Occupational therapy services for children and young people

Skills for living and learning

The purpose of our paediatric occupational therapy service is to enable people to participate in daily activities (or occupations) to improve their health, independence and wellbeing. Occupations for children or young people may include self-care (dressing, eating a meal, using the toilet, making a simple meal), being productive (participating in activities and routines at nursery or school, or volunteering), and leisure (playing with friends, doing sports or hobbies). 

Occupational therapists can help babies, children and young people who may need support and advice if they are not able to do daily occupations due to illness, disability, family circumstances, or as a result of changes as they get older.

Occupational therapists will support the child or young person, their family and other relevant people such as teachers, to evaluate challenges and strengths in doing daily activities. This service usually occurs within the child’s natural environment (home, school or other relevant community settings), although specialist assessments may also take place in a clinic.

Helpful Online Links with OT Resources and Activities for Children and Young People with SEND to access at home

Download a leaflet about occupational therapy services for children and young people from the College of Occupational Therapists.

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Referral details

The Occupational Therapy service works with babies, children and young people from birth to 18 years or school leaving age, who live in, or attend school in the London Borough of Camden, or are registered with a GP in the LB of Camden. Referrals are accepted from parents, health and education professionals (e.g. GP's, Paediatricians, Allied Health professionals and school SENCO's).  

A referral to the service will be considered when there is a concern regarding the child's or young person’s ability to participate in the following areas:

•Play/leisure

•Self-care/Independence

•Participation in school life

For school aged children the referral form must identify at least two functional concerns, such as difficulty moving around their environment, difficulty with everyday tasks and activities at home or school such as using cutlery or dressing , difficulties in participating in PE lessons or other  activities such as riding their bike, difficulty handling play items (e.g. building with Lego) or using school tools and materials (such as scissors and pencils).

 The referral needs to specify how the difficulties impact on the child/young person's ability to perform daily activities (e.g. because of difficulties with dressing, the child misses the beginning of PE lessons; because of difficulties handling toys, the child is delayed in their play and self-care skills; because the young person cannot access the toilet in the school they cannot attend a whole day). Please note we do not accept referrals that state "fine motor difficulties", "sensory processing difficulties", or mention just a diagnosis, for example, "Developmental Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia diagnosis". These referrals will be returned to the referrer.

We do not accept referrals for purely handwriting difficulties where no other functional concerns are identified. If there are handwriting concerns but the child has no other difficulties, then we would expect the school to provide handwriting intervention.

Referrals will also be accepted for babies and young children identified at high risk of developmental delays in motor, sensory or cognitive areas for assessment and early intervention, if indicated.  Developmental delay can lead to difficulties in play, movement, early learning and exploration of the environment, and developing independence in self-care.

Please use our Online Single Point of Referral Form: https://spor.cnwl.nhs.uk/spor