GUIDELINES FOR MAKING A REFERRAL TO PAEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

This should be read in conjunction with the Referral Flowchart.

The purpose of Occupational Therapy:

Occupational Therapists help children to who have difficulties with activities of daily living skills (eg washing, dressing, eating, toileting;play and leisure;ability to participate in school lessons or move around the school building).

This may be achieved through individual advice, treatment and recommendation of specialist equipment within the school environment.

Areas of difficulty which Occupational Therapists can address:

Physical coordination, motor planning, hand function, visual perception.

Criteria for acceptance of an Occupational Therapy referral:

  • The referred child has significant difficulty which is not in line with their general development and is hindering their progress in activities of daily living skills; due to difficulties with:
  • Physical disabilities
  • Fine motor skills
  • Visual Perceptual skills
  • Children whose GP is based in South Bedfordshire or Luton
  • The referral form is completed by a Health Professional familiar with the child, eg Paediatrician, GP, Health Visitor, Physiotherapist or Speech and Language Therapist
  • The referral form is complete and includes the following information:
  • The child’s full name, address and date of birth
  • Telephone numbers preferably home and/or work and mobile
  • GP name and practice
  • ABC Checklist (5 & Over) where the child scores at least ‘at risk’.
  • Whether an interpreter is required.
  • Referred children with Developmental Delay will only be accepted if there is a clearly identified developmental area that is not in line with their general development.
  • Completion of the Under 4’s Questionnaire.

Children we work with often have one of the following conditions:

  • Neurological eg Cerebral Palsy
  • Developmental Coordination Disorder (“DCD”) where they score at risk on the screening tool.
  • Degenerative physical disabilities eg Muscular Dystrophy
  • Musculo-Skeletal Conditions eg amputees, spinal cord injury, brittle bones
  • Syndromes eg Rhetts

Where to send the referral:

North Bedfordshire and Central Borough

Paediatric Occupational Therapy Department

CDC

Hill Rise

Kempston

Bedford

MK42 7EB

South Bedfordshire & Luton

Redgrave Children & Young People’s Centre

RedgraveGardens

Marsh Farm

Luton

LU3 3QN

Other Information

The Occupational Therapy leaflet 'Does your child have difficulties with coordination?' available on-line may also be a useful resource for home and school as it offers general advice and activity ideas. It is accessed via: in the publications section under “Coordination leaflet”.

Document in CDC Paediatrician Presentation-Oct 11

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