Occupational therapy and mental health
17 March, 2025
Supporting vulnerable children and young people through occupational therapy
The Reaching Out service at Mindworks Surrey is designed to support the most vulnerable and isolated children and young people in the community. Through a multi-agency network, it provides targeted occupational therapy interventions in Short Stay Schools—formerly Pupil Referral Units—for children who have been permanently excluded or are at risk of exclusion from mainstream education.
The focus is on helping young people build resilience, self-esteem and coping strategies. The programme connects the activities they engage in with their mental wellbeing, providing a structured way to manage stress, negative emotions and personal challenges. Shared decision-making and personalised support
A key part of the service is ensuring that young people have a say in their support. From the first session, occupational therapists work to understand each student’s strengths, challenges and goals. This insight is used to develop an occupational formulation, which is shared in a one-to-one follow-up session.
In secondary schools, students help shape the content of group sessions, choosing activities or outings that feel meaningful to them. Alongside groupwork, they also have one-to-one sessions to explore their progress and any additional support they might need. Helping young people access the right support.
At the end of the programme, young people receive a letter summarising their engagement, achievements and next steps. This includes signposting to further support, such as mental health services, sports clubs or creative groups. For those needing specialist intervention, the team works to ensure a smooth transition to the right services.
A key goal is to build trust so that young people feel confident engaging with future support. By the end of the intervention, they should feel more comfortable accessing services that can help them long-term.
A partnership approach
Collaboration is central to the service. Working with schools, social care, the charitable sector and CAMHS has been crucial in creating a safe, effective and joined-up approach. By working in partnership, professionals can better understand students’ backgrounds and needs, offering tailored strategies that can be integrated into school life..
Positive outcomes and real impact
The service has received strong feedback from both students and schools. Among secondary school participants:
- 83% felt listened to in group sessions
- 78% enjoyed the activities
- 100% said occupational therapy staff were friendly
Students report improved motivation, emotional regulation and a more positive first experience of mental health services. Teachers see real benefits, with one assistant head commenting on how the programme helps reintegrate students into mainstream education.
Five key takeaways
- Supporting vulnerable young people – The Reaching Out service provides occupational therapy interventions for children at risk of or facing exclusion, helping them build resilience, self-esteem and coping strategies.
- Shared decision-making – Young people actively shape their support, from choosing activities to co-creating personal strategies that help them manage stress and emotions.
- Seamless access to support – The service ensures young people are signposted to appropriate mental health services, sports clubs or other resources, helping them continue their progress.
- Strong partnerships – Collaboration with schools, social care, charities and CAMHS is key to providing tailored support, improving student outcomes and building capacity across services.
- Positive, measurable impact – The programme boosts motivation, engagement and emotional regulation, with 83% of students feeling listened to and 100% finding staff friendly and supportive.
Looking ahead
The team is working to refine its approach by using pre and post-assessment outcomes to measure impact more effectively. Plans include offering sensory assessments in all Short Stay Schools and ensuring young people undergoing Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessments get the right support at the right time.
By continuing to develop partnerships and build capacity, the Reaching Out service is transforming the way vulnerable young people are supported in education.
For more about the programme visit http://implementingthrive.org/about-us/the-thrive-framework.
To find out more about Mindworks Surrey visit www.mindworks-surrey.org/our-services/reaching-out.
This is a summary of an article first published in OTnews, in March 2023. Read it in full at OTnews. Reference: Wilson F, Pask S, Dunn S (2023) The Reaching Out Service, OTnews 51(3):48-50.