Children's Occupational Therapy

The Children’s Occupational Therapy service provides therapy, advice, equipment and adaptations for children who have disabilities or difficulties with everyday tasks. The service is based at the Crystal Centre and we also work in a variety of settings including schools, nurseries, Croydon University Hospital and the child’s home. 

Occupational therapists are specially trained to assess and provide advice and intervention for children with any disability and children who experience difficulties with everyday tasks at home, school and at play. 

Occupational therapists assist with:

• specialist equipment
• home adaptations
• development of play and personal care skills
• splinting for chronic conditions
• coordination and fine motor skills development
• sensory processing and integration
• school advice to accommodate the child’s needs.

Referrals can be made by parents or carers, schools and other professionals. Please contact the service to obtain a referral form. It may be necessary for a completed questionnaire to be returned to the service. 

Following an assessment of the child’s needs, input is given in the form of programmes, therapy sessions, group sessions, equipment and adaptation provision, guidance to schools and working together with other relevant services to meet the child’s needs. 

General advice and activities

Please see our early years, primary school and secondary school advice sheets (on the right) which offer activity ideas and advice for schools/guardians/parents who are concerned about their child’s functional development. They are grouped in different stages for early years and school but individual ideas may be relevant to your child regardless of stage.

Before using the activity sheets please read the “Introduction to Advice Sheets”  guide as this will explain the importance and recommended frequency of repetition of the activities.

Appointments

What do I do if I haven’t received my appointment yet?

The waiting time for an initial appointment is 18 weeks. Should you wish to check on progress of your referral you can contact Children’s OT on 020 8274 6854 to enquire. When the child has been allocated to a member of the OT team, contact will be made to arrange an initial appointment.

What do I do if I want to change or cancel an appointment?

Please contact Children’s OT as soon as possible to reschedule any appointments.

What should I bring to my appointment?

Copies of relevant school and medical reports may be helpful.

What time should I arrive for my appointment?

It is essential that you arrive on time for your appointment in order to receive input for the full scheduled session. Treatment room sessions will not be able to overrun.

Contact Us

Croydon Children’s Occupational Therapy Service

Crystal Children’s Development Centre

Malling Close,

Addiscombe

Croydon, CR0 7YD

Telephone: 020 8274 6854/6850

Croydon’s children’s social care occupational therapists (OTs) provide support to children with disabilities and their families in their home environment. The team is responsible for assessing the needs of these children and their families in line with the Children Act 1989/2004 and the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

What support can children and young people access?

The service can offer help with:

• Providing equipment to assist with bathing and toileting
• Supplying specialist seating
• Assessing and recommending moving and handling equipment
• Giving advice on home adaptations. Please see guide to adaptation document by clicking the Major Adaptations tab for information on the adaptation process.
• Producing housing reports to guide families who are already on the housing register and need clarity on the type of property that would meet their child’s needs
• Viewing properties for children on our housing pathway. OT’s offer advice as to whether the property is accessible for the child or if it has potential to be adapted to provide disabled access to essential facilities. Please note, if the property cannot be internally adapted, OT’s may recommend that the family do not accept the property instead of recommending an extension.

 

Referrals we are unable to accept

We cannot take referrals for the following:

• General home-safety items (e.g. window restrictors, tough furniture, door locks, gates) that can be bought commercially and do not need an occupational therapy assessment. A Home Safety Guide leaflet is available for advice and support.
• Wheelchairs, buggies or mobility equipment – please contact your GP, the wheelchair service, or your child’s physiotherapist.
• Toys, sensory items or play equipment – families may be able to apply for a grant through the Family Fund.
• Small items to support feeding or dressing – these can be purchased from commercial suppliers such as Amazon or the Complete Care Shop.
• Equipment intended for use outside the home, including car seats or harnesses.
• Household repairs (e.g. fixing fences, doors or internal maintenance) – tenants should speak to their landlord; homeowners may need to fund repairs themselves.
• Transport or vehicle support – for help with transport needs, please contact Motability.
• Behavioural concerns when the child has not yet accessed suitable behaviour-support or sensory-processing interventions. These can be arranged through educational settings, CAMHS, the TULIP neurodisability service or the National Autistic Society.
• Issues related to social or environmental factors that are not linked to a disability, such as parenting challenges, sibling difficulties, or overcrowded living conditions