Children, young people & families
Explore resources
We’ve developed a range of resources to help occupational therapists deliver best practice for children, young people and families.
Whilst these were written for occupational therapists – commissioners, managers of children’s OT services and others may also find them useful.
Our Resource centre will continually evolve. We’ll add new resources to support your ongoing professional development.
All Children, young people & families resources
When using the filters below, the results will automatically be updated.
Quick guides
Diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in children and adults
This short guide will be of interest to occupational therapists, other members of the multidisciplinary team and service commissioners.
Members of the public seeking an assessment or diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) for themselves, or a family member may also be interested.
Long Covid – children and young people
We’ve developed two quick guides outlining the unique role of occupational therapists in supporting adults, children and young people to manage and recover from Long Covid.
They were written for OTs working in specialist Long Covid services and in other acute, primary, secondary and community settings.
They will also be useful for service managers and commissioners responsible for planning and delivering specialist Long Covid services, and for parents, carers and families of people affected by Long Covid.
Guides and other relevant information
Occupational therapy and play practice guideline
Our occupational therapy and play practice guideline provides recommendations based on high-quality research evidence.
It supports occupational therapists’ use of play in assessment and intervention, and to evaluate play participation as a meaningful occupational therapy goal or outcome for the child or young person.
Evidence summaries
These evidence summaries were written by members of an OT community of practice known as Mind The Gap. They offer a pragmatic overview and practical insight into the evidence for a particular intervention. Occupational therapists are encouraged to:
- Read the documents to establish if they are relevant to their practice.
- Consider – and celebrate - elements that are already being done.
- Identify changes to improve practice/service based on the evidence summary.
- Identify barriers to implementation and consider how to address them.
- Develop an action plan to implement change.
- Use the audit tool (where available) to monitor the impact of the change.
External links and resources
Council for Disabled Children: Education, Health and Care plans – examples of good practice
These resources will help practitioners write good quality Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans that meet both the letter and the spirit of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Education, Health and Care Plans: Examples of good practice
Advice for Education, Health and Care Plans
Council for disabled children - Health advice.pdf
Other external links
Disabled Children’s Partnership
Embracing Complexity Coalition