How do you support children during COVID-19?
Do you have visuals to help me explain the clinic sessions to my child?
Do you have to visit both at home and at nursery/school?
What is my role during the clinic sessions?
What is my role at the home visit?
What is my role in a school/nursery visit?
How long do the sessions last?
What geographical area do you cover?
Can you contribute to my child's EHCP?
How can I find more information about Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy?
Where can I read more about your therapeutic work with children?
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How do you support children during COVID-19?
I am now seeing children (that are not in a risk group due to asthma, diabetes or other conditions) at home and at the therapy room. I have a clear policy about the ways to minimize infection which is based on the guidance of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy and discussions with other Occupational Therapists. for more information please look at the link to the policy for home visits and the therapy room
Are you a registered OT?
Yes, I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). My registration number is OT39130.
What are your working hours?
I work from 9:00 until 17:00 Monday - Friday. However if I do not answer your call or email it is because I am away from my desk with a client. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Do you have visuals to help me explain to my child about the clinic sessions?
Once my therapy room is fully set up I will take a picture which I can send to you. It will help familiarise your child with the space before their first visit. Please show your child my photo before my first home or school visit.
Do you have to visit both at home and at nursery/school?
I believe that the best way to support your child is to provide therapy at the clinic, but also to ensure that the adults at nursery/school understand your child's needs and know how to best support them. Through my work in the NHS I have learned that this is vital for achieving the best outcome. As for home visits, this will depend on you. If you would like me to support any difficulty that your child experiences at home and would find hands-on modelling helpful, a home visit will be appropriate.
How will you work with me?
I very much believe in a collaborative way of working. I see us as equal team members. I have the knowledge on child development and ways to approach difficulties, but you are the expert on the impact that certain difficulties have on your daily life. For example, I may meet two different children, both aged 3.5, that are not yet toilet trained. For one parent this may be the top priority, while for the other there are more pressing goals. My role is to support you to achieve the goals that are your highest priorities and not to decide the priorities for you.
What is my role during the clinic sessions?
No matter how old your child is, I ask you to stay in the therapy room. Please do not use your mobile phone during our sessions, but take this opportunity to learn from the strategies I am using with your child. You may wish to write down questions that you have which you can discuss with me at a later point.
It may be useful if you videotape parts of the sessions, as many children enjoy watching themselves, or perhaps to share with a significant adult in your child's life, but I ask not to share these videos on social media or on apps such as Whatsapp without my permission.
What is my role at the home visit?
During a home visit I will support you while you engage in different activities with your child. For example, if we go to the park together, I will model and then guide you how to best support your child and then let you practice what we've learnt.
What is my role in a school/nursery visit?
A school/nursery visit is an opportunity for me to see how your child behaves, plays and interacts when they are not with you. It is therefore better if you do not join these visits, as this may be confusing for your child and could affect their behaviour. I will write to you within 2 working days from the visit to let you know how it went and what I suggest to help your child.
How long do the sessions last?
Sessions in the clinic last 1 hour. Feedback can be given by email/phone or Skype with no additional charge.
Home and school visits will last about an hour, depending on needs. I will make sure that you/the teacher get what you hoped for from a visit before I leave.
How much will it cost?
If you are interested in assessment and therapy please contact me so we can discuss the fee on a case-to-case basis.
Assessments include a session in the clinic, a school/nursery visit or a home visit, and a zoom or phone conversation with you to explain my findings.
The fee for a home session and a clinic session is the same.
What geographical area do you cover?
I cover a radius of 3 miles around Essex Rd station in Islington without an additional charge for travel.
Can you contribute to the EHCP?
Following assessment and a block of therapy sessions a report will be written. However, I am currently unable to write reports supporting an EHCP application and/or a tribunal.
How will you protect my data?
I am registered with the Information Commissioners Office and follow their guidance to ensure that your data is protected.
How can I find more about Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy?
I recommend this very useful factsheet, published by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), which provides information about Ayres Sensory Integration in the format of frequently asked questions. I also recommend the book Sensory Integration and the Child which was written by Dr. Jean Ayres and contains in depth information about her approach.
Where can I read more about your therapeutic work with children?
Please look at the blog page of this website, where you can read about the support I have given to clients.
