Occupational Therapy, Lincolnshire Community Health Services

Occupational Therapy is part of Lincolnshire Community Health Services (LCHS) Children's Therapy team. This team also includes Children's Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy. The team work across the county in a variety of settings with children and young people aged 0-19.

Specialist Occupational Therapists work with children and young people who have physical difficulties relating to activities of self care such as bathing and toiletting and at school therapists may advise on skills such as holding a pencil or using scissors.

Where a child/young person is at risk of developing postural asymmetry , Occupational therapists work alongside Physiotherapists to measure the level of asymmetry and then provide 24 hour interventions to protect body shape and prevent further medical or orthopaedic complications caused by body distortion.

They will also become involved if buildings such as nurseries to allow the child/young person to fully access all areas alongside his/her peers. Occupational Therapists will train carers how to move and position the child/young person safely with equipment such as hoists if necessary.

The aim of the Children's Therapy team  is to help the child/young person reach their full potential through providing  appropriate intervention, advice and support.
They do this by carrying out highly specialist assessments to identify the need and, in partnership with the child or young person; parents, schools or nurseries, goals are set and management options agreed upon.
Options may be in the form of specific targeted work over a time period or advice and strategies integrated into their daily routine. The therapists do not work with the child or young person indefinitely but aim to empower them and their parents to become the experts in their own care seeking advice from the therapists when necessary. In working very closely with other professionals in health;education and social care such as specialist doctors and surgeons,teachers and carers the therapists can advise on ways to improve on physical difficulties.