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Therapists

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

Physiotherapy Jo Mercer

Email: joanna.mercer@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Mobile: 07747 765111

 Mondays

Physiotherapy Technical Instructor

Chloe Hope

Email: chloe.hope@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Mobile: 07810 552703

 Mondays

Occupational Therapist

Lorna Gibson

Email: lorna.gibson@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Mobile: 07733 227018

Tuesdays

Occupational Technical Instructor

 

 

 

Speech and Language Therapist

To be confirmed 

 

 

Speech and Language Therapist

To be confirmed 

 

 
Speech and Language Therapist Technical Instructor Robyn Davies

Email:  robyn.davies@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Mobile: 07393 195293

Thursdays 

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: Abingdon Hospital, Marcham Road, Abingdon, Oxford, OX14 1AG, 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.