What is Occupational Therapy for Children and Young People
The goal of Occupational Therapy is to enable participation in everyday life activities at home, in school and the community.
Occupational therapy focuses on participation in meaningful activities and how activities can positively impact the health and well-being of an individual over the lifespan.
Who is the service for?
- Children aged 0-18.
- Children living within HSE Dublin North West network areas of Blanchardstown, Blakestown, Finglas and Cabra (Dublin 7, Dublin 11, Dublin 15)
- Children who are experiencing difficulty with their daily living skills as a result of motor skill or sensory difficulties.
- If your child is with another service such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or the Child Disability Network Team (CDNT) please contact that service directly.
What to expect
- Support and advice on your child’s development and how to help them with participation in everyday activities.
- Parent information session explaining occupational therapy
- Child centred goal setting
- It may include clinic assessment and school observation.
- Home and school recommendations
- Parent face to face workshops and online supports
Services
Parent Webinar series
Tips for Teens
Developmental Coordination Disorder and Autism
Tips to help with learning skills
Advice Clinics
Parent Advice Clinic
Available to Parents/ Guardians of children whether known or unknown to the Primary Care Occupational Therapy service.
Parents / Guardians can meet with an Occupational Therapist for 30 minutes, to get ideas and strategies to support the development of a specific skill area, such as handwriting or dressing skills, organisation.
Teacher Education sessions
All staff in primary schools within Dublin North West are invited to attend Occupational Therapy teacher education sessions.
These sessions are facilitated four times yearly depending on staffing. These sessions provide teachers with a greater understanding of the impact of motor and sensory difficulties in the classroom.
Teachers are provided with practical strategies and resource pack to support children with motor and sensory difficulties in school.
How to refer
All referrals should be on the Children’s Services Referral Form and sent to the Central Referral Office by email, fax or post.
You can get this form here: Children's Services Referral Form (PDF, 580 KB, 10 pages), or by calling into your local health centre. Referral forms must be completed in full.
Parents/Guardians need to sign the referral form.
We recommend including any previous assessment reports, school reports or other relevant supplementary information to support the referral.
Locations
Corduff Primary Care Centre (for those living in Dublin 15)
Blackcourt Road
Corduff
Dublin 15
Grangegorman Primary Care Centre (for those living in Dublin 7 and Dublin 11)
Grangegorman Upper Road,
Dublin 7
Cost of service
There is no cost to see a Primary Care Occupational Therapist. The service is free.
