Occupational Therapy - Community | Waitematā

Public Service, Community, Occupational Therapy (OT)

Today

Open today 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Description

About the Service

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, community Occupational Therapists assess the occupational performance associated with everyday tasks. Interventions are patient centred and are aimed at working with patient and carer/whānau needs.

Interventions include:

Education and advice to improve occupational performance.
Rehabilitation programmes aimed at improving the outcomes of occupational performance.
Advice and/or assistance with applications for home modifications and accessible environment
Assessment and advice regarding the provision of standard wheelchairs, seating and lying for activities of daily living.
Cognition screening.
Fatigue & pain management through adapting occupations, life style design.

Referral Expectations

According to service specifications provided by the funder, referrals to allied health Community Occupational Therapy are taken from:

Self or, with the patient’s permission: - family/whānau GPs, hospital staff, specialists and other health professionals.

Entry Criteria

Patients who are unable to safely carry out activities of daily living due to a temporary or long-term disability or illness.
Adults over the age of 16 years.

Referrals are not accepted for the following:

Prescriptive referrals that are for simple equipment only, (e.g. hand-rails/ shower stool), and do not require a full occupational performance or functional assessment. Information is given to client and family as to where this equipment can be obtained for their installation.
Children under the age of 16 years are to be referred to Child Development Services.
Residents living in Residential Homes/ Care Facilities who require ongoing treatment.
People with mental health and behavioural disabilities.
Assessment of complex wheelchair and level two seating (refer to Mobility Solutions).
ACC clients (apart from those requiring equipment-based intervention up to six weeks post discharge from an acute setting.).
People who require specialist occupational therapy assessment and intervention e.g. driving assessments.
Vocational rehab, return to work and workstation assessments
Provision of wheelchairs and mobility scooters for outings to access the community
Funding towards adaptive aids prior to privately funded elective surgery (information to be provided by Private Provider on hire of aids).
Support letters to move to an alternative Kainga Ora home. As per guidance from Kainga Ora, Occupational Therapists will assess a person engaging within their home environment. Letters of support to move to an alternative Kainga Ora home will only be considered if the current home environment cannot be made safe to meeting the person's needs.
Referrals for Hand Therapy interventions. Information will be provided on where to access specialist Hand Therapy Services.

Please telephone the Referral Screener for all requests, information and advice:
Phone: (09) 486 8945 ext 43222 (8.00am - 4.30pm; Monday to Friday)
Email: OlderAdultsHomeHealth@Waitematadhb.govt.nz (for referrals)