development

How accessible is your service? We are flexible about where therapy sessions take place in order to best meet your needs and to use our resources wisely.

6 How do I give a compliment or make a complaint about your service? Use the suggestion box at The Gem Centre, containing the forms you need to make a complaint or give a compliment. Contact The Gem Centre directly to access the most appropriate person. Contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) based at New Cross Hospital on Tel: / or rwh-tr.pals@nhs.net Visit The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust website at or rwhtr.complaints@nhs.net for complaints. How is your service monitored and reviewed? Every member of our team has an appraisal and continuing professional development according to service needs and changes. We work to the professional standard of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and professional bodies. Local governance arrangements involve monitoring of all incidents. What format do you currently have this information in? Information is available in writing. We also have some general advice leaflets which tell you about appropriate therapy programmes are these are in a written format with illustrations.

pals@nhs.net Visit The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust website at www.royalwolverhamptonhospitals.nhs.uk or emailrwhtr.complaints@nhs.net for complaints. How is your service monitored and reviewed?

7 Contact details... Who is my first point of contact if I have questions or need further information? The first point of contact is your child's therapist or you can contact Therapy Services at The Gem Centre on the telephone number provided. We will have a service address soon and your therapists will give you their individual contact details. Address: Therapy Services The Gem Centre Neachells Lane Wednesfield Wolverhampton WV11 3PG Tel: / Fax: rwh-tr.childrenstherapyservices@nhs.net The Service is open from 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday - Friday.

We will have a service email address soon and your therapists will give you their individual contact details.

Services for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Lancashire s Local Offer. Lancashire s Health Services

Services for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Lancashire s Local Offer Lancashire s Health Services 1. Name of the service and what the service provides Lancashire