Occupational Therapy

Our occupational therapists work from three children's centres:-

Referrals

The occupational therapy service accepts referrals for assessment, from health and education colleagues (SENCOs and Educational Psychologists), only in cases where the referrer has clearly identified functional difficulties with activities of daily living in the areas of self-care, schoolwork, play or leisure. Colleagues in education are encouraged to refer via the school health nurse to ensure we have access to the child's relevant medical history.

Referrals are accepted for any child with a physical disability, with syndromes and autism and those with developmental co-ordination disorder and associated difficulties.

Intervention is delivered in a variety of environments best suited to the needs of the child and family – home, mainstream school, special school, nursery, playgroup, children’s centre.

Treatment to promote functional independence may involve one or more of the following:

• use of hands on therapeutic approaches e.g. neurodevelopmental therapy (Bobath), sensory modulation techniques
• analysis and equipment recommendations relating to a child/young person’s 24 hour positional / functional needs and safer manual handling requirements
• intervention on an individual basis
• group intervention – rebound therapy / football skills / hand skills / ADL skills / bike skills / life skills groups / school transition groups
• Specialist OT clinics – hand splinting clinic / feeding clinic / assistive technology clinic / rehabilitation engineering clinic
• Calvert and camping therapeutic group holidays

All of the above can be supported with additional written advice and / or programmes for parents, carers and teachers of the child / young person.

For further information about the service please contact:

Sharon Symonds
Professional Head Occupational Therapist for Children and Young People
Room 109, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Headquarters
St Cadoc's Hospital
Lodge Road
Caerleon
NP18 3XQ

Tel: 01633 431618

E-mail: sharon.symonds@wales.nhs.uk

Information leaflets

• OT in Schools Information Leaflet
• OT for Children and Young People Information Leaflet