What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapists are interested in the functional activities of daily living – what we call “occupations”. For children these include everything they do throughout the day at home and at school such as dressing and self care, eating and drinking, school tasks and participation in play and hobbies.
Paediatric Occupational Therapists work within Combined Child Health. We plan, co-ordinate and carry out Occupational Therapy assessments and implement treatment plans for children and young people.
Occupational Therapy is available to all children and young people aged from 0-18 years living in Grampian. Occupational Therapists encourage each child to get the most out of their lives and develop their full potential, from birth to the time they transition to adult services.
What do Occupational Therapists Do?
Occupational Therapists use assessment and intervention to assist children to develop, recover or maintain their ability in self-care, domestic, play, work (school) and leisure activities. We take account of a child’s wellbeing, physical, cognitive and sensory components within assessment. We do this with families and in clinical / education settings and we deliver interventions via a variety of levels of service. These are:
Universal – these are available for everyone (this includes providing information and literature, signposting to other services and working with others to increase participation) e.g. through our social media pages
Targeted – this is more specific support including specific advice, programmes, workshops and learning e.g. our postural management training.
Specialised / individual – these are direct or indirect specialised interventions delivered by working with those closest to the child and through episodes of care which are goal focused, e.g. therapy sessions to improve upper limb function, burn scar management.
We work in episodes of care which are goal focused. Children are discharged from the service once the episode of care is completed. We provide advice, assessment, collaborate with colleagues and partner agencies, i.e. education, social work, to ensure children’s health and wellbeing needs are met.
Services in Grampian
We have paediatric Occupational Therapists and therapy support workers covering Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, six Child Development Teams. We see children in various locations throughout Grampian, including schools, nurseries, playgroups, hospitals, clinics or in their own home.
Occupational Therapy at RACH
The Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital is one of only 3 Children’s Hospitals in Scotland. We offer specialist services to children and young people living in Grampian and also to some of those living in the North of Scotland through collaborative working. The specialist Occupational Therapy clinical specialities that we cover include:
Rheumatology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Burns, Plastics, Hand Service and Orthopaedics,
In addition, our Occupational Therapy teams provide a daily service to many children in the Medical and Surgical wards for rehabilitation and to some who have stays in the High Dependency Unit and Oncology. There is also an out-patient Occupational Therapy department at RACH.
Within all of these services, Occupational Therapists work as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team because we are all working towards the same shared goal of providing the best possible outcomes for children while ensuring the best of experiences as they access healthcare in Grampian.
Occupational Therapy In The Community
There are Occupational Therapists based within the community Child Development Teams, in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire and a specialist paediatric Occupational Therapy team in Moray. We provide support to young people who have difficulty with movement and treat short and long-term conditions that impact on physical development, activity and their ability to participate in play, learning and socialising.
We work with the child/young person, their family and Health and Education colleagues to encourage each child to get the most out of their lives and fully develop their potential, from birth to the time they transition to adult services.
We see children in various locations throughout Grampian, including schools, nurseries, playgroups, hospitals, clinics or in their own home. We also run a number of Joint Clinics across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. These are:
Habilitation Integrated Community Clinic (HICC) – Occupational Therapists work alongside the Physiotherapist, Speech and Language Therapist, Paediatricians, Orthopaedic Surgeons, Wheelchair Service and Orthotics to provide a one stop clinic for children with complex physical needs. The clinics are held in the child’s local team base or school.
Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthosis (DEFO) – Often referred to as the Lycra Clinic, Occupational Therapists work alongside the Physiotherapist to assess and measure for bespoke ‘Lycra’ garments for children with neurological conditions affecting their movement and posture. Children can be referred by their local therapist once they are two years old.
Postural Management (PM) -This is a programme of activity and controlled positioning which manages a child’s posture. Click here to read more about Postural Management.
Requesting Help From Our Service
The aim of our Occupational Therapy team is to provide the right help at the right time for all children and young people in Grampian. We receive requests for assistance from whoever has a concern regarding a child or young person’s occupations and in the first instance, our skilled triage team will deal individually with each request.
There are a number of ways in which support may be offered, including useful leaflets and resources containing advice about some of the most common concerns (see below for links). This covers:
- Reassurance, support and advice
- Signposting to other services, community resources and groups
- Assessment and advice or intervention if needed
Further Resources. Information & Contact Details
The Occupational Therapy Advice Line is open twice weekly, staffed by experienced paediatric Occupational Therapists. Perhaps you are unsure whether Occupational Therapy is required, or maybe you are just wanting to talk a concern over. You can also contact us using the details below or the Child Development Teams.
There is a wealth of information and advice to help children accomplish tasks and goals including a suite of “OT Strategies” created by NHS Grampian Occupational Therapists to help young patients and their families. The following leaflets, advice sheets, information and resources are particularly helpful:
NHS Grampian Occupational Therapy Strategies
Additional Resources & Frequently Asked Questions
NHS Grampian Occupational Therapists have created a suite of “Occupational Therapy Strategies” to help young patients and their families. Click here for more information and to read the strategies in detail.
We have also compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions which we hope you find useful.
Request for Assistance
If you think that Occupational Therapy is required for any child or young person, then we have routes for assessment depending on your location:
Aberdeen City / Aberdeenshire – please complete the referral form and email it to gram.childrensoccupationaltherapy@nhs.scot
Moray – please complete the referral form and email it to email to www.gram.childrensocctherapymoray@nhs.scot
Please note that some children who live in Moray may require to be seen at RACH for specialist services.
If you are uncertain of the best route for support, please contact our advice line on 01224 555315. We accept enquiries from anyone, including parents, professionals and young people themselves. Occupational Therapy assessment and /or intervention is not always required.
Staff Contact Details
Occupational Therapy Lead for Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire – Sara Wilson
Occupational Therapy, Ground Floor Therapy Suite, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, Westburn Road, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZG
Telephone: 01224 550593
E-mail: gram.childrensoccupationaltherapy@nhs.scot
Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital
Occupational Therapy , Ground Floor Therapy Suite, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, Westburn Road, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZG
Telephone: 01224 552669
Email: gram.childrensoccupationaltherapy@nhs.scot
Monday – Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm. Outwith these hours you can leave a message and a membr of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Community Child Development Teams (CDT)
Aberdeen City Teams
North City CDT
Child Development Team
Bucksburn Academy
Kepplehills Road
Bucksburn
AB21 9DG
Telephone: 01224 710773
Email: gram.cdtnorth@nhs.scot
Central CDT
Child Development Team
Mile End School
Midstocket Road
Aberdeen
AB15 5PD
Telephone: 01224 498091
Email: gram.cdtcentral@nhs.scot
South City CDT
Lochside Academy
Wellington Circle
Altens
Aberdeen
AB12 3JG
Telephone: 01224 241752
Email: gram.cdtsouth@nhs.scot
Aberdeenshire Teams
Banff and Buchan CDT
Child Development Team
Fraserburgh Hospital
Lochpotts Road
Fraserburgh,
AB43 9NF
Telephone: 01346 585143
Email: gram.bbcdt@nhs.scot
Inverurie CDT
Child Development Team
Inverurie Academy
Jackson Street
Inverurie
AB51 3PX
Telephone: 01467 672771
Email: gram.invercdt@nhs.scot
Kincardine and Deeside CDT
Kincardine Community Hospital
Kirkton Road
Stonehaven
AB39 2NJ
Telephone: 01569 792028
Email: gram.kanddcdt@nhs.scot
The Child Development teams provide a Monday – Friday service from 8.30-4.30. However, not all teams have an Occupational Therapist present every day, but outwith these hours you can leave a message and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Moray Team
Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Cherry Tree Therapy Centre
Dr Gray’s Hospital
Elgin
IV30 1SN
Tel – 01343 567244/567365
