Description
Coronavirus team update
Children’s Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Teams at Hackney Ark
Teams are following government guidance and working remotely from home. Hackney Ark is only to be accessed when there is a specific clinical need. The service administrator Sharon can be contacted Monday – Friday: 02070147025.
Individual therapists already involved in support for individuals are contactable directly via email or work mobiles found in their e-mail signatures.
Both the Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy teams are still accepting new referrals which are being screened as usual. Referral forms (available in the download section of this page) should be forwarded directly to the relevant team on one of these e-mails:
Both teams continue to complete screening phone or video calls for all patients who would normally be accepted for new referrals, including EHCP assessments with a timely turnaround.
Teams have been supporting existing our caseloads on a priority basis according to risk, completing screening calls to identify need and agree appropriate action. Recent contact updates for partners in health services are available as usual via RIO. Interventions are being offered via video call where possible and appropriate.
The teams are also exploring providing intervention to wider groups of children and families electronically and have recorded our Sensory Workshop for families and can offer this to as an ‘Electronic Version’.
The Children’s Occupational Therapy Service continue to offer home safety assessments for children who meet this criteria. These are via video or phone calls. Please detail specific risks reported by parents when making the referral.
The Occupational Therapy team's - Equipment information sheet includes details of providers who sell equipment for use at home.
Physiotherapy drop-in consultation slots will replace the drop in session for the time being. These begin again on 11th May via phone or video. Physiotherapy information flyer - consultation slots, dates and times information for parents-carers.
Who we are...
The Children's Occupational Therapy (OT) team assess children aged 0 - 18 who are experiencing functional difficulties with everyday tasks due to a physical and or neurological disability.
Difficulties may include:
- self-care – such as dressing, using cutlery
- school activities - using scissors, changing for PE classes
- play activities
The team also assess for the following difficulties:
- co-ordination difficulty
- sensory difficulty
- learning difficulty
- developmental delay
What we do:
The service undertakes assessment and depending on the identified needs of the child, the family are then offered either:
- advice from professionals within the team
- a series of treatment sessions and advice to work towards an agreed goal/ outcome
For children with physical disabilities the service assesses and makes recommendations about equipment and adaptations in the school and home environment.
Autism information and advice sessions for parents and carers
Parent / Carers advice and information workshops for families of children with autism are run at Hackney Ark.
Next Steps - Sessions for families with a child or young person who has a NEW diagnosis of autism. These family workshops are run at Hackney Ark. You may be referred to this service when you receive a diagnosis for your child but can contact the service for dates and more information.
Notes
Parents / carers can also find useful tips to help their child develop independence skills here: Children's Occupatiponal Therapy - Independence Skills - Blue Class Flyer
Record Last Updated on: 05/05/2020