We provide services for children who may be experiencing difficulties or have a disability that impacts on their participation in daily life activities.
For children, daily life activities could include:
- Self-care skills for example, dressing, using cutlery, brushing teeth, toileting
- Leisure & play
- Participation at school - handwriting, organisational skills, sensory preferences impacting on attention & concentration
Frequently Asked Questions about Primary Care Paediatric Occupational Therapy (OT)
What is Paediatric Occupational Therapy?
Paediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) helps children and young people with different needs, be as independent as possible in their everyday lives. Occupational Therapists work with children and young people on developing skills to perform the activities they need to and want to do at home, at school or in play/leisure environments.
Who can benefit from Primary Care Paediatric Occupational Therapy?
Children who are experiencing any difficulty in performing the daily life activities that they need to do from day to day. This may include any of the following areas:
- Self-care – dressing, toileting, feeding, brushing teeth
- Play and leisure activities
- Sensory preferences impacting on participation in daily life activities
- Handwriting
- Planning and organisational skills at home or school
A National Programme and reconfiguration of Paediatric Services using a new service model called ‘Progressing Disability Services for Children & Young People’ has commenced across the country. Children who experience complex functional difficulties and require support within a team will be referred to their local Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT).
Primary Care Occupational Therapists Provide Services For Children With Presenting Needs That Meet The Following Criteria:
- Non-Complex or Low Level of Complexity;
- Having an Expected Treatment Pathway;
- Mild/Moderate Occupational Performance Challenges;
- Not Meeting Typical/Expected Functions of Age Group.
Who may be referred to Mayo Primary Care Paediatric Occupational Therapy? (Children must meet all of the following criteria)
- Aged 0-18 years
- Live in Mayo
- Experience non-complex functional difficulties in areas such as self-care, play & leisure, school participation.
Who can refer?
- Parents/Guardians
- Teacher
- Health professionals
- Educational Psychologists
How to make a referral?
- Please complete the Children’s Service Referral Form and, depending on the age of the child, the corresponding Additional Information Form.
- The form can be found at this link.
- Once the Children’s Services Referral form and the Additional Information Form are completed, they can be forwarded to us by post:
- Address: Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service, Castlebar Primary Care Centre, Moneenbradagh, Moneen Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F35XR64.
- Please note referrals will only be processed once fully completed forms are received.
What should I expect after a referral is made to the Department?
- Once a referral is received by our Primary Care Paediatric Occupational Therapy department it will be reviewed by the OT team.
- If the needs outlined on the referral form can be met within our service, the referral will be accepted and the child will be placed on our waiting list.
- If the referral is not appropriate to our Primary Care Paediatric Occupational Therapy service it will not be accepted. In some cases advice will be provided if it appears that a referral is required elsewhere.
- Contact will be made with the family when the child is due to be seen for assessment and an appointment will be offered.
Contact Details
Address: Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service, Castlebar Primary Care Centre, Moneenbradagh, Moneen Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F35XR64.
Email: OTPeads.mayo@hse.ie
Telephone: 094 9049209
