OTs in London-Is there any hope to find good ones?

[Roseuk90]

We have used Hopscotch, Maximum Potential, The Children’s Place and Sterling, and we would not recommend any of them based on our personal experiences. At The Children’s Place, the OT working with my child relied on YouTube videos instead of engaging him directly, and we were not offered a room with appropriate sensory equipment. We also felt that the service was very money-driven.

Our experience with Sterling was also extremely disappointing. We felt the management behaved unprofessionally, and we personally felt that some of the behaviour towards us was discriminatory. We were also unhappy with how they handled Local Authority contracts and how families were treated. In our view, many of the therapists across these companies did not seem very experienced, yet the fees were very high. Several of the companies also appeared disorganised, and the professionalism was inconsistent, which aligned with what we later saw in some online staff reviews.

Independent OTs have generally been better for us, although we personally had unsatisfactory experiences with Playway OT, Muzzy Nathan and with Samantha Prittard. We found communication unreliable, with multiple cancelled appointments, and felt that some information given to us was unclear or misleading.

We also had issues with Maximum Potential, where we found the director’s manner rude, both to us and to several families we know. Hopscotch was similarly disappointing — the business seemed poorly run, the environment felt run-down, and we did not receive feedback after sessions.

Overall, our experience across these services was overwhelmingly negative, and we would not recommend them based on what we personally went through.

There are good OTs covering London. For example, Aniesa Blore, Diana Pierags and Moyna Talcer.

They are expensive. That is the nature of the work. You are not going to get good SIOT cheaply.

For SIOT, it is important to look at the detail. Even in OTs who have training, qualifications and experience of sensory integration. For example, there is a big difference between module 1 and module 4 of the Sensory Integration Network Postgraduate Modules.

What I will say is it takes time to build a relationship with an OT (and the company). You mention LA funding. If the sessions are being funded by the LA, you need to look at what is being commissioned. Sometimes feedback is separate. You need to look at what is detailed, specified and quantified in F. Depending on what communication you mean, sometimes that is in addition, too.

Hi, thanks for your reply.
I didn’t say I want “good cheap OT.” My point is that many of these OT companies are charging £190+ per hour, yet they don’t actually have highly experienced therapists for that price. A lot of them don’t even have Level 1 Sensory Integration training.

Some of the OTs at Hopscotch, for example, told us they were trained in-house by the owner, so they don’t have formal degrees in OT or sensory integration — but they’re still charging parents (and LAs) £190 an hour. It's hard to build a relationship when you've been scamed, lied to, misled, refused basic credentials of a therapist and you are met with hostility for only advocating for your vunerable child and you're denied the basics like a report for an annual review. Many people I know have issues with OTs so i know this experience isn't isolated and most of their staff reviews reflects parental experience. They also often give LAs discounts while charging parents more, which really doesn’t make sense.

Independent OTs with more experience often charge less and provide a much better service.

I was originally going to reply to someone else’s post, but the system wouldn’t let me comment because the thread was old, so I had to make my own post. I’m also fully aware of the EHCP process and what to expect from OT, as I’ve worked in the SEN field and have multiple SEN children. I think my original point was missed entirely.

I hope someone else can benefit from my post.

I didn’t miss your point at all. I replied to your OP. Just because you don’t like the answer doesn’t mean I missed your point.

I didn’t say you said you wanted a “good cheap OT." I said, “They are expensive. That is the nature of the work. You are not going to get good SIOT cheaply.” in response to your repeated mention of money. I stand by that.

It is surprising someone who is experienced in the SEN world would need to ask “Is there any hope to find good ones?” Anyone experienced in the SEN world would know there are very well regarded OTs in London. There are good and bad OTs. Just like there are good and bad in any profession.

Occupational Therapist is a protected title. Legally, it can only be used by registered OTs. You can check if they are registered on the online HCPC register. You can find many OT’s qualifications including related to SI online, e.g. via the SI Practitioner Register.

They also often give LAs discounts while charging parents more, which really doesn’t make sense.

This depends on the service. Some charge LAs less ph because they ‘buy’ a larger number of hours &/or have SLAs. Some charge LAs more because LAs are on the whole more difficult to deal with, there’s more paperwork, and getting money owed out of LAs is sometimes harder. This isn’t limited to OT.

you're denied the basics like a report for an annual review.

This should be discussed prior to engagement. Not all offer such reports. That isn’t unique to OTs. It applies to all professionals. When they do, many charge extra for it, which is why time needs to be allocated for it within F. Again, that doesn’t just apply to OTs.

Companies can charge large amounts of money because of the demand. Again, not unique to OTs. OTs working for private companies (whether they are independent OTs or not) often cost more than independent OTs not working for private companies because the company takes a cut. Just like people often pay more for a tutor when going via an organisation/agency than they do going direct.

Everything was discussed prior to engagement, but that doesn’t mean everyone does what they agreed to. You’re making too many assumptions. I asked for recommendations for good OTs — I didn’t ask for an argument. Only 1 of the ones you mention lives in London so you clearly don't know much about London.

I’m not interested in going back and forth. You’re still implying that I want a “cheap OT,” when this was never about the cost but about the poor quality of services. As I mentioned, many SEN parents are unhappy with the standard of OT servicwa, and many LAs have reduced or want to reduce OT input due to poor progress and poor-quality services as well many complaints.

You’ve completely missed the point and seem more interested in arguing than having a discussion. I’m not sure what triggered this response, but have a nice day.

How do i belong this karen from replying to my posts? @admin

All of the very well regarded OTs I mentioned in my pp cover London.

I am not arguing; merely responding to your post. That is how a public forum works. Again, I have not missed the point. Just because you don’t agree with my posts doesn’t mean I have misunderstood. I have not implied you want a “cheap OT” either.

LAs are always looking to save money regardless of how good or not provision is.

For the benefit of anyone reading:

Aniesa Blore - has a unit in the Borough of Kingston upon Thames - see here. Unless you are making some kind of point that this should be Surrey, which even if you are doesn’t matter because AB and others at Sensational Kids see lots of CYP from other London boroughs and even further afield.

Diana Pierags - see here - “My name is Diana Pierags, and I am a clinical specialist in paediatric occupational therapist in London.”

Moyna Talcer - see here - “Moyna Talcer works mainly in the boroughs of Sutton and Merton, however regularly takes referrals from other locations. Moyna can see clients in their own home, school or in an assessment clinic space.”

Thats not how a forum works. You are on attack mode and here to argue and clearly not a sen parent who would habe some compassion about the hell we go through to get these services to constantly be let down and short changed. I am not interested in your replies so go find another thread. I have a very high need child who.will be up all night who need my energy. Perhaps if he had some help from these useless OTs we wouldn't be in the situation we are in! Instead most are just money grabbers.who have 0 empathy and 0 work ethics.

I have not attacked you. I have replied to your posts which is how a forum works.

clearly not a sen parent

Incorrect. So very incorrect.