Occupational Therapy

KIDS for Families
NHS GGC
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What is Occupational Therapy?

“Occupational therapy helps you live your best life at home, at work – and everywhere else. It’s about being able to do the things you want and have to do.” Royal College of Occupational Therapists, (2023).

Occupations are the activities that you need, want and have to do every day.  Everything from getting washed and dressed in the morning, to going to school or work, to hobbies and leisure activities.

 

What do Occupational Therapists do?

Occupational therapists work with any child or young person who is having difficulty doing their occupations. Occupational therapists support children and young people to recover and overcome barriers which are stopping them from doing what matters to them. We aim to empower you to actively participate in meaningful occupations to improve your mental and physical health and wellbeing. Occupational Therapists can support children and young people to join in (participate in) every day activities (occupations) to help them lead a full and happy life, reach their goals and learn the skills they will need during their life to be an active member of their community.

 

How can Occupational Therapists help children and young people?

Occupational therapists consider the person, the occupation and the environment. We look beyond diagnosis and limitations and focus on what matters to the child or young person and their family. We look at the occupation and the environment to support you or the team around the child or young person to make changes to help them to participate in the occupations that matter to them.  

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We might work directly with the child or young person to look at what is stopping them from taking part in their daily activities. Therapeutic interventions will focus on daily activities that matter to them. We might also help them or the team around them to adapt the home, school or work environments. We might work with those closest to the child or young person like their family, education staff etc. to offer advice and strategies to support participation. 

Find out more about Occupational Therapy for Children and Young People from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and watch the video below. 

 

Where do Occupational Therapists work in Specialist Children's Services?

Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Health Care Support Workers work in:

  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (in the community and with inpatients)
  • The Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow (providing services to inpatients and outpatients)
  • Specialist Community Paediatric Teams

How do I contact an Occupational Therapist?

How do I contact an Occupational Therapist?

If you need the assistance of an interpreter to make a telephone call to an NHSGGC service please visit Direct Patient Access to Interpreting Services for more information.

Children's Occupational Therapy Advice Line

decorative imageSpecialist Children Services (SCS) Occupational Therapy Team run an advice line. Anyone can seek advice and support for children and young people who live in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area if they are having difficulty joining in with the activities that they need and want to do every day.

Areas that we can help with include:  

  • Self-care - dressing, eating, washing, going to the toilet
  • Play/Leisure - Playing with toys, playing outside, doing hobbies and joining in at clubs/sports
  • Work - participating in nursery and school activities, volunteering, paid work and domestic tasks (cooking cleaning etc.

If you live in Glasgow City, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire or East Renfrewshire

Call 0141 531 6536 on
Tuesdays 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Fridays 9:30am - 12:00pm
or email ggc.scsoccupationaltherapy@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

If you live in Renfrewshire or Inverclyde

Call 0141 314 4624 on
Thursdays 9:30am - 12 noon

 

Occupational Therapy Teams

If your child or young person is known to Occupational Therapy in Specialist Children's Services you can find the contact details below.

Acute Service (Inpatients and Outpatients)

Occupational Therapy
Clinic 12
Ground Floor
Royal Hospital for Children
1345 Govan Road
Glasgow
G51 4TF

Telephone Number - 0141 451 6500

Email - AcuteOccupationalTherapyRHC@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

 

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

If your child or young person is known to CAMHS Occupational Therapy contact them using your local CAMHS Team details.

 

Specialist Community Paediatric Service

If your child or young person is known to Occupational Therapy contact them using your local Child Centres details.

How do I share feedback about Occupational Therapy?

How do I share feedback about Occupational Therapy?

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is committed to providing high quality care and treatment to our patients, and excellent service to others who use its services. Your feedback helps us build on what works well and improve what could be better. 

Feedback

We encourage sharing feedback with staff delivering care, but offer various other ways for you to tell your story. It’s important to us that you can share your feedback about NHSGGC at a time and place you feel comfortable. You can find out more on our Share your feedback page.  

Complaints

We understand, that sometimes things go wrong. If something goes wrong or if you are dissatisfied with something we have done, or have not done, please tell us and we will do our best to put things right. If we cannot resolve matters in the way you want, we will explain why it is not possible to do as you suggest. Find out more about our Complaints procedure or for further advice on how to make a complaint, please contact us via:  

Telephone Number - 0141 201 4500  

E-mail - Complaints@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 04/04/2025

Next review date: 30/04/2026

Author(s): Occupational Therapists.

Approved By: Occupational Therapy Professional Lead, KIDS Content Group, SCS Clinical Governance Executive Group

Reviewer name(s): KIDS Content Group.