The H&F Children's Social Care occupational therapy service supports children and young people with disabilities (0 to 18) to be as independent as possible in their home environment. This includes children and young people with physical and learning disabilities.
The service provides support, equipment or adaptations to increase independence and reduce risk and offers advice and support to parents and carers in the care of their child.
As well as providing advice and demonstrating alternative ways of doing things, the occupational therapists (OTs) can help with specialist equipment (for example for seating and bathing) and making recommendations for adaptations to the home.
Visit Self-care and physical difficulties to learn more about physiotherapy and the wheelchair service.
How to refer to the H&F social care occupational therapy service
To make a referral, parents or professionals working with a child can contact the Initial Consultation Team (ICAT):
- Telephone: 020 8753 6600
- Email: family.services@lbhf.gov.uk
If another team or professional in children's services are working with the child, parents can ask them to make an internal referral via Mosaic, an internal system.
Once you get a referral, you might have to wait for the team to review the case and arrange an assessment.
The team has a waiting list and prioritises according to urgency and risk of harm. Examples of highest priority include children in hospital who need occupational therapy support to go home.
Families can also contact The Creighton Centre - Safer Homes for Children. This volunteer organisation carries out home safety assessments and can provide advice and equipment. This can include safety gates, cupboard catches and window restrictors.
The service is free for H&F families on benefits who have a child under the age of 5 or a child with disabilities.
What happens at an assessment?
An Occupational Therapist (OT) will carry out an initial assessment of the child or young person in their home environment. This may include phone or video calls as well as a home visit.
The OT will talk with you and your child or young person about their needs and then consider options to increase their independence within the home.
This may include:
- advice about layout of furniture to give better access
- suggestions for equipment or home adaptations
- providing information on charities or support groups
- loans of specialist or standard equipment to assist daily activities such as specialist beds, toileting equipment, shower seats, bathing seats
- a moving and handling assessment, including provision of suitable equipment such as a hoist and slings
- a moving and handling plan addressing the specific needs of the child or young person
- minor adaptations such as grab rails, door widening, ramps and safety measures in and around your home
- major adaptations such as stairlifts, through floor lifts, accessible bathrooms and altering existing rooms.
The OT will consider other family members' needs and safety in their recommendations and may talk with other professionals working with the child or young person.
The OT will also talk with and refer on to other services with the child's parent or carer consent.
Adapting the home
The social care OT service may consider adaptations at home following an occupational therapist assessment ensuring:
- access to the building
- access to facilities for washing (this could be a bath or a shower)
- access to a room that can be used as a bedroom
- access to a room with a toilet
- safety in the home for the disabled person and other people living in the property
- access to the main family room.
There are different adaptation processes depending on the type and ownership of property.
Please visit Disabled facilities grant for information about money you could be eligible for to help with your adaptation.
Housing
If it is not possible to make adaptations to the property, rehousing may be a more suitable option. The OT can provide information to housing about what a suitable property may need.
For further information about housing please see Finding a home.
If you qualify for council housing visit The housing register.
Continuing the journey to Adult Social Care (ASC)
For young people 18-25 please visit Supporting independence where you can find the resources and services to support you living independently in your own home.