Children's Occupational Therapy (OT)
Contact us
Ashford team
Telephone: 01233 651922
Location: The Rainbow Centre, Great Chart Road, A28 Bypass, Ashford, TN23 4ER
Folkestone team
Telephone: 01303 854461
Location: The Beacon, Park Farm Road, Folkestone, CT19 5DN
Dover team
Telephone: 01304 222521
Location: Children’s Assessment Unit, Buckland Hospital, Coombe Valley Road, Dover, CT17 0HD
What we do
Our children's occupational therapy (OT) service offers assessment and support for children with conditions that impact their ability to complete every-day tasks.
Children we see have complex, severe or enduring physical/developmental conditions. They may have difficulties with:
self care: getting dressed, using the toilet, preparing and eating meals
productivity: going to or participating at school or college, accessing community facilities and clubs
leisure: playing sports, shopping with friends, or doing hobbies.
We see children aged 0-18 in a community setting. This could be at our clinic, in your home or your child's school.
The occupational therapist will aim to see your child in the place where they are having difficulties.
What to expect
Our first assessment may include observing your child taking part in a range of activities. Our assessments are often play based. They include every-day tasks such as using cutlery, getting dressed, kicking or catching a ball.
The occupational therapist will support you and your child, to help them to do the activities that are important to you and your child.
We may:
suggest alternative ways of doing things
provide advice on learning new approaches and techniques
make changes to the environment, for example, through using equipment or adaptations.
If your child needs more occupational therapy, we will contact you or we may signpost your child onto another service. We will work with you and your child to agree the best outcome.
Where to find us
Our service is mainly provided within community settings such as:
schools
children's centres
patients' own homes, or
in our own clinics
Rainbow Centre, Ashford
The Children’s Assessment Unit at Buckland Hospital
The Beacon, Folkestone.
Please note children and young people with a Canterbury, Faversham or Thanet GP need to refer to Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.
How to use this service
Your child can be referred to our service by:
yourself (parent or carer)
a teacher
a health visitor
a nursery
a GP, or
another healthcare professional.
See our referral information for inclusion criteria and a link to the form, under the Children and Young People's Therapy Service.