Home Therapy Services
Introduction
Ovspring’s Integrated Home-Based Therapy Services revolves around the child’s Individualised Treatment & Education Plan (ITEP). The ITEP is put together by Ovspring’s Early Intervention and Rehabilitation team. This team could include the Speech-Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist and/or the Special Education Teacher. One of these professionals take on the Program Supervisor role for the home-based program.
The Home Program Supervisor will coordinate the team as well as the child’s Lead Therapist to ensure that the home program goals are consistent with the ITEP to be carried out. A case manager or executive could also be involved in assisting the team to facilitate with the family.
Using the ITEP as a guide, the child’s treatment and learning goals are implemented at clinic and/or at home resulting in an “integrated” model. Depending on the needs of each child, an integrated model to home-based therapy can effectively augment therapy provided in-clinic when managed under a Team Approach.
It is good to note that the ITEP is a working document which is continually reviewed and revised to reflect updated educational and therapy goals.
Overall, the Integrated Home-Based Therapy program will allow children with special needs to receive more hours of therapy to maