Children's survey report 2023

Summary

The children’s occupational therapy (OT) workforce is under huge pressure. Increased demand and workforce shortages are challenging occupational therapists’ capacity to provide essential support to children and young people whose health, development and wellbeing is affected by a range of physical, learning and mental health needs - needs are heightened by lingering consequences of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

In July 2023 we surveyed children’s OTs to understand how services for children and young people are currently organised and delivered and what if anything is making it difficult for them to access or benefit from OT support. The results build on findings of our two previous surveys in 2021 and 2022, helping us to monitor children’s access to OT over time.

Challenges shared by almost 700 OTs have significant implications for children and young people’s mental and physical health, their daily lives and educational outcomes. Without timely support there’s the risk their needs will increase, placing additional pressure on OT and other services now and in the future. 

Key findings:

• 85% said the demand for occupational therapy had increased since July 2022.

• 63% said they can’t provide the level or type of OT input children and young people need.

• 60% said their teams aren’t fully staffed.

• 74% said changes in school staffing prevent children and young people benefitting from occupational therapy.

• 65% said the cost-of-living crisis is making it difficult for children and young people to access OT.

• 30% said they can’t provide equipment and adaptations children and young people need, when they need it.

Intervention is simply not early enough and families are at breaking point by the time they are seen.

Our key recommendations

• The demand and capacity for children’s occupational therapy must be understood and capacity gaps addressed.

• OTs should be positioned where they have the most impact – in schools, early intervention and specialist services.

• OTs should work within integrated health, education and care systems to ensure resources are used efficiently and sustainably to meet the individual needs of children, young people and families.

• The OT workforce must be expanded to ensure staff are available and have the skills to support children, young people and families now and in the future.

• Equipment and adaptation services require investment and streamlining to ensure children and young people receive help quickly.