What we do
Occupational therapists carry out assessments and offer ideas and advice to help children develop.
The occupational therapists are often called OTs.
If you are bringing your child to visit us
We will look at how your child coordinates his or her body, especially his or her hands, to play and do other activities. We will also look at how your child manages dressing, eating and toileting and compare this to other children of the same age.
As well as looking at your child’s motor skills we may also find out how he or she uses the senses of touch, sight, hearing and movement when learning and playing.
We may see you and your child in the child development centre, in your home or in your child’s nursery or school. We try to choose the place that will be best for your child and the activities we are using.
We may work with another therapist, such as a speech and language therapist or a physiotherapist when we see your child.
We may use standardised assessments to gather information about your child. During these assessments your child will be shown and then asked to carry out specific activities. We may also use less structured assessments where your child is asked to play with a selection toys and activities. An important part of the assessment is talking to you and your child about what your child does well, what he or she finds harder and what he or she likes to do.
We will talk to you and your child about what we have found out through the assessment and about what we plan to do next and what you can do to help their child’s development. We will write a report to put down our ideas and recommendations.
After the assessment we will work with you in one of several ways:
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Provide advice through the report and suggest activities for you and your child to work on. Following which your child will be discharged from our active case load.
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Provide advice through the report and suggest activities for you and your child to work on. Followed by a visit to your home, nursery or school to see how the suggested activities can be carried out.
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For some children with more complex needs the assessment and report may be the start of a longer episode of care with OT, during which there are regular sessions with your child. This may be with one child at a time or a group of children. Your child’s progress will be constantly reviewed.
We aim to work together with you and your child to help him or her develop sensory and motor skills that will allow them to participate in life as fully as possible.
When we are open
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Appointments are organised by individual therapists and sent to you by post or arranged with you by telephone.
Who you will meet
There are 3 qualified occupational therapists:
Nicky Wynn [Team Leader]
Michelle Rundle
Katie Wood
Victoria Cooper – Occupational therapy assistant
Occupational therapy students
Other professionals working alongside the occupational therapists
Where to find us
We are based in the Child Development Centre on second floor of the Strayside wing at Harrogate District Hospital
How to contact us
You can telephone us on 01423 553025. Please leave a message if no one is available to answer the call.
Fax: 01423 555875
Related support groups / further links
Links to: Adult Occupational Therapy webpage.
The Occupational Therapists’ Professional Organisation www.cot.org.uk –
Information for our patients
Any patient information to be uploaded with this information please.
