How to use our children’s survey findings to improve services for children, young people and families in your area

• 85% said the demand for occupational therapy had increased since July 2022.
• 63% said they can’t provide the level or type of OT input children and young people need.
• 60% said their teams aren’t fully staffed.
• 74% said changes in school staffing prevent children and young people benefitting from occupational therapy.
• 65% said the cost-of-living crisis is making it difficult for children and young people to access OT.
• 30% said they can’t provide equipment and adaptations children and young people need, when they need it.

• The demand and capacity for children’s occupational therapy must be understood and capacity gaps addressed.
• OTs should be positioned where they have the most impact – in schools, early intervention and specialist services.
• OTs should work within integrated health, education and care systems to ensure resources are used efficiently and sustainably to meet the individual needs of children, young people and families.
• The OT workforce must be expanded to ensure staff are available and have the skills to support children, young people and families now and in the future.
• Equipment and adaptation services require investment and streamlining to ensure children and young people receive help quickly.

Get familiar with the report, its themes, and recommendations – you could do this individually or as part of a team meeting.

You may even want to explore the report specifically focused on Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Ask yourself:

• How does your service compare to the overall picture?
• Which themes/recommendations resonate?
• Where could you make changes to ensure children and young people receive timely, high-quality OT that meets their needs?

• Do you want to improve the accuracy of demand/capacity reporting for children’s occupational therapy, so resourcing decisions are appropriately informed?
• Do you want to make a case for OT to be included in school mental health teams or new neurodiversity services so young people accessing them benefit from OT expertise?
• Do you want to expand the OT workforce so more staff are available with the right skills to support the OT needs of children, young people and families in your area?

See the recommendations included in the report for more ideas and consider what you have the power to change and what small impacts you can make.

Once you’ve identified how you can make a difference – review what you already know about the issue. Ask yourself:

• What information/data do you have, what don’t you know, and what other information could you collect?
• How does the local situation compare to the national picture?
• What do people who are directly affected (young people, parents/carers, stakeholders and/or OT practitioners) have to say about the issue?

Once you have answered these, you’re ready to build a case for change – based on the evidence you’ve gathered.

Have this information ready before you arrange to meet key stakeholders.

Identify people who could support your case for change. Consider allies such as:

• paediatricians and other members of the multidisciplinary team
• commissioners
• managers
• practice educators
• other OTs
• parents/carers.

Once you have a list – arrange to meet them and send them a copy of the survey report. Say you’d like to discuss the implications for your service.

When you meet, share data tailored to them and the case you are making. Be clear about how they can help move the project forward – and directly ask for their support.

Share what you’ve learned and how you’ve used the survey findings alongside local data to support a case for change and improving services – directly or indirectly – for children, young people and families.