Occupational Therapy (OT) and Sensory Services for Children & Young People
Covering parts of Staffordshire,
Shropshire, Cheshire & the Midlands
(+ beyond remotely!)
Welcome to OT with Shelly
Offering a range of bespoke occupational therapy services to meet children's unique needs, and to support the family members and staff teams who are close to them.
what is occupational therapy?
In occupational therapy the word "occupation" refers to an activity that is meaningful to you and gives you a sense of wellbeing. This may include activities of daily living (ADLs) such as self-care activities, eating, washing, dressing independently. It includes things you like to do that give you a sense of belonging, like being part of a sports team, going to the cinema, or meeting friends every week. It could be your studies or work that makes you feel purposeful and productive. More often than not our occupations form part of our sense of identity and daily routine. Everyone's occupations are unique.
When we lose the ability to participate in our occupations, it can be detrimental to our holistic health, and we can feel as though we're missing a crucial part of who we are. Barriers to occupational participation might include: the environment; our cognitive, physical, emotional abilities; big life changes like an accident, moving house, or a bereavement; or disability, illness and disease; amongst other factors.
The families and professionals who approach OT with Shelly usually come with concerns about key occupations for healthy development in children and young people - the ability to learn, play and become independent.
That's why at OT with Shelly occupation is used in 2 ways:
1) as a goal for therapy
2) as an intervention to reach a goal
Assessments and interventions incorporate the interests of the child/young person as much as possible to empower the individual to succeed in learning the skills required to reach their specific goal with a professional focus on the:
Person
Environment
Occupation
There are a multitude of creative ways to overcome obstacles and support young people to thrive and grow. Using a range of therapeutic tools and evidence-based theoretical frameworks, I combine elements taken from sensory integration, attachment, cognitive and behavioural theories to develop individualised therapeutic interventions.
For more information about occupational therapy, check out this page on the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) website: https://www.rcot.co.uk/learn-about-occupational-therapy/what-occupational-therapy
Meet Shelly
Hello!
I'm Shelly, Occupational Therapist
and Sensory Integration Practitioner.
I created OT with Shelly to offer independent OT services to children, young people, families, schools and support staff. I know that people's needs don't fit into little boxes, which is why I work as flexibly as I can to provide the right care and support for you at the time when you need it, whether that is at home, at school or somewhere else in the community.
Qualifications
Occupational Therapy (MSc) - University of Derby, 2016.
Ayres' Sensory Integration (PGCert) - Sheffield Hallam University, 2022.
Registered with Health and Care Professions Council
(HCPC: OT74396) and the
Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Professional and Clinical Experience
In life before OT I worked in various roles with neurodivergent children, young people and adults who often had additional learning and/or physical needs. Memories of the people I met during my time as a Residential Support Worker, and as an Activities Coordinator, still make me smile today! I wanted to learn more about how I could support people to live their life to the fullest in whatever way that meant for them, so I undertook an intense Masters degree in 2014 to qualify and register as an OT.
Since then I have worked as an OT in inpatient mental health teams and learning disability community teams within the NHS. I also worked in private practice for years as part of an autism diagnostic team, and as an OT working with children, young people and adults with a range of developmental, learning, sensory and mental health difficulties.
Who I Can Support
Based on my expertise and clinical experience, I can support individuals who present with:
- Neurodevelopmental conditions including Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Learning and intellectual disabilities
- Specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia
- (Global) Developmental delay
- Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders (FASD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
- Developmental Coordination Disorders (DCD)/dyspraxia
- Sensory processing and integration differences
- Developmental trauma
- Attachment difficulties
- Anxiety
- Depression
Individuals have sought my support for assessment and intervention around:
- Difficulties with regulation, tolerance & attention at school or at home
- Fine & gross motor issues
- Socialising and forming relationships
- Feeding difficulties
- Self-injurious behaviour
- Managing life transitions such as moving school, adapting to a new sibling, or coping with family separation or bereavement
- Becoming more independent in activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, self-care
- Creating meaningful and healthy routines
Rest Assured
I have:
- Enhanced DBS
- Registration with HCPC
- Comprehensive insurance
- Membership with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
If you want to find out more about me, you can find me on the RCOT Directory by visiting their Find a Therapist page. https://rcotss-ip.org.uk/find
Have a Chat with Me
If you're not sure what you need or whether or not I can help you, please get in touch today and we can work it out together.
