Clinic Overview
Occupational Therapist Tonya Potter runs a hall-based clinic in Deal, Kent, on Tuesdays during term time.
Sessions last 45 minutes and are 1:1 unless otherwise arranged. Using movement-based activities and other sensory inputs such as sound / music.
Sessions help young people to process sensory information, coordinate both sides of the body, and integrate early movement patterns such as startle responses.
Strategies for home and school are demonstrated to young people and their parents or carers.
Clinic Details
The play-based, child-led approach is ‘scaffolded’ by the OT, with the aim of providing ‘just right’ sensory-motor challenge. Sessions include vigorous movement, ‘heavy work,’ and motion, using equipment such as scooter boards and swings.
The wider venue also allows opportunities for leisure-based and activities-of-daily-living type OT activities as needed, for example with older youth.
The approach continues to be playful, and focussed on Sensory Integration to support functional participation.
Clinic Referral
Before booking your first clinic session, an Initial Consultation and remote Sensory Screening are required to set goals and maximize the benefits of OT sessions. If you already have relevant documents, Tonya may use them instead of or alongside her screening. Details of this screening process can be found here: Remote Sensory Screening
Session Frequency
Session frequency is flexible (weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or termly). If you wish, you can decide on an ongoing schedule following an initial session. If Tonya has availability, a contract with cost estimates will be provided, including indirect work to support clinic sessions.
Indirect OT Input
Indirect OT input is essential to support clinic sessions. The required amount varies based on e.g. client complexity, involvement of other professionals, and risk management needs. Tonya sets targets from the start, linking her session records to these. Targets are reviewed periodically based on session frequency. Time is also needed for developing OT programs and activity recommendations.
Funded Clients
Your child / young person may have an Education and Health Care Plan (EHC Plan), or another funding package which has been agreed to be used for them to attend the OT Clinic. A funded OT Works intervention package can be tailored to the Sensory and Physical Section F of an EHC Plan. For Adoption Support Fund (ASF), a similar package request is needed. Requests for funded clients can come from the local authority or from a parent / carer.
*All costings must be agreed by funders, and the OT before OT intervention can commence.
*See also above Clinic Referral / Initial Sensory Screening and Remote Consultation.
Costing will be provided on the below basis, per academic year.
September - September, based on a 38-week, 6-term year.
Each clinic session: £100 - £120
(45min + 15min write up per session)
In addition to hall cost, this rate will include the cost of other materials and equipment hire.
There will be some limited availability at each clinic for subsidised sessions for self-funding clients (£100 per session). This will be allocated to a maximum of one monthly session per self-funding client.
*New clients, will need to complete an Initial Sensory Screening and new client intake work.
Case Coordination: £80 per hr
e.g., reading reports, network meetings, training, reviewing targets, updating OT program, other.
Indirect to Direct service ratio i.e., for each 6 hours of direct work at least 1 hour of indirect input will be required to cover updating OT targets and programmes. Most clients need more than this minimum amount of indirect input, for case coordination etc but this minimum is an essential basic amount.
Please note that for your OT sessions to conitinue, it is essential that you or your funding agency have formally agreed to OT Works costings plans.