Integrated Treatment Services

Occupational Therapy

Many of our children, young people require support from an Occupational Therapist to help them learn skills of; 

• Dressing
• Washing and personal hygiene
• Eating
• Using scissors, pens, pencils and paper
• Tying shoe laces
• Handling objects and toys
• Playing and socialising
• Develop alternative strategies to succeed in specific tasks.
• Manage their school work
• Interact with others
• Acessing activities
• Organise themselves
• Handle tools and equipment
• Receive orthotics, equipment and advice to increase their access to the community
• Increasing levels of independence
• Overcome physical and psychological dysfunction

Many adults require support from an Occupational Therapist to support them, re-establish or maintain skills in;

• Dressing
• Washing and personal hygiene
• Eating and drinking
• Handling objects
• Develop alternative strategies to succeed in specific tasks.
• Manage their work or academic work
• Interacting with others
• Acessing activities
• Organising themselves
• Handling tools and equipment
• Receiving orthotics, equipment and advice to increase their access to their home and community life
• Increasing levels of independence
• Overcoming physical and psychological dysfunction

Support from an Occupational therapist helps staff to;

Grace Walton

Kirstie Whyte:

                                                             
Kirstie is a highly specialised Occupational Therapist with a special interest in children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. She has a post graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and worked within the Leicestershire CAMH service for a number of years. Kirstie is experienced in offering both group and individual sessions and has often worked with schools to ensure staff are comfortable and trained in approaches that may help them to manage the difficulties presented by the young people in their care.

• Providing Individual assessments and interventions- looking at individual emotional; sensory and physical needs.
• Providing Individual sessions focused on the goals; needs and developmental stage of the young person using a variety of classroom; creative and occupation based sessions. 
• Small group sessions- protective behaviours; self-esteem; social skills; understanding emotions
• Community based assessments and sessions linking real world function and skill development
• Classroom based time – increased 1:1 opportunities; support staff in ‘real’ setting; observe groups of young people; highlight difficulties; signpost to the most appropriate therapies 
• Support staff to recognise different issues and develop strategies for management; provide training and dissemination of techniques and skills for a number of issues.
• Sensory awareness incorporating movement in lessons / warm up/ cool down/ headphones/ visual learning strategies
• Support staff tor recognise splitting/ escalating/ self-control behaviours and provide strategies and techniques to help manage these difficulties.

---

                                                                              

Lucy Wheeler

Lucy qualified as an Occupational Therapist in July 2005 from the University of Northampton. Since qualifying Lucy has worked in stroke rehabilitation unit in a small acute hospital working with adults following severe stroke. From here Lucy moved to a rotation working in community paediatrics and within a community stroke rehabilitation team. For three years Lucy then worked at Birmingham Children’s Hospital working within the neurological rehabilitation team. Whilst working at the children’s Lucy was able to develop skills in the rehabilitation of children and young people following acquired and traumatic brain injury. This involved building close relationships with families to ensure that the needs of child were being met and goals were shared.

During her time at the Children’s Lucy also gained valuable experience working with young people presenting with chronic pain conditions. She was able to develop skills in pain management, relaxation and sleep hygiene.

Since moving from the children’s hospital Lucy is now working with the Children’s Therapy team in Sandwell. She works with children of all ages in mainstream and special schools. She has completed module one in sensory integration and this is an area of interest for her. She is also confident in assessing for specialist seating and bathing equipment, alongside functional and independence skills.

Lucy is keen to work with children of all ages and their families to build a therapeutic relationship ensuring client centred goals at all times. She is happy to work with a wide range of conditions to promote independence and participation in functional activities.

Alison Harris

Alison can also support specialist areas of training to mainstream and specialist schools as well as care settings and elderly services.  

Alison can be contracted in for consultative work, which we provide to many state and independent settings across the UK.