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  • OT service design

In this section

Occupational therapy for children and young people

Why children and young people are a priority for RCOT

Our ambitions for children’s OT

Making great occupational therapy referrals

OT in schools

OT and neonatal care

OT and mental health

OT service design

Practice guidance

OT service design

We’ve developed a range of resources to support the design and delivery of high-quality occupational therapy services for children, young people and families.  

Key components 

A high-quality occupational therapy service for children and young people would be one in which: 

  • Occupation and participation are prioritized – in the way the service is described, needs are assessed, interventions offered, and impact demonstrated.  
  • A strengths-based approach is taken – fostering self-awareness and self-management.  
  • Criteria and pathways for accessing occupational therapy expertise are clearly articulated and communicated.  
  • A balance of provision is offered at universal, targeted and individualised levels. 
  • A robust triage system is used – identifing the level and type of support a child or young person needs, first time.  
  • The service is accessible – located where children, young people and families are, and designed to meet people’s cultural, communication and other needs.  
  • Staff have the skills and expertise to meet the needs of the population served. 
  • Practice is evidence-based. 
  • Outcome data is collected and used – improving the quality of care and inform service development. 
  • A partnership approach is taken – health, education and care services are joined-up, sustainable and meet children and young people’s needs without duplication or delay. 
  • Services and resources are co-produced with young people and families – they meet the needs of people who access them.  

RCOT resources to support service design

Unlocking the potential

This report (published in 2019) explains how adopting a universal, targeted and specialist (individualised) approach means children and young people can access occupational therapy skills and expertise when they need it. 

It includes case studies showing how occupational therapists improve the lives of children and young people with physical, learning and mental health needs.  

https://www.rcot.co.uk/file/9857/download?token=X3w97Oyu 

https://www.rcot.co.uk/file/9858/download?token=QIrgOnB_ (Welsh version) 

Wales children's occupational therapy benchmarking audit report 2022

This report, produced at the request of the Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services in May 2022, describes the development of a quality audit tool for children's community-based occupational therapy services. 

There are six quality statements and 14 principles illustrating how the quality statements are delivered in practice. 

These were developed by us with a group of clinical experts. Children's occupational therapy service leaders in Wales benchmarked their service against the quality standards – the findings of this audit are included in the report.  

Wales benchmarking audit report - children's services May 2022.pdf (PDF, 809.01KB) 

You don’t have to see an occupational therapist to benefit from occupational therapy

In this blog published in 2018, Sally Payne, one of our Professional Advisers, reflects on how designing services differently can extend the reach of occupational therapy to more children and young people.   

You don’t have to see an occupational therapist to benefit from occupational therapy - RCOT 

Casson Lecture 2022: Optimising performance, clinical and economic outcomes in occupational therapy service delivery

In this lecture, Dr Sidney Chu takes a critical look at the interdependent relationship between performance, clinical and economic outcomes in service delivery – using his experience of managing children’s OT services as an example. 

His lecture challenges OTs to develop an efficient, effective and cost-effective service that meets client’s needs using allocated resources and is value for money from a commissioning perspective. 

Watch his lecture at rcot.co.uk/2022-elizabeth-casson-memorial-lecture 

2022 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture - RCOT 

@CPD Short Courses (for RCOT members only)

These self-directed short courses support the professional development of occupational therapists working with diverse populations, including children and young people. 

Short course resources include: 

  • presentation slides 
  • a facilitator guide 
  • a workbook.  

Courses focusing specifically on children and young people are: 

  • occupational therapy for children: introduction to universal, targeted and specialist services 
  • occupational therapy for children: right intervention, right time, right place 

You can find them via @CPD Short Courses 

Children and young peoples survey reports

Children and young people's survey 2023

In July 2023, we surveyed children’s occupational therapists working in the UK. 

We wanted to understand how occupational therapy services for children and young people are organised and delivered, and what if anything is making it difficult for children and young people to access or benefit from OT support. 

The report includes recommendations to ensure children and young people can access the occupational therapy they need, when they need it.  

Children and young people's occupational therapy survey 2023 (PDF, 848.65KB) 

CYP OT – Wales survey supplementary report 2023 (PDF, 163.63KB) 

CYP OT – Scotland survey supplementary report 2023 (PDF, 134.86KB) 

CYP OT – Northern Ireland survey supplementary report 2023 (PDF, 127.58KB) 

Children and young people's survey 2022

In 2021, we ran a survey to understand the impact of COVID-19 on children’s access to occupational therapy. This second survey, carried out in July 2022, described the situation 12 months on. 

The report identifies barriers affecting children's access to occupational therapy as we moved on from the pandemic and includes recommendations to ensure children and young people with additional learning needs and/or disabilities could access the right occupational therapy at the right time as demand, needs and workforce pressures increased. 

Children and young people's occupational therapy survey 2022 (PDF, 1011.54KB) 

Children and young peoples survey 2021

In July 2021 we surveyed RCOT members to find out why children and young people were struggling to access occupational therapy. This report describes the barriers identified and includes recommendations to improve children’s access to OT as we moved on from the pandemic.  

  • Children and young people's occupational therapy survey 2021 (PDF, 158.22KB) 

How to use the survey findings to improve local services

This blog explains how OT service leaders can use our survey findings to improve services for children, young people and families.  

How to use our children’s survey findings to improve services for children, young people and families in your area - RCOT 


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