Occupational therapy, The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Contact
Community Health Occupational Therapy service
Phone: (02) 7825 3369
Email: SCHN-CHW-OccupationalTherapy@health.nsw.gov.au
Location: Outpatients Building, level 2
About our service
The Community Health Occupational Therapy service at Westmead provides services to babies, children, adolescents and their families. A family-focused philosophy is followed to assist children and young people to participate in home, school, play and leisure activities.
All patients referred to Occupational Therapy are assessed. The whole child, family and the environment in which they live is considered in this assessment. Therapy may follow and is provided individually or in groups. Intervention may take place at the hospital and be carried over into home/school programs.
Occupational Therapists consider the following interventions to assist children to participate in self-care, school/preschool, play and leisure activities:
- developmental facilitation
- sensory, perceptual and motor retraining
- adapting or designing special equipment
- seating and positioning
- upper limb techniques including hand therapy and splinting
- skills acquisition including handwriting and computer access
- training in the use of artificial limbs
- psycho-social groupwork
- relaxation and anxiety management
- information processing during everyday activities, eg. attention, planning, problem-solving
- play therapy/medical play
- home, preschool, school visits
Occupational Therapists also provide:
- education for parents, staff and community groups
- information on equipment resources
- information on community resources
- liaison with preschools, schools and other children's services.
Occupational therapists are also based in other departments of the hospital, including Kids Rehab and the department of Psychological Medicine.
Referral process for clinicians
Our department is using Consultmed to manage referrals. The Consultmed platform allows health professionals to send e-referrals to us securely.
Consultmed questions and technical support: helpdesk@consultmed.co
Referral process for parents and carers
Parents and carers can access Community Health Occupational Therapy directly without a referral from a GP or clinician.
Community Health Occupational Therapy services at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead are available to eligible children (ages 0-8) residing within the Parramatta and western areas of the Cumberland Council Local Government Area.
Please contact the Occupational Therapy Department to determine if your child is eligible for this service.
Phone: (02) 7825 3369
Email: SCHN-CHW-intakeoccupationaltherapy@health.nsw.gov.au
Clinic information
Inpatient team
The Inpatient team sees children and young people referred from wards including Neonatal Intensive Care, Babies and Toddlers, Oncology, Neurology and Rehabilitation, Adolescent Medicine, Liver and Renal, and Orthopaedics.
Children and young people from other wards are also seen by referral.
Outpatient team
The outpatient team sees community outpatients, as well as children and young people from:
- the Child Development Unit
- Spina Bifida clinic
- Physical Disabilities clinic
- Neuromuscular Management clinic
- Limb Deficiency clinic
- Connective Tissue Dysplasia
- Deafness Centre
- Rett Syndrome clinic
- and Rheumatology.
Resources for parents and carers
- Multisensory care and support information for parents east
- Preventing falls and fractures in children with muscle conditions east
- Occupational therapy and sleep east
- Occupational therapy and toilet training (including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)) east
- Occupational therapy for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) east