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Self-care skills

Find out how we can help

Helping children develop independence and confidence

Learning to perform basic self-care tasks such as dressing, teeth cleaning and using cutlery are important milestones on the journey towards independence.

We regularly assist parents and school staff concerned about a child's development towards their self-care. And when we help children with these skills, we typically observe improvements in other areas of development too, including their academic progress and behaviour.

How OT's help

Whether your child's school has expressed concerns, or you have noticed difficulties yourself, we can help. Some of the most common reasons for approaches to us include:

  • Avoidance of certain tasks
  • Changes in behavior at certain moments of the day such as bath-time
  • Difficulty using cutlery or other basic tools
  • Problems with dressing, especially with buttons or zips
  • Over-reliance on adults, siblings or friends

Our assessment process allows a specialist occupational therapist to identify the nature of your child's difficulties, and the reasons for them. Once identified, we can work with you and your child to put in place a plan to address them.

Packages of care

We are flexible around the needs of your child and family and offer a variety of treatment packages to ensure we provide the right solution for you. All of our interventions are oriented towards ensuring that you and your child see measurable improvements.

This might include one or more of the following:

  • An eight-week block of one-to-one bespoke treatment sessions, delivered to your child at home or school, after which we will review and plan the next steps with you
  • An intensive block of treatment delivered over the holidays - this is popular with overseas families, or those with limited weekend or after-school capacity in term time
  • A home and school programme providing practical, everyday techniques, with advice and support to ensure that the approach is consistent throughout your child's day
  • Attendance at a children's independence group at weekends or over the holidays

Common areas we work on

Through our assessment we will identify the specific areas of self-care that your child is struggling with, and the source of these difficulties, allowing us to plan a targeted treatment programme.

Some of the most common areas that we would expect to be working on are:

  • Visual perception and sensory processing
  • Body awareness
  • Sequencing and planning
  • Gross and fine motor skills
  • Balance and dexterity
  • Working with parents and schools to ensure that the right approaches to handwriting continue even when the OT is not present

Schools, LEAs and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

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Common conditions we help with

Find out more about how our OT’s can help by visiting our pages dedicated to specific conditions associated with self care difficulties.

Why The OT Practice

We recognise the importance of knowing that you and your child are in safe hands. That is why, when you first make contact with us, you will straightaway be able to explain your concerns to a member of our client management team who will be able to provide relevant information about our services, answer any questions you may have and provide guidance on next steps. This dedicated paediatric team will then remain in charge of your case through any subsequent assessment and treatment we provide.

Other reasons to rely on The OT Practice include:

  • We visit you and your child at home or school at a time convenient for you, with no clinics or waiting lists, offering after-school and weekend appointments where necessary
  • We devise home and school-based treatment plans to ensure that our assessment and advice is relevant to each child’s unique environment
  • Our nationwide network of registered children’s occupational therapists allows us to find you the right local therapist
  • Intensive treatment available during the school holidays
  • We believe our role is to equip you and your child to become as autonomous as possible – ultimately independent of, and not dependent upon, the help we provide

Your Clinical Services Manager

Sarah

Sarah

Clinical Services Manager (Paediatrics)

With a broad range of experience within the clinical specialism of paediatric occupational therapy over 20 years, Sarah oversees the day to day delivery of the services delivered to The OT Practice’s youngest client group.

Email the team

Services for businesses, organisations and the public sector

Schools

Delivering individual or group therapy for children, or advice and training to up-skill members of staff.

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LEA's

Occupational therapy provision at home or school as recommended in an EHCP or Statement on behalf of LEA's.

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Case Managers

Providing OT to families & children with complex or multiple needs to achieve optimum independence.

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Healthcare concierge

Assessment and treatment services for clients in their own homes both in the UK and internationally.

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Solicitors

We provide solicitors with professional reports for educational tribunals or rehabilitation needs.

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Next steps

Initial enquiry

During your initial call to us you can discuss your concerns with a member of our paediatric client management team, who will be able to understand what your child's difficulties are, provide information and advice on our services and identify the right OT from our team.

Quote

If therapist input is recommended, we will send you a detailed quote via email or in writing explaining what, after a full assessment, we propose and how much it would cost, as well as rates for further work that might be recommended in the future.

Referral

Once you have had time to consider the options and costs, and if you would like to go ahead, the next step would be to fill in our online referral form. In the meantime, if you have further concerns or questions then our client manager will be happy to discuss them with you.

Assessment

Our therapist will then contact you within 24 hours to arrange an assessment visit at home or school, a mixture of formal and observational methods - as well as conversation with yourself, your child and their school - after which you will receive a comprehensive written report.

Advice

The report will include a clear record of our findings and recommendations, together with practical advice on how to help your child. Where additional involvement is required, we will follow up the report with a detailed quotation so that you have all the information needed to make an informed decision.

As Private Occupational Therapists our aim is to provide choices and guidance to help you decide what the best options are for you

A few of our paediatric specialists

Meet a selection of our occupational therapists who are experienced in helping children grow in independence with their self care.

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Debbie

Middlesex, London

Debbie is an expert speech and language therapist, delivering specialist assessments and treatment to children at home, school and nursery.

