About children and young people's occupational therapy in Enfield
As Occupational therapists we view occupation as the tasks or activities an individual chooses to do or has to do within their day. It can be everything from getting ready in the morning, managing school activities, to engaging in chosen leisure activities.
When you get referred for Occupational therapy, the OT will work with you and your child to determine which occupations your child is experiencing difficulties with and help by discussing/demonstrating strategies and recommendations to increase independence in these areas. This is done by observing the child’s engagement within the identified Occupation and the Environment. OTs will look at how we can adapt the Occupation and or Environment to support the child to engage whilst considering the child likes, dislikes, strengths, and abilities. We do not seek to change the child but rather to change the Occupation and the environment to support the child’s engagement in order to develop their skills. The better the fit between person, occupation, and environment, the bigger the opportunity for Occupational engagement.
Occuaptions can be divided in to the following three criteria:
Self-Care:
This includes everything from getting dressed and brushing teeth and toileting to using cutlery and engaging in age-appropriate meal prep activities. As children get older this also includes skills of money management, accessing public transport safely and engaging in household chores.
School based skills:
Think of all the skills needed for successful participation in a school day. This includes handwriting, scissor skills, organisational skills, attention to tasks and sequencing of steps.
Play/leisure:
Play is the largest occupation for children and can help children develop hobbies and interests. Being able to engage with their hobbies, play sports and develop play skills all fall under this domain. This can also include assessing their development level in terms of their play skills and ways to support their engagement in play.
Children must live within the borough of Enfield or be registered with an Enfield GP. They must be aged between 0-18 years.
Unfortunately we are not commissioned to see children who attend an Enfield school but do not live in the borough nor have an Enfield GP. These children need to be referred to their home borough’s NHS Occupational Therapy service. If your child attends an Enfield Special School please access your school's OT service through the school.
Referrals for home equipment or housing adaptations need to go to Enfield Local Authority Social Services Children's Occupational Therapy Team. Please check the Enfield council website for information on their service.