Information for parents and carers

In this section:

What to expect when your child is referred to Occupational Therapy?

What to expect from your first appointment

Other things you need to know

When will your child's occupational therapy end?

Preparing for Adulthood

How to get to us

 

 

What to expect when your child is referred to Occupational Therapy?

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To make sure that your child gets the best care, we only accept referrals from GP's, paediatricians, schools, and other therapists.

• Your child can have support and intervention from the team, they do not always need a diagnosis.
• Your child needs to be registered with a Nottingham or Nottinghamshire GP.

Once your child's referral to our Occupational Therapy service is accepted, we will send you a letter / text message asking you to contact us.

Your child will be added to our waiting list and we will be in touch to arrange an appointment for assessment.

We offer appointments at several different locations such as;

• Children's Therapy Centre at Kings Mill Hospital
• Newark Health Centre
• The Children's Development Centre at Nottingham City Hospital
• Retford Primary Care Centre.

Please let us know if you have a location preference, and we will try our best to accommodate it however this cannot always be guaranteed.

 

 

What to expect from your first appointment

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At your first appointment, the Occupational Therapist will speak with you about your child's medical history and development.

The Occupational Therapist will observe (look at) and assess your child's movement and functional skills, the Occupational Therapist may also ask you information about how your child is getting in at home and in school with functional day to day tasks.

Assessment might include assessments of coordination, balance, movement, development, and function. If it is appropriate, the Occupational Therapist may use games, play or activities to help with the assessment.

The Occupational Therapist will then talk with you about the findings of the assessment and make some suggestions. This may include giving advice, attending further treatment sessions to work on targeted goals, starting a Occupational Therapy programme at home / school, or providing specialist equipment. The Occupational Therapist may also suggest a referral to other specialist for further assessment if required.

We use interpreters for families when appropriate and have access to interpreters in a wide range of languages. Please contact us if you require an interpreter.

 

 

Other things you need to know

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There is a high demand for our Occupational Therapy Service. Please let us know as soon as possible if you cannot attend your child's appointment.

Please note: Bassetlaw Occupational Therapy Team will only accept referrals from health professionals.

We work as a multi-disciplinary team with other health and social care professionals involved in your child's care. Occupational therapy information regarding your child may be shared with other professionals involved in their care. This is a part of our safeguarding children and young people's policy.

 

 

When will your child's occupational therapy end?

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• When you and the Occupational Therapist have agreed the targets that you and your child / young person need to be working on.
• If you do not bring your child to your pre-arranged appointments and do not contact us
• When your child reaches the service age limit, this may include transition to Adult Health Services.

 

 

Preparing for Adulthood

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Our physiotherapists want to give young people information as you move from children's healthcare to adult healthcare. This is called "Preparing for Adulthood" or " Healthcare Transition"

14 years old might seem too early to think about this, but it is important to have time to read information, learn about health conditions, medications, therapy plans and thinking about how things might change in the future.

As you get older you may be asked questions and asked to make decisions about your care. Parents, carers, and health professionals can still support and help you.

If you still seeing one of our Physiotherapists as you get older, you might need to move to an adult service between the ages of 16-19 years, this is called a 'Transfer' or 'Transition'.

It is essential that the care you get is appropriate for your age and needs as you grow into an adult. Adult bodies are different to children's bodies.

Further information on transition will be given to you by one of the team.

Click here to visit our Preparing for Adulthood be found on this website .

 

 

How to get to us

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