OT Service and Referral
Paediatric occupational therapy services, functional referral criteria, contact details, and support in school
Paediatric Occupational Therapy Referral
The main referral form needs to be used (Barnet Child Development Team Referral).
Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Teams.
- Address: Children and Young People Occupational Therapy, Westgate House, Edgware Community Hospital, Burnt Oak Broadway, HA8 0AD.
- Tel: 020 3316 8900.
- Email: whh-tr.barnetcit@nhs.net.
There are criteria for referrals to be accepted.
Occupational Therapy (CDT) Referral Criteria
A referral should be made to the Barnet Occupational Therapy (Health) Team when there is a functional concern regarding the child's ability to participate in the occupational performance areas:
- Play/leisure activities.
- Self-care.
- Nursery/school life.
The definition of function is "age-appropriate daily activities". The reason for referral on the referral form must therefore indicate more than one functional concern, relevant to the child's age, such as:
- Difficulty with using cutlery.
- Dressing/undressing.
- Making light snacks/breakfast.
- Participating in P.E. lessons or sporting activities.
- Handling play items.
- Physically manipulating/using school tools (such as scissors/glue sticks/writing tools).
Please note that our O.T. service does not accept referrals that only state the child is referred for:
- Fine motor difficulties.
- Behavioural problems.
- Sensory processing difficulties.
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)/Dyspraxia diagnosis.
These referrals will be returned to the referrer. The reason for referral must specify how these difficulties above are impacting the child's ability to perform daily activities (i.e. functional concerns).
We also do not accept referrals where only handwriting difficulties are highlighted and there are no other functional concerns identified. If there are handwriting concerns, then we would expect a school to be able to provide handwriting intervention. For older children with persistent handwriting difficulties, alternative means of recording work or compensatory strategies should be considered by the school.
Occupational Therapy Input
Please note: In order to maximise the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy advice and recommendations within the educational environment, all school visits for children by OT must be attended by a designated Teacher or Education Support Assistant who is familiar with the child. In this way, the Occupational Therapist will be able to share information and work as a part of the team to support the child at school. Occupational Therapy would not work in isolation with children unless specifically indicated.