Occupational therapy services
For Parents, Carers, Guardians
For Parents, Carers, Guardians
For Parents, Carers, Guardians
- Holistic OT assessments to assess functional skills and sensory processing differences.
- Assessments for wider reports, such as Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
- Tailor-made interventions for children and young people.
- Support and education for families, teachers and people around the child.
- Packages designed to meet your needs as a family.
- No long waiting lists.
For Schools
For Parents, Carers, Guardians
For Parents, Carers, Guardians
- OT functional & sensory integration assessments to contribute to EHCPs.
- Provision for pupils who require OT as stated in their EHCPs and other plans.
- Bespoke training for school staff teams.
- Regular or ad hoc OT input.
- Support with adapting the environment, developing nurture groups, creating sensory rooms, implementing school-based strategie
- OT functional & sensory integration assessments to contribute to EHCPs.
- Provision for pupils who require OT as stated in their EHCPs and other plans.
- Bespoke training for school staff teams.
- Regular or ad hoc OT input.
- Support with adapting the environment, developing nurture groups, creating sensory rooms, implementing school-based strategies and making activities more inclusive.
- See Staff Training & Support page for more information.
For Staff Teams
For Parents, Carers, Guardians
For Staff Teams
For teams working in settings such as: residential care homes, resource centres, youth clubs, charities, educational provisions, fostering/adoption services and other organisations who are supporting individuals with additional needs and/or complex histories;
training and OT support services specifically designed to meet the needs of your
For teams working in settings such as: residential care homes, resource centres, youth clubs, charities, educational provisions, fostering/adoption services and other organisations who are supporting individuals with additional needs and/or complex histories;
training and OT support services specifically designed to meet the needs of your team are available to you.
These bespoke training and OT support services are carefully tailored to provide your staff team with the evidence-based knowledge, confidence and practical strategies to implement into your service.
ot assessment & intervention services
Initial Consultation
Individualised Assessment
Individualised Assessment
All new clients require an initial consultation (1 hour) to fully discuss the needs of the person and those around them. From there, we can agree upon a person-centred plan and the next steps to take together.
Initial consultations can be in-person or a virtual meeting.
Referrals may be from:
- parents, carers, guardians
- school staff
- Local Authority
- other professionals
No formal diagnoses are required.
Individualised Assessment
Individualised Assessment
Individualised Assessment
All assessments are tailored to suit the specific needs of the individual, the purpose of the assessment, and how the final report will be used.
An assessment of functional skills and sensory integration typically includes:
- 2 hours of observation (at home or at school/college),
- standardised evidence-based assessments
- personalised strategies and recommendations
- a feedback session
- a written report.
Please note that every assessment is dependent on need and more visits or assessment tools may be required.
Bespoke Therapeutic Interventions
Bespoke Therapeutic Interventions
Bespoke Therapeutic Interventions
Each individual requires a bespoke intervention with a goal that is decided upon collaboratively between OT and the individual.
Examples of what may be involved include, but is not limited to:
- skill acquisition or development
- trialling and reviewing strategies
- modifying tasks and/or environments
- psychoeducation and training
- and much more!
All interventions include review sessions to ensure that what we are implementing is making a positive difference.
My Approach to OT
Bespoke Therapeutic Interventions
Bespoke Therapeutic Interventions
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to OT, which is why all of my services are created with the individual and the people closest to them. By learning about what the individual likes, needs, is good at, dislikes, struggles with and more about their everyday experiences, I am able to build a clinical picture to show why, where and how they may need support.
Using a combination of knowledge of OT theory, occupational science, childhood development, neuroscience, psychology and tools such as Ayres' Sensory Integration and cognitive-behavioural methods, I observe the individual through multiple lenses to better understand their needs and how to overcome barriers to occupation.
Children are often (and should be) at the centre of the family, so it is also a priority of mine to work closely and collaboratively with parents, guardians and carers. By providing these key people with powerful knowledge and effective tools to support their child's development and engagement in meaningful activities; they are then able to make significant transformational changes during our therapeutic journey and far beyond it.
geographical Areas covered
Serving parts of Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire & the Midlands
As all of my work with clients takes place at their home, in educational settings, or in other community venues, OT with Shelly does not have a premises that you can visit.
The areas shown on this map are places where I am happy to travel to. If your home is not shown here, please get in touch to see if we can figure out a way to meet in the middle or work together remotely.
If you live outside of the UK, please see the Strategy Session page.
