Academy TrustTherapists
The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides Integrated Therapy Services (Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy) within the Local Authority Special Schools and Special School Academies in Oxfordshire, working in close partnership with Health and Education colleagues.
The specialist therapy interventions are outcome focused, individual for each child, and put the needs of the child / young person first.
What we do
We see children and young people with therapy needs identified on their Education and Health Care Plan (SEN Statements) or those newly referred. We work in collaboration with school staff within the classroom and school environment. Our intervention includes; assessment, joint target setting, training, producing therapy programmes, review and discharging when outcomes have been achieved. Children may be seen individually or in groups with home visits to support parents with therapy at home. We have strong links with many partner agencies across the county and an excellent knowledge of local services and resources. Integrated Therapy Therapists are all members of HCPC and their professional bodies, work to their codes of conduct, are DBS checked and managed professionally.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and Language Therapists aim to support each child / young person to achieve their full potential in their speech, language and communication.
They do this by:
- Working in class to demonstrate and model strategies to create and facilitate communication opportunities in functional situations throughout the day.
- Supporting the weekly communication groups which are run by teaching staff.
- Providing training
- Working closely with teaching staff to set communication targets three times a year.
- 1:1 sessions to assess and review progress as well as to work on specific skills, if appropriate.
- Providing eating and drinking assessments and programmes, if required.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists work with a child / young person to maximise their physical potential and gross motor development.
This may involve:
- Handling and positioning advice,
- Specialist equipment to support the child’s position 24 hours a day,
- Exercises working on balance, control, coordination, strength and function.
- Training for school staff
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy (OT) helps children and young people to achieve their full potential in their ability to play, learn and look after themselves. The aim is to improve a child’s level of independence and quality of life. Occupational Therapists provide assessment and a range of therapeutic interventions for children who have a complex, severe or enduring physical and/or developmental condition that significantly affects their ability to achieve their potential in activities of daily living.
This may involve:
- Class based support for demonstrating and modelling therapy techniques and strategies to staff
- Therapy programmes to address targets as appropriate.
- Seating, toileting, feeding and drinking, and manual handling assessments with recommendations and provision of special enabling equipment.
Contact Information
|
Therapy |
Name |
Contact details |
Day in school |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Occupational Therapy |
Lorna Gibson |
Email: lorna.gibson@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk Mobile: 07733 227018 |
Mondays or as needed |
|
Occupational Therapy |
Felicity Murray |
Email: felicity.murray@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk Mobile: 07502 586072 |
Mondays or as needed |
|
Physiotherapy |
Jo Mercer |
Email: joanna.mercer@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk Mobile: 07747 765111 |
Mondays |
|
Physiotherapy Technical Instructor |
Kayleigh McLauchlan |
Email: kayleigh.mclauchlan@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk Mobile: 07887 650034 |
Mondays |
|
Speech and Language Therapy |
Emma Reed |
Dates TBC |
|
|
Speech and Language Therapy Technical Instructor |
Paula Chester |
Dates TBC |
For any issues related to wheelchairs or buggies please contact the Wheelchair Maintenance Service: Main desk 01865 227273, Maintenance 01865 223881, Email owsadministration@nhs.net
Administration Base: Orchard Health Centre, Cope Road, Banbury, OX16 2EZ. Contact No. 01865 904435
The Integrated Therapy Team working within the school is a mix of qualified Therapists, therapy specific Technical Instructors (TIs) and assistants (SALTAs) and also Integrated Therapy Assistant Practitioners (ITAPs). The Therapists, TIs and SALTAs work in collaboration with each other but focus on their specific therapy e.g. OT whilst the ITAPs deliver intervention from any/all of the 3 therapies. The ITAPs are only involved with those children / young people who are being seen by at least 2 of the therapies.