What is Family-Centred OT?
Occupational therapy for children and young people with disabilities focuses on improving their ability to perform functional (daily routine) tasks such as playing, feeding, dressing, and toileting, as well as their ability to interact with others, and improve family participation (both the child’s participation within the family, and the family’s participation in wider society). However, core therapy is not always available to children at special schools due to resourcing issues within statutory services. Parents want to help their child but are unsure of what to do.
We know from research that children with disabilities need repeated practice to achieve improvement in their functional abilities and that a home-based, family-centred approach leads to improved outcomes. This for several reasons:
- Firstly, neuroplasticity – the brain's ability to learn new behaviours and skills with intense input;
- Secondly, working in partnership with parents (who know their child best) to identify goals and create a tailored, family-based programme;
- Thirdly, the natural learning environment provided by home, surrounded by familiar people and things.
Therapy home programmes are defined as,
"...a form of guidance and advice which become a way of life for parents and children. Through regular practice of activities at home, parents maximise their child's potential. Parents use the guidance and support they gain from home programmes to build confidence about how to help their child."
References
- Novak I & Cusick A, 2006. Home programmes in paediatric occupational therapy for children with cerebral palsy: Where to start? Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. Doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2006.00577.x
- Milton Y & Roe S, 2016. Occupational therapy home programmes for children with unilateral cerebral palsy using bimanual and modified constraint induced movement therapies: A critical review. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. Doi:10.1177/0308022616664738
- Kruijsen-Terpstra AJA et al, 2013. Parents’ experiences with physical and occupational therapy for their young child with cerebral palsy: a mixed studies review. Child: care, health and development. Doi: 10.1111/cch.12097
- Novak I et al, 2009. Occupational therapy home programs for cerebral palsy: Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. Doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0288
- Novak I & Berry J, 2014. Home Program Intervention effectiveness evidence. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics. Doi:10.3109/01942638.2014.964020
What does Red Robin Therapy offer?
Red Robin Therapy provides tailored, family-centred occupational therapy interventions in the home of children and young people. It does not seek to replace statutory (NHS or school) provision, but instead, complement it.
The stages generally involved are assessment, goal setting, programme development, parent education and/or guided treatment sessions, ongoing advice (via telephone or video calling), and finally, evaluation of progress with a report. Each cycle of intervention takes four to eight weeks.
Zoe
| Daniel
|
Zoe is three years old and has cerebral palsy which means she finds it difficult to hold her head up all the time, and has trouble using the right side of her body as well as her left.
"Clare Canale has been fantastic. Working with us through
Red Robin Therapy
, she is working around our routine and daily life to try and fit in therapies that suit us to help Zoe to do the simple everyday tasks that she struggles with. In the short time we have been working together Zoe has started using her right hand, something she has never done before, just with Clare's advice and guidance. We really can't wait to see the changes in the next few weeks!!"
Daniel is eight years old and has an undiagnosed condition which means he has global developmental delay and severe sensory regulation difficulties.
"Our assessment session with Clare was a real opportunity to think about our goals for Daniel and how they have changed over the last eight years. With Clare's guidance our focus is very much on reducing Daniel's sensory issues and working on improving his self-help skills. By assessing where Daniel is right now and having Clare set us achievable goals that are doable within our busy lives we feel really excited at this renewed focus on therapy with Daniel."
Tips for toileting and feeding
For FREE downloads about toilet training and feeding for children with developmental delay, visit our Downloads page.
Further information
For further information, please use the Contact RRT page to get in touch.