Resources and links
Reviewing our referral pathways
We are currently carrying out a review of the way children are referred into this service, in consultation with our partners.
Parts of the referral pathway may change in the near future.
About us
The Richmond Occupational Therapy (OT) service helps children and young people (aged 0 – 18 years) to take part in the daily activities and routines (occupations) that are important to them – at home, at school and elsewhere.
These occupations include:
- self-care activities – getting washed and dressed, eating at mealtimes, sleeping.
- productive activities – manipulating and using learning materials in class (pen/pencil/scissors/maths compass/ruler).
- play and leisure – playing with friends and doing sports or hobbies, participating in PE at school.
What do we do?
We work closely with parents and relevant professionals and offer specialist advice to enable children and young people to take part in their occupations that give purpose and meaning to their lives.
For more information on children’s occupational therapy and the Richmond occupational therapy service look at our leaflet.
Where do we work?
We've made a short video about visiting Ham Clinic, which you can watch with your child:
Types and levels of occupational therapy support
Children and young people may need different types of occupational therapy support at different times. They can move between levels as their needs change, and as their skills and participation in their daily occupations improve and develop.
Offering different levels of support means children and young people can access the occupational therapy they need:
- Universal support: resources for families and professionals
- Targeted support: advice, early help and prevention
- Specialist support: Individualised Occupational Therapy
Universal support: resources for families and professionals
We have developed a range of resources and links for families and professionals to support children and young people in the following areas:
- Self-care activities
- Dressing and undressing
- Cutlery skills
- Messy play resources
- Pre-writing skills
- Handwriting strategies
- Secondary school transitions
- Sensory regulation and attention
Please see short videos to practice daily occupations, such as buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces.
Targeted support: advice, early help and prevention
We offer targeted interventions to prevent difficulties from escalating, helping to reduce the need for more intense, specialist interventions later.
These include:
Telephone advice line
Telephone Advice Line (TAL): 020 8891 8195
Email: krft.
Our telephone advice line is a quick way to access our service for advice/information on occupational therapy related concerns for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years who are registered with a Richmond GP.
Please ring to book an appointment so that you can speak to a qualified occupational therapist for advice and support.
You do not need a referral to use the advice line.
Health and educational professionals can use the advice line after obtaining parental consent.
Workshop for families - 'Understanding your child's sensory needs'
Our workshop is aimed at Early Years families (children under 5) to understand how sensory differences can impact a child’s activities and routines, and to explore strategies which can be used at home.
Examples of sensory differences:
- Avoids loud noises and crowded places
- Has difficulty sitting still and seeks movement
- Dislikes the feel of different clothing textures
- Dislikes bathing, brushing teeth and hair cutting
You need a referral from a health or Early Years professional to access this workshop.
Specialist assessment in clinic
- Early Years children can be seen by the service if they have a Richmond GP and there is parental consent.
- School Aged children can be seen in clinic if they have a Richmond GP, they have severe and complex physical needs, and there is parental consent.
Our team will consider the needs of each child based on the information provided in the referral and you may be signposted to resources, offered telephone advice or offered an assessment.
All referrals must include details about how a child’s or young person’s difficulties impact their ability to carry out their daily occupations, so that our service can identify the level of need and type of support a child or young person needs.
For information on how to make a good quality occupational therapy referral, visit the Royal College of Occupational Therapists website.
All referrals should be made using the Richmond Occupational Therapy Form.
Please return the referral form to: Email: krft.
Telephone: 0208 891 8195
Specialist support: Individualised Occupational Therapy
Following assessment, some children and young people may require a period of individualised Occupational Therapy to address a particular need.
We adopt a strengths-based approach to help individuals and families develop the skills and the confidence to understand themselves and to promote independence in daily occupations.
Clinic assessment and intervention
Our occupational therapists from the Early Years Team work with children who have difficulties in their daily occupations.
We help children and young people:
- to reach their full potential by identifying activities they do well and those they find difficult
- find out what helps or limits their ability to take part and discuss different ways of doing things
- teach new skills or change the environment to make it easier for them to participate, have fun and achieve
Sessions may be delivered as 1:1 or group input based on each child’s individual needs and include individualised training to parents/carers.
Parents who have concerns about their school-aged child's daily occupations should discuss this with the school's Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) in the first instance. Families registered with a Richmond GP can call the Telephone Advice Line to speak to a qualified Occupational Therapist.
If your child has an Educational Health Care Plan, individualised occupational therapy should be discussed with the SENCo, as the delivery of the provision may vary according to individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Siblings are welcome to attend appointments. However, if it is possible to arrange childcare this can make the session easier for parents to talk to the therapist without distractions.
For occupational therapy appointments we advise that both parents and children do not wear their best clothes. Please note both parents and children may be required to do exercises, participate in messy play and activities on the floor.
- Superheroes Academy – Children will need to wear appropriate clothing to exercise in e.g. shorts, leggings or tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt.
- Messy Play group - Please prepare to get messy! We do not advise that you or your child wear your best clothes. You may want to bring a change of clothes for both you and your child.
Yes, email communication is possible. Parental consent for sharing programmes and documents via email is required.
To minimise the impact of missed appointments, which increase wait times for users of our service, please note the department’s non-attendance policy:
- Initial appointments: If you do not attend your booked initial appointment, without contacting the service beforehand, you will be discharged immediately.
- Follow-up: If you do not attend your follow up appointment, without contacting the service beforehand, you will be given 10 days to contact the department before being discharged.
- Groups: If you do not attend two consecutive sessions, without contacting the service beforehand, the remaining group appointments will be cancelled and you will be referred back to your therapist.
- For children under 5 years who need specialist seating, please refer to the Richmond Children's Occupational Therapy service.
- For children over 5 years, please refer to achieving for children social care occupational therapy service on 020 8547 6527 or email them at socialcareot@achievingforchildren.org.uk.
- For major adaptations, please contact the achieving for children social care occupational therapy service on 020 8547 6527 or email them at socialcareot@achievingforchildren.org.uk.
- The OT service can offer advice and strategies for children who are experiencing significant difficulties with their co-ordination which impacts upon their participation in daily occupations.
- The OT service is not commissioned to provide a diagnosis of DCD.