The Occupational Therapy Service is now managed in Forth Valley in a number of care groups. Occupational Therapists are employed in four of these:
- Children’s care group
- Rehabilitation care group
- Acute Inpatients care group
- Mental Health, Learning Disability & Old Age Psychiatry care group.
For information about children services visit Children’s Occupational Therapy or Rheumatology visit Rheumatology Occupational Therapy.
Services
Occupational Therapists work with people of all ages to help them overcome the effects of disability caused by physical or psychological illness, accident or ageing, and enable them to lead full and satisfying lives as independently as possible.
The assessment and treatment process aims to use purposeful activity to cope and adjust to everyday living.
With the emphasis on healthcare moving to the community, Occupational Therapists help people in a variety of settings. These include general and specialist hospitals, health centres and primary care, local authority social services, residential homes and day centres, children’s mental health services, schools and nurseries, people’s own homes, and industry and commerce. Occupational Therapy offers a comprehensive approach to the needs of individuals.
All Occupational Therapists within Forth Valley are registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC). This is the regulatory body who work to protect the health and wellbeing of people who use the services of a professional registered with the HCPC.
Further information about the profession nationally, particularly for those who may be interested in Occupational Therapy as a career, or who wish to find out how to access Occupational Therapy services, can be found on the British Association of Occupational Therapy website.
The Occupational Therapy Service also offers Horticultural Therapy services.
Referrals
Occupational Therapists undertake treatment either when the patient has been referred by a responsible medical officer, or where the Occupational Therapists have direct access to the patient’s general practitioner.
For children ‘Requests for Assistance’ are considered from healthcare staff, education staff and families. The aim of children’s Occupational Therapy is
- To support children, young people and their families to self manage their concern/need
- To support the other individuals involved with the child to promote wellbeing
Assessment and Intervention Locations
Elderly Psychiatric Patients
- Bo’ness Hospital
- Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre Community Mental Health Team for Elderly, Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk Community Hospital Day Hospital and Community Mental Health Team for Elderly, Falkirk
- Community Mental Health Team for Elderly, Stirling
Adult Mental Health
- Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert
- Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre
- Falkirk Community Hospital
- Livilands Resource Centre, Stirling
- Woodlands Resource Centre and Community Mental Health Team, Falkirk
Learning Disabilities
- Loch View, Larbert
- Community Learning Disability Service (Whole Area)
Paediatrics
This care group is Forth Valley wide for all children and young people within the community and provides a universal, target or specialist service depending on need. The response to a request for assistance will be one or more of the following – Reassurance; Signposting; Advice; Assessment. They may also be seen on an individual appointment basis and/or in a group as appropriate.
Rehab
- This Care Group is Forth Valley wide for all community services and Occupational Therapists working in the community hospitals .It provides a coordinated assessment and rehabilitation service for adult population, working in multi-disciplinary teams
Acute Inpatients
- Forth Valley Royal Hospital – all wards have access to Occupational Therapy staff who support the treatment and discharge of patients with a many different conditions.
Wheelchair Services
If you require a wheelchair you can be referred to the wheelchair service by your GP, District Nurse or any Allied Health Professional.
We can also provide children’s wheelchairs and buggies for children with long-term mobility issues.
Service Hours
The majority of adult patients are seen using an individual appointment system, however in-patients may be seen on site without a previously arranged appointment.
Occupational Therapy staff usually work Monday – Friday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, though there are some services that are providing an extended working day/week to meet the needs of the population of Forth Valley. To check if it is possible to have an appointment outwith the core hours please speak directly to the Occupational Therapist working with you or your family member.
