The Children’s Occupational Therapy advice line is available for children and families with a Cambridgeshire GP, not currently known to our service.

Families can contact us to gain practical therapy advice, strategies and support in relation to a child’s functional and independence skills.

We can help you with:

Self Care - Eating, dressing, using the toilet, washing.
Play - Playing with toys and joining in with community events.
Learning Opportunities - participation in nursery/school activities.

An Occupational Therapist will be available to answer queries from parents, school staff and health professionals.

By providing early help and advice around Occupational Therapy issues, unnecessary referrals and wait times can be prevented. This can also be the first step in providing a family with practical strategies, before a referral needs to be made.

What you can do to help

Please have the following information available when making the call:

Child's name and date of birth
Child's address
Parent/School email address
NHS Number (if known).

Please read the documents below to ensure you have accessed the relevant information before calling the advice line.

The phone line will be open Monday and Thursday 0930 - 1100 and Wednesday 1430 - 1600 and is available to discuss children aged 0-18 years (up to 19 years if in full time special school education) and registered with a Cambridgeshire GP.

Please click on the tabs below for further advice:

Please see below for information and process for schools. Please click on the graphic for a full size image.

Please click here for information and process for parents. Please click on the graphic for a full size image.

Please see below for a list of frequently asked questions:

Who is the advice line for?
The advice line is for children and families registered with a Cambridgeshire GP, not currently known to our service.
For housing related queries, the advice line is for children and families whose home is based within the Cambridgeshire Local Authority.

How long with this appointment be?
It will be up to 20 minutes long.

Is this a referral into the Children’s Occupational Therapy (OT) service?
No, this is an Advice line.

Will I get a Report?
No. A brief summary of concerns raised, advice given and recommendations will be sent via email (if you don’t have an email address, this can be sent via the post). You are able to share the summary with others, for example with school if you wish. This will not be automatically shared by the OT.

Following my call, will this automatically result in a referral?
Not, necessarily.

Will I get a follow-up call?
No, you are able to call the Advice Line should you need advice in the future.

Is there a limit to the number of times I call the Advice Line?
No, although the Occupational Therapist will advise to try strategies for a minimum of 2-3 months.

If I call again, can I speak with the same Occupational Therapist?
This cannot be guaranteed as there will be different duty therapists.

If the OT thinks a referral into the service is indicated, do I need to get a referral form completed?
No, the OT will be able to refer into the Occupational Therapy service and an appointment will be given, according to needs identified.

What if my child’s main difficulties are related to school/pre-school/nursery?
The Advice Line is also available to all schools within the Cambridgeshire Local Authority. If the query is related to school, please speak with your child’s class teacher/SENCO requesting they contact us directly.

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