Little Links OT
Practice Information & Policies Pack
Practitioner: Lizzy (Elizabeth) Caughey, Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Practice Name: Little Links OT
Email:lizzy@littlelinksot.co.uk
Phone: 07741557056
Website:www.littlelinksot.co.uk
1. Welcome to Little Links OT
Welcome to Little Links OT, an Independent Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service supporting children and young people to develop the skills they need for everyday life.
Little Links OT works collaboratively with babies/children, families, nurseries, schools and other professionals to support participation in meaningful activities including play, learning, self-care and social engagement.
Occupational Therapy aims to help babies and children develop skills in areas such as:
● Using their hands.
● Play and access to toys.
● Self-care skills (e.g. bathing, feeding, early dressing/undressing skills, toileting).
● Managing sensory needs and regulation.
● Access to the environment.
The service is family-centred and child-focused, recognising that each child’s strengths, interests and needs are unique.
2. Professional Registration
The therapist providing services through Little Links OT is:
● Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
● A member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
● Professionally insured to provide independent occupational therapy services.
All services are delivered in accordance with professional standards and ethical guidelines.
3. Services Offered
Little Links OT provides a range of occupational therapy services including:
Assessments
● Comprehensive occupational therapy assessments (using standardised assessments where appropriate and if required).
● EHCP assessments.
● Assessment of everyday skills.
● Observations in nursery or the educational setting, where appropriate.
Therapy
● Individual therapy sessions.
● Goal-focused intervention programmes.
● Provision of strategies to support development
● Play-based activities to promote motor skill development.
Consultation
● Parent consultation and advice.
● Nursery or educational setting consultation and advice.
● Environmental adaptations and strategies (not including large scale housing adaptations).
Reports
● Written assessment reports.
● Progress summaries.
● Reports to support Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
● Intervention programmes.
Services may take place:
● At home.
● In nursery or an alternative educational setting.
● Online where appropriate.
4. Referral Process
Children may be referred to Little Links OT by:
● Parents or carers.
● Nurseries or the educational setting.
● Healthcare professionals.
● Any other professional.
The referral process typically involves:
Initial enquiry and discussion of concerns.
Completion of a client information form.
Agreement of fees and consent.
Scheduling of an assessment appointment.
Assessment and observation.
Written report and recommendations, where appropriate.
Therapy planning and provision, where appropriate.
5. Assessment and Therapy Process
Assessment
An occupational therapy assessment may include:
● Parent liaison.
● Standardised and non-standardised assessments.
● Clinical observations.
● Discussion with nursery or education staff where appropriate.
Following assessment, a written report will be provided outlining:
● Summary of findings.
● Strengths and needs.
● Recommendations and strategies.
● Suggested goals or intervention plan.
Therapy
If therapy is recommended, sessions involve:
● Hands-on therapy to promote motor development and learning.
● Play based activities.
● Strategies to support development in identified areas of focus.
● Parent advice and strategies for implementation on a daily basis.
● Home or nursery/educational setting programmes.
● Parents/care givers are expected to fully participate in therapy sessions to ensure that strategies and recommendations can be effectively transferred into everyday life.
● There is always a focus on fun and enjoyment!
Therapy goals will be agreed collaboratively with families and reviewed regularly
6. Parent / Carer Responsibilities
A parent or legal guardian must be present and responsible for the child during all sessions, unless otherwise agreed in advance.
Parents and carers are expected to provide accurate and up-to-date information about their child’s health, development, and any relevant medical history to support safe and effective therapy.
It is the responsibility of the parent or carer to ensure that the home environment, assuming sessions are taking place here, is safe and suitable for therapy
Parents/care givers are expected to fully participate in therapy sessions to ensure that strategies and recommendations can be effectively transferred into everyday life.
Parents and carers remain responsible for their child at all times during sessions and for the implementation of any advice or recommendations provided by Little Links OT outside of sessions.
7. Clinician Responsibilities and Limitations
All assessments, advice, and therapy provided by Little Links OT are based on professional knowledge, clinical judgement, and the information and evidence base available at the time.
Recommendations are made in good faith and are tailored to the individual child; however, outcomes cannot be guaranteed, as each child’s development and response to intervention will vary.
Parents and carers are responsible for deciding whether and how to implement any advice or strategies provided. It is recommended that guidance is followed consistently and in a way that is appropriate for the child and their circumstances.
Little Links OT does not provide medical diagnosis or emergency medical care. If there are concerns regarding a child’s health or wellbeing, parents and carers should seek advice from a GP or appropriate medical professional.
Services provided are not a substitute for ongoing medical care or multidisciplinary input where this is required.
8. Fees and Payment
Fees will be discussed and confirmed prior to commencing services.
Fees may apply for:
● Assessments.
● Therapy sessions.
● Report writing.
● Nursery or educational setting visits.
● Travel (both time and mileage) where applicable.
Invoices are usually issued following appointments and are payable within 7 calendar days unless otherwise agreed. We reserve the right to charge a late payment fee of up to 10% of the outstanding balance to cover administrative time and costs.
Payment methods will be provided on invoices.
Prices advertised on www.littlelinksot.co.uk are correct as of 6th April 2026. Little Links OT reserves the right to modify these fees in line with CPI/RPI. A full copy of these fees can be made available on request.
9. Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment, please provide at least 48 hours’ notice.
Cancellations must be made either via email at lizzy@littlelinksot.co.uk or via phone on 07741557056 and preferably both.
Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, may be charged at the full session rate.
If the clinician needs to cancel, families will be advised at the earliest possible convenience. The appointment will be rearranged as soon as possible.
This policy helps ensure appointment availability for other families.
10. Consent and Information Sharing
Written consent will be requested prior to:
● Conducting assessments.
● Providing therapy.
● Communicating with nurseries/educational settings or other professionals.
● Sharing reports with third parties.
Information will only be shared with relevant individuals with parental consent unless there is a safeguarding concern or legal requirement.
11. Confidentiality
All personal and clinical information is treated as confidential.
Information is stored securely and accessed only by authorised individuals.
Confidential information may be shared without consent only when:
● there are safeguarding concerns regarding a child’s safety.
● disclosure is required by law.
12. Privacy Notice
Little Links OT collects and processes personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Information collected may include:
● Child and parent contact details.
● Medical and developmental history.
● Assessment findings and therapy records.
● Correspondence with relevant professionals.
This information is used to:
● Provide occupational therapy services.
● Maintain accurate clinical records.
● Communicate with families and relevant professionals.
You have the right to:
● Request access to your records.
● Request correction of inaccurate information.
● Ask questions about how your information is used.
Requests can be made by contacting Little Links OT directly.
Please see full Privacy Notice Policy.
13. Record Keeping and Retention
Clinical records are maintained securely and retained in accordance with healthcare record management guidance.
Children’s records are typically retained until the child reaches 25 years of age (or 26 if treatment ended at age 17).
After this period, records will be securely destroyed.
Please see full Records Retention and Destruction Policy.
14. Safeguarding
Little Links OT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
If a concern arises that a child may be at risk of harm, the therapist has a professional duty to follow local safeguarding procedures and share information with relevant safeguarding authorities where necessary.
Where appropriate, concerns will be discussed with parents unless doing so could place the child at further risk.
Please see full Safeguarding Children Policy.
15. Complaints Procedure
Little Links OT aims to provide a high-quality service.
If you have any concerns or are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service, please raise this as soon as possible.
Complaints can be made by contacting the therapist directly.
The complaints process is:
Informal discussion to try to resolve the concern.
If unresolved, a written complaint may be submitted.
A written response will normally be provided within 10–15 working days.
Every effort will be made to resolve concerns fairly and promptly.
16. Practice Closure or Practitioner Incapacity
In the unlikely event that the therapist becomes unable to continue practice due to illness, incapacity, retirement or death, arrangements will be made to ensure that client records remain securely stored and managed in accordance with professional and legal obligations.
A nominated record guardian may be responsible for safeguarding records and responding to reasonable access requests.
Last updated: 1st May 2026