The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has launched a report Occupational therapy: Unlocking the potential of children and young people which outlines the role that occupational therapists play in improving the lives of children and young people with physical, learning and mental health needs.
Part of the Improving Lives Saving Money series, the report demonstrates through a series of case studies, how occupational therapists play a crucial role in helping children and young people participate in the activities that they want or need to do at home, at school or work and during their free time.
The report also shows how occupational therapists are key to promoting collaboration between, health, social care, education and the voluntary sector. Their approach to working with children and their parents focuses on making personal and environmental changes that to allow the child to fulfil their potential.
Specifically they can:
- provide routines to promote physical and mental health into children’s daily routines and activities
- develop partnerships between parents, teachers and the community to address children’s needs early in their education
- work across traditional service boundaries to address children’s physical and mental health needs
- adopt a strengths-based approach that fosters self-management and independence
- anticipate the changing needs of children, young people and their carers to facilitate positive transitions.
The report also calls for children’s services to be designed so that children and young people with additional learning and support needs (including mental health) can access occupational therapy skills and expertise when they need it.
Commenting on the report RCOT Chief Executive Julia Scott, said:
“As parents and as a society we all want children to lead full and happy lives, participating in the activities (occupations) they need and want to do, be that at home, at school and at play. Yet, the number of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in the UK is rising. Sadly many young people with additional learning and support needs are denied equality of opportunity and the support they need to realise their potential. This is absolutely unacceptable - the expectation that they should have access to the same opportunities and experiences as their peers is rightly embedded in UK policy.
“This report shows that to meet societal demands there needs to be more collaboration between, health, social care, education and the voluntary sector. As a workforce used to working across a range of service provider settings occupational therapists are key to driving this forward and promoting collaboration between different sectors. In addition, a better balance of provision at a universal, targeted and specialist level is needed. Occupational therapists can deliver this approach and this report outlines best practice for commissioning services.”
View the full report on our Occupational Therapy: Improving Lives, Saving Money page.