Disabled Children’s Social Care Occupational Therapy Service

Children’s Social Care Occupational Therapy (SCOT) provides assessments for children and young people with complex long term disabilities.

How we can help

We help by providing children and young people with disabilities with equipment and adaptations to ensure safety within the homes and to promote their independence.

Consultations

We offer advice to parents, carers or professionals to support children and young people with functional needs within their homes.

Moving and handling

We provide assessments for children and young people with mobility difficulties. We give advice on transfer techniques and relevant specialist equipment (if necessary).

This is to manage the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person, as well as the parent or carer.

Equipment loans

After an assessment, if it is necessary, we will loan the child or young person specialist equipment. This will include set up and use, tailored to the individual. 

Simple or complex adaptations

An example of a simple adaptation would be the addition of a grab rail along the stairs. A complex adaptation would be building works.

If you live in a Barnet Homes property that needs adaptations, a referral is made to Barnet Homes adaptations team for assessment. The final decision on adaptations is made by Barnet Homes. In some situations, families may be moved to a more suitable property.

What we cannot help with

As a service we are unable to help with:

• requests for therapeutic treatments
• behavioural problems not associated with disability, for example; parenting difficulties, difficulties with siblings or housing overcrowding
• letters of support for rehousing and charitable funding. Healthcare professionals (GP, Social Worker or Lead Professional) that know the child or young person well, can write a letter to support a family’s request for rehousing or support the benefits of purchasing play or other equipment.

Who can be referred?

Any child or young person under 18 with a long-term (12 plus months) registered disability can be referred to our service.

The child or young person must be registered with a GP in Barnet. Contact us if the child or young person’s time is split between 2 households in different boroughs. Inaccurate information will cause delays in applications.

How to make a referral

The child or young person must be referred by a parent, carer or Social Care, Education or Health Care professional, who know the child or young person well.

What you will need to include in your referral:

• your contact details
• the child or young person’s details
• your concerns
• clear evidence of how parents, carers or family support services have taken steps to help their child or young person
• supporting information (recent Child Development Clinic reports, specialist medical service report showing diagnosis and/or photographs of environmental issues or equipment).

To make a referral you can call MASH on 020 8359 4066, email MASH or complete our online form

MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) is the first and only point of entry for any referrals about children and young people made by professionals, families and the public for the Disability Service. 

Include as much information as possible as this will help us make a decision and speed up the process. Incomplete information will result in delays.

All details provided are confidential.

Request a repair or removal of equipment

If your loaned equipment is faulty, damaged or no longer needed, you should contact the appropriate service.

Equipment that is faulty, damaged or no longer required

Contact Nottingham Rehabilitation Service by phone on 0300 100 0253 or email enquiries@london.nrs-uk.net

Families should contact Nottingham Rehabilitation Service  if your standalone equipment is:

• faulty
• damaged and needs repairing
• no longer needed.

Fixed equipment in a Barnet Homes property

Contact Barnet Homes repairs by phone on 0208 8080 6587

If you live in a Barnet Homes property and your equipment (including stair lifts, through floor lifts, ceiling track hoists) needs repair, you should contact Barnet Homes.

Fixed equipment in a Housing Association property

Contact your Housing Association or Housing Officer directly.

Further support

Your Occupational Therapist can make a referral to the Disabled Facilities Grant team to help fund adaptation work to your home. To find out more about funding work to your home, check the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)

For information on:

• car seats and safety harnesses visit Herts Ability or similar services
• mobility aids such as wheelchairs and buggies, visit AJM Healthcare Barnet
• seating for postural management seek advice from your child or young person’s healthcare professional.