Making great occupational therapy referrals
Good quality referrals are key to helping children and young people access the occupational therapy they need – when they need it.
They also help us use resources efficiently by putting services and support where they are needed most.
Good quality referrals mean:
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A young person’s needs can be assessed and prioritised easily.
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We can identify the level and type of OT a young person needs – first time.
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There's a shared understanding of the purpose and expectations of OT involvement.
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Relevant information is shared, helping children and young people to move smoothly from one service to another.
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OT resources are used efficiently, and the risk of unnecessary delays or duplication of effort is minimized.
Top tips for referrers
First, check if a referral is needed for the difficulties you’ve identified.
Some occupational therapy services have a useful website, offer a telephone advice line or can be contacted directly in other ways.
This support may be appropriate – meaning parents/carers, teachers and others can get advice straight away without children and young people needing a referral or waiting to be seen.
When a more individualised approach is required, the following tips will help you make good referrals so children and young people can access the right occupational therapy, first time.
Describe the activities or routines that are causing a problem at home, at school or nursery or elsewhere
Explain what the child or young person would like to be able to do, or what you’d like them to be able to do
Describe the strategies or approaches that have been tried already
Make sure you are referring to the right service and follow the correct process
Avoid asking for a specific assessment, intervention or piece of equipment
We’ll use our expert OT knowledge to identify approaches to achieve those goals. There are many reasons why someone may be struggling to carry out daily life activities – and if we only focus on one area, you may not benefit from the range of skills and expertise that occupational therapists offer.
Top tips for OT services
Good quality referrals are key to the efficient and effective use of OT resources. They help us understand where services and support should be positioned to have the most impact on individuals and communities.
Good referrals reduce the unnecessary administration and frustration – for OTs, referrers and families – of chasing missing information or redirecting people to a more appropriate service.
They ensure a positive parent/carer experience by promoting a shared understanding of the purpose and expectations of OT.
Whilst we can’t offer advice for individual services, the following general tips will help you understand the need for OT in your area and create a referral system that ensures children, young people and families can access the level and type of OT they need, first time.
Prioritize occupation
Ask about support, strategies or approaches that have been tried already.
Establish a robust triage system
Review service referrals regularly and systematically
Want to know more?
Download our poster Making great OT referrals poster for use in schools, receptions and public spaces.