The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable children and young people to participate as much as possible in activities of everyday life. We incorporate meaningful and purposeful activities to enable those with limitations or impairments to reach their full potential.

As occupational therapists we address these questions:

  • Why does the child or young person have difficulties managing their daily activities?
  • What we can do to make it possible for them to manage better?
  • How will this impact on their health and wellbeing?

How we can help:

  • Specialist seating for positioning and play at home as well as nursery or school  
  • Specialist equipment for sleeping and night time positioning
  • Bathing needs
  • Toileting needs
  • Play and hand skill development
  • Development of dressing skills
  • Early moving and handling advice
  • Assessment and recommendation for minor or major adaptations in the home environment

We discuss short and long term goals and provide episodes of occupational therapy intervention with reassessment at key times. These goals progress towards discharge or transition to self-management or other forms of care.

We work closely with physiotherapists and speech and language therapists within the local Children's Therapy Service as well as other professionals and agencies involved in the care of the child or young person.

Criteria for Referral

  • The Occupational Therapy Service will see:
  • Children and young people who have an address and GP within the Central and Pennine regions of Lancashire (the geographical footprint of the service).
  • We offer a service for children and young people aged 0-18.
  • For young people who access special education, we will continue to support known health needs up to the age of 19. For any new needs identified post-18th birthday, we will support you to refer to adult services.
  • Children with a physical motor difficulty which is impacting on their daily occupations, their independence or access to their home environment.
  • If the evidence base indicates that occupational therapy will be beneficial to reducing the impact of their difficulties.
  • If you are unsure if you meet our criteria please contact us to discuss. 

Sources of Referral

Anyone can request involvement, including the service user or their parent or carer. Other professionals may refer the child or young person to the service, e.g. Health Visitors, Learning Disability Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Children's Services, Hospital staff, GPs, Community Paediatricians.

Written, verbal and electronic requests are accepted. Please contact us to request a referral form.

The service is provided free of charge.

Referrals are accepted via email.
Email: CTS.Pennine@lscft.nhs.uk

Telephone: 01282 628 428 or 01282 628 429

Central and West Lancashire
Please email or telephone for a referral form
Email: CTS.Central.West@lscft.nhs.uk 
Telephone: 01772 215 065
 

The therapist will talk to you and ask questions about your child and your concerns. They will talk to your child and depending on their age may play games and do activities related to difficulties highlighted on the request for involvement form.

They may also carry out specific assessments to identify what is impacting on your child’s ability to do their day to day activities. They will explain the results of these to you and discuss what help your child might need.

Due to COVID 19 face to face initial assessments are currently not routinely available. We will continue to support you and your child by using other approaches to complete initial assessments.

What if English is not my first Language?

If English is not your first language and you think you may not be able to communicate well with our staff please let us know this on the request for involvement as a professional interpreter can be booked for appointments.

What happens following my child's assessment?

  • You may be given advice and strategies to try with your child and be discharged from the service
  • You may be offered further assessment to identify your child's strengths and needs
  • You may be offered a block of treatment to work on identified goals
  • You may be given a programme of activities for school/nursery to carry out
  • A request for involvement may be made to another service e.g. physiotherapy

This will depend on the nature of your difficulties and may be in a clinic, listed below, or at your school or home. Due to COVID 19 face to face appointments are currently not routinely available. We will continue to support you and your child by using other approaches- please see 'Occupational Therapy: What We Do' section of the website for more information.

Chorley and South Ribble

  • Broadoaks Child Development Centre, Balcarres Road, Leyland, PR25 3ED

Greater Preston

  • Minerva Health Centre Lowthorpe Road, Preston, Lancashire PR16SB
  • Ashton Health Centre, 67-69 Pedders Lane, Preston PR2 1HR

West Lancashire

  • Child Development Centre, Ormskirk & District General Hospital, Wigan Road, Ormskirk, L39 2JW

Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale

  • Acorn Primary Health Care Centre, 421 Blackburn Road, Accrington, BB5 1RT

Burnley and Pendle

  • St Peter's Centre, Church Street, Burnley, BB11 2DL

Blackburn with Darwen

  • Shadsworth Children's Centre, Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, BB1 2HR
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Contact Details

Chorley and South Ribble

Telephone: 01772 644 498

Address:
Suite 10 Leyland House, Lancashire Business Park, Centurion Way, Leyland, PR26 6TY

Greater Preston

Telephone: 01772 777 318

Address:
Minerva Health Centre, Lowthorpe Road, Preston, PR1 6SB

West Lancashire

Telephone Number: 01695 684 300

Address:
Ormskirk CDC, Ormskirk Hospital, Wigan Road,, Ormskirk, L39 2JW

Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale

Telephone: 01254 283 814

Address:
Acorn Primary Health Care Centre, Blackburn Road, Accrington, BB5 1RT

View the AccessAble accessibility guide for Acorn Primary Care Centre.

Burnley and Pendle

Telephone: 01282 628 359

Address:
St Peter's Health Centre, Church Street, Burnley, BB11 2DL

Blackburn with Darwen

Telephone: 01254 283 103

Address:
Shadsworth Children's Centre, Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, BB1 2HR