Our ambitions for children’s OT
We want every child and young person to have access to the level and type of occupational therapy they need to realise their potential and take part in daily activities that matter to them – as soon as they need it.
To achieve this at a local level, we need to:
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Ensure every school has access to occupational therapy knowledge and expertise.
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Broaden our offer of universal and targeted support to prevent children and young people’s needs from escalating, whilst offering individualised input for children with the most complex needs and circumstances. We also need to help others understand how offering different levels of support means we can provide the right service at the right time to meet individual needs.
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Expand the OT workforce to include all levels of practice, ensuring occupational therapy practitioners with the right skills are available to support children, young people and families now and in the future.
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Include OTs in school-based mental health support teams our practical approach can help young people understand and manage their own wellbeing, and complements talking and creative therapies which may not be suitable for young people who are disabled or neurodivergent.
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Employ more OTs in CAMHs and youth justice teams to help children and young people develop healthy activities and routines – reducing the need for crisis support.
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Employ OTs in neonatal and early intervention services to give infants and families the best start in life.
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Work in integrated health, education and care systems with clearly defined pathways so OT resources are used efficiently and sustainably to meet the unique needs of children, young people and families.
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Share our knowledge and expertise with the wider children’s workforce, helping them to embed strategies that support children and young people’s physical, sensory and cognitive development into their environments and routines.
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Streamline equipment and adaptation services so children and young people receive help quickly, so their home, school/college and community environments are safe and suitable for their needs.
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Build the evidence-base for OT interventions with children and young people and use this to inform practice and service development.
Read this blog
If you’re an OT you can find out how you can use our survey findings to create change locally and improve occupational therapy services for children, young people and families – How to use our children’s survey findings to improve services for children, young people and families in your area.