Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy
The Salt Way Centre
The Salt Way Centre in Middleleaze employs a team of experienced health professionals who are able to support families and children with a diverse range of special educational needs and disabilities.
The team combines the skills of physiotherapists and occupational therapists in one department and works with children and young people with a range of conditions such as congenital (existing at birth), neurological (conditions of the nervous system), developmental (childhood milestones) and sensory processing conditions (movement and touch), which impact on physical and mental function.
The team also has social care occupational therapists, who are involved with the assessment and prescription of equipment and adaptations within the home to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
Therapists are involved in the following:
- Transition into school
- Safeguarding children
- Children in care
- Equipment, in liaison with Social Services
- TAC meetings (Team Around the Child meetings)
- Wheelchair referrals
- Lea SSEN – Assessments
- Vulnerable children’s meetings
- Training packages to pre-school settings
How to Request an Assessment
Initial referrals to occupational therapy and physiotherapy are made by health practitioners/professionals such as GPs, paediatricians, health visitors or school teachers. However, re-referrals are accepted from parents of previous patients.
What Happens Following an Assessment of a Child’s Needs?
Following your child’s assessment, a report/letter is sent to the referrer outlining the findings and recommendations. Your child’s identified needs are then met though indirect programmes delivered by parents/carers and school programmes, or through direct therapy delivered by therapists.
Children with Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD)
SPARK! School and Parent Advice Regarding Kids! All primary schools in the catchment area have a SPARK resource pack (created by the Paediatric Therapy Dept in consultation with the LA and parents) to use with children who present with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).
Referrals come from a Consultant Paediatrician, Community Paediatrician, or parents and the school directly. The school will then refer children who meet the criteria for assessment, to the paediatric therapy service. On acceptance of the referral, parents are sent an information leaflet outlining the role of the service and are offered specific advice leaflets for daily living activities.
The standard waiting time for initial assessment and treatment is 13 weeks.
Early Support Pathway 0-4yrs
Children are referred to the Early Support Pathway based at the Salt Way for a multidisciplinary assessment. If specific gross or fine motor difficulties have been identified on their referral, the children are assessed by the Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist.
Following the assessment, the therapists submit reports and recommendations and attend subsequent Team Around the Child meetings when appropriate.
Links
The Salt Way Children’s Centre
Pearl Road
Middleleaze
Swindon
SN5 5TD
Tel: 01793 465364
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/saltwaycc
Special Schools based at the Multi-Agency Unit (MAU)
Brimble Hill Primary School
Uplands Secondary School
Mainstream Schools with Physical Impairment Units
Robert Le Kyng Primary School
Westlea Primary School
The Commonweal Secondary School
Other useful links:
Physiotherapy in the Marketplace
The National Autistic Society
Steps
Dyspraxia Foundation