Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) helps children and young people improve their health and wellbeing. This might be helping them with eating, washing, using the toilet, doing their schoolwork, enjoying hobbies or playing with friends.

Lambeth social care children’s occupational therapists (OTs) work to support children with disabilities and their families within their home. We have a duty to assess the needs of children with disabilities and families under The Children Act 1989/2004 and The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

Our children’s occupational therapy team defines disability as ‘a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’ (Equalities Act 2010).

When can a referral be made?

A referral for an occupational therapy assessment can be made when a child or young person’s disability significantly affects their ability to carry out, or have access to, everyday activities and occupations. This might include:

not being independent with, or having significant difficulties with, age-appropriate activities of daily living
requiring postural management to access daily living activities/occupations and meet their care need
being unable to access essential facilities within their home.

Or when a child’s carer is experiencing an abnormal level of demand or strain. This might include carers having significant difficulties maintaining safe moving, handling or care for the child or young person.

Who can make a referral?

Referrals can be made by involved professionals, a carer, or the young person.

How do I make a referral?

Referrals can be made online by completing the adult social care referral form.

Apply for occupational therapy support from adult social care services

Alternatively, you can call 0207 926 5555, select Adults and then select:

option 1 (for those with no current adult social care service)
option 2 (for those with an adult social care service)
option 3 (for safeguarding matters only)
option 4 (for all other enquiries)

What support can children and young people receive?

Available support includes:

equipment provision for bathing and toileting
specialist seating provision
moving & handling equipment
home adaptation recommendations
housing reports (to support a family who have already applied for rehousing and where guidance is required to specify the type of property that will be suitable to meet the child/young person’s needs)

We are not able to accept referrals for:

home safety modifications and equipment (including door locks, window restrictors, gates) which are commercially available. These are not specialist in nature and do not require a specialist OT assessment. A Home Safety Guide leaflet can be provided for more information & support
wheelchair / buggy / mobility aids - please contact your GP, wheelchair and specialist seating service, or physiotherapist
therapeutic treatment - if you would like to request therapeutic treatment, please contact the Mary Sheridan Centre for Child Health on 020 3049 4005
toys, play or sensory equipment. A grant for these items may be available from the Family Fund
small feeding and dressing equipment - these are available commercially and via specialist suppliers such as NRS Healthcare, Complete Care Shop
equipment for use outside of the home (including car seats & safety harnesses)
housing repairs (for example internal repairs, fences, doors) - please contact your landlord for assistance or self-fund if you are an owner occupier
transport or vehicles - please contact Motability if you would like to request transport support
behaviours that challenge where a child has not had prior access to, and engaged with, a behaviour management programme and sensory treatment (provided by appropriate health professionals). This can be accessed through services such as educational settings, Child & Adolescent Neurodevelopmental Service (Lambeth) and the National Autistic Society (NAS)
difficulties arising from social or environmental factors that are not associated with a disability (for example parenting difficulties, difficulties with siblings, overcrowding)

Further information

There is more information about occupational therapy and available support on the Evelina London website.