Paediatric occupational therapists assess and treat children who have difficulties that affect their ability to do every day physical activities.
Children and Young People's Occupational Therapy (CYPOT)
Working in partnership with you: supporting children and young people to participate in what they need and want to do.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy aims to support people to take part in daily activities (occupations) to improve their health, independence and wellbeing.
How does an Occupational Therapist work with Children and Young People?
Occupational Therapists work together with children, families, school settings, and other health professionals, to enable children and young people to achieve their potential. This may involve providing support to children and young people for:
- developing the skills needed for self-care tasks (e.g. tooth brushing, toileting, washing, dressing, eating).
- participating in learning tasks (e.g. writing, using scissors, choosing and organising tools/belongings).
- positioning and posture to support everyday activities (e.g. having the correct chair or equipment, adjusting the environment).
- accessing play/leisure resources (e.g. supporting a child with coordination difficultues to learn how to ride a bike or join in PE at school).
- upper limb management for children and young people with neurological conditions that affect arm use.
Children and Young People's Occupational Therapy (CYPOT) is able to work with children and young people in a range of environments. This may involve sessions in a clinic, school/nursery, home, or community environment. CYPOT also runs group-based parent education sessions. These groups are aimed at supporting parents to learn the tools and strategies that will help their child achieve their potential.
Eligibility
Our service is available to children and young people aged 0-18 with a GP within Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, or Hammersmith & Fulham.
Children or young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will have their Occupational Therapy provision through the Special Educational Needs Occupational Therapy service
How do you access this service? What is the referral process?
CYPOT accepts referrals from health and educational professionals and parents.
Health and educational professionals need to ensure that at least 2 functional difficulties are identified on referrals (e.g. changing for PE at school, using cutlery to eat at lunchtime, or using hands effectively to access and use toys/school tools).
Download the referral form for professionals (e.g. GP, SENCO, other health professional) here.
Parents may use the parent questionnaire form to make a referral directly to CYPOT. Parents are encouraged to provide as much information as possible, and to speak to their child’s school SENCO (if relevant) about the referral.
Download the referral form for parents by clicking here
Where to send the referral form:
Completed referral forms can be emailed to: clcht.referrals.cypot@nhs.net
Where your child will be seen
Your child may be seen in one of the below sites, depending on where in the borough your residential address is.
1. Doughty House, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, SW10 9NH
The nearest tube stations are Earl’s Court or South Kensington
2. The Medical Centre, 7e Woodfield Road, W9 3XZ
The nearest tube stations are Westbourne Park or Royal Oak
Other Details
Age Ranges 0 - 18 years
Referral required
CYPOT accepts referrals from Health and Educational professionals