View profile

Profession

Speech and Language Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

School Based Therapy/Support

Samantha

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Trained in advanced sensory integration and therapeutic listening techniques, Sam helps families by treating children at home, school and nursery.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Humberside, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Manchester, Wakefield, Salford

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Social integration

Lisa

Derbyshire, East Midlands

Lisa works across the UK with adults and children with complex needs, supporting them to live as independently as possible.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, East Midlands, East Anglia, London, Ireland, Derbyshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Tina

Glasgow, East Renfrewshire

Tina is a Paediatric OT specialising in Sensory Integration. She is based in Glasgow and visits children across Scotland.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow (City of), Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support

Louise

Essex, East Anglia

Trained in advanced sensory integration techniques, Louise treats both children and adults at home, school and work.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, South East of England, Essex, Suffolk

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Behaviour management, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Katy

Durham, North East England

Katy is a Paediatric OT based in Chester-Le-Street, County Durham, experienced helping with a variety of physical and sensory needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Cleveland, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Chailey Postural Management, The Listening Programme

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, School Based Therapy/Support

Sharon

Essex, East Anglia

Based in Essex, Sharon provides expert speech and language therapy helping children with speech delay and eating or drinking difficulties.

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Profession

Speech and Language Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, South East of England, Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, London - East

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

School Based Therapy/Support, Dysphagia management

Claire

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Trained in advanced handwriting and sensory integration techniques, Claire helps families by treating children at home, school and nursery.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, South East of England, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Counselling, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment

Sarah

Devon, West and South West of England

Based in Devon, Sarah is a Paediatric OT offering assessments and treatments for children in both home and school settings.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

, Devon

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability

Lone

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Trained in advanced sensory integration techniques and both Bobath and Chailey approaches, Lone treats children at home, school and nursery.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, South East of England, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, BOBATH, CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care

Joanne

Surrey, South East of England

Based in Surrey, Joanne is an expert paediatric occupational therapist, treating children at home, in school or at nursery.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South of England, South East of England, Surrey, London - Central, London - South, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, DMO (Lycra) Splinting, School Based Therapy/Support

Catriona

London - South, London

Based in London Catriona is an expert Occupational Therapist, working with children with a range of conditions.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England , London - South

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Chailey Postural Management

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation

Lynn

Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

An expert paediatric Occupational Therapist, Lynn works with children in the East Midlands and Lincolnshire with Sensory Processing needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, AMPS

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support

Alison

Coventry, West Midlands

Based in Coventry, Alison has been a Paediatric OT for over 10 years, specialising in fine motor skills and handwriting.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Coventry

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Co-ordination, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support

Rachel

Shropshire, West Midlands

Based in Shrewsbury, Rachel is an experienced Paediatric OT offering assessments and care to children at home and school.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Powys, Wrexham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Lucy

Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

Qualifying in 1999, Lucy specialises in seating & postural management, rehabilitation and housing & equipment for adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS, Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Behaviour management, Co-ordination, Self care, Social integration

Sarah

Swindon, Wiltshire

Based in Swindon, Sarah is a Paediatric OT visiting children in a home or school setting across the South-West.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Berkshire, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Swindon

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Makaton, Learning disability

Janita

London - West, Middlesex

Located in London, Janita is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist offering assessments and treatments in both school and home environments.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, London

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

School Based Therapy/Support

Helen

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Working with children at home and school, Helen provides expert occupational therapy in North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South of England, Hertfordshire, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care

Chris

Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear

Chris is an expert occupational therapist, having gained a PhD for a study investigating individuals with liver disease.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Jonathan

Birmingham, Worcestershire

Jonathan is an expert Children's OT who specialises in complex and long term conditions, working with children and their families.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, London - West, Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Self care, Postural management

Michaela

Essex, East Anglia

Based in Essex, Michaela is an expert paediatric Occupational Therapist working with children with sensory needs in their own environments.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, Essex, Suffolk, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support

Angela

Cleveland, North East England

Working in North-East England, Angela is a specialist paediatric OT, visiting children in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and Tyne and Wear.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Cleveland, North Yorkshire, Middlesbrough

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Rachel

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Based in Hertfordshire, Rachel delivers specialist rehabilitation assessments to children and adults at home or work.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South of England, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, AMPS

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, School Based Therapy/Support

Liz

Buckinghamshire, South East of England

Liz is a highly regarded Occupational Therapist working with children in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, West Midlands and London.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Joanne

Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Located in Mid-Ulster, Northern Ireland, Joanne is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist offering specialist assessments and treatment.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Northern Ireland, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry, Tyrone, Belfast

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation

Ann

Surrey, South East of England

Ann is an expert neurological rehabilitation OT, working with clients in their own homes in London and the surrounding areas.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South of England, Surrey, London - South

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Self care, Postural management, Splinting

Jane

Wiltshire, South East of England

Qualifying in 2000, Jane specialises in housing & equipment, rehabilitation and seating & postural management for adults and children.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England, South East of England, Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Natalie

Kent, South East of England

Natalie is an expert occupational therapist working in Kent & the South East, providing support to children and their families.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support

Sarah

Bedfordshire, East Anglia

Sarah is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration based in Bedfordshire, near Luton and Milton Keynes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Conductive education, Therapeutic listening, Train the trainer, Sensory Attachment Therapy

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Sensory attachment intervention, Learning disability

Client feedback

Further reading

Our news & press

Our YouTube channel is live

We are delighted to announce the launch of our YouTube channel. The first videos are focused on our paediatric developmental services. Told through OT Practice Kids clients and their families, we explain our ethos for working with children is to focus on resolving their difficulties not their diagnosis.

Read more

Our Experts' Blog

A professional's guide to Hand Therapy

Helen Griffiths explains when a hand therapist referral might be appropriate and the process that they would go through. Clarifying when a hand therapist can help, she explains how advancing technologies have made splint provision easier in the community.

Read more