{
  "abstract": "Background The Complications from Excess Weight (CEW) service at GOSH supported children and young people (CYP) with complex health and developmental needs. Many presented with neurodivergent profiles and functional challenges that impact daily life. In April 2024, Occupational Therapy (OT) was introduced to provide holistic, developmentally informed support. The OT approach was guided by the Person–Environment–Occupation–Performance (PEOP) model, which supports functional outcomes by addressing the interaction between the child, their environment, and meaningful daily activities. 1 Evidence suggests that occupational therapists can play a critical role in obesity care through personalised, occupation-focused interventions embedded within multidisciplinary teams.2 3 Aim To evaluate the role of Occupational Therapy in the CEW service and identify key areas of functional need addressed through OT intervention.Methods A retrospective audit was conducted of all CYP who had an initial multidisciplinary assessment between April 2024 and February 2025. Of the 79 CYP assessed (aged 3–17 years), 37 received OT input (46.8%). OT involvement was categorised into:Neurodevelopmental screening (n=7)Food exploration (n=20)Motor skills/planning (n=7)School visits/liaison (n=10)Understanding neurodivergence (n=19)Home visits (n=6)Self–care/independence (n=13)Mealtime routines/environment (n=28)Onward referrals (n=11)Results OT input addressed a wide range of functional needs, with mealtime routines, food exploration, and neurodivergence support being most common. Collaborative working with physiotherapy, dietetics, psychology, family therapy, social work, nursing, paediatrics, and external networks was key to delivering joined-up care.Conclusion Occupational Therapy is a vital part of the CEW multidisciplinary team, enabling personalised, developmentally appropriate care for neurodivergent CYP. This work reflects GOSH’s commitment to personalised, joined-up care across life stages, supporting neurodivergent CYP in their everyday environments.References Christiansen CH, Baum CM, Bass JD. Occupational therapy: performance, participation, and well-being. 4th ed. New York: Routledge; 2024.Davies AL, Spiga F, Caldwell DM, et al. Factors associated with the effectiveness of interventions to prevent obesity in children: a synthesis of evidence from 204 randomised trials. BMJ Public Health 2025;3(1):e001707.Richards K, Beattie O, Hitch D, Pepin G. Occupational therapy in overweight and obesity care: Australian perspectives from a mixed methods study. Scand J Occup Ther. 2024;31(1). doi:10.1080/11038128.2024.2432285",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Georgina Salzke-Spurr"
    }
  ],
  "title": "131 Embedding Occupational Therapy in the CEW service: A holistic, multidisciplinary approach to supporting neurodivergent Children and Young People",
  "uid": "d56ee0d8-b5ca-5060-a4b2-b874b8803c61"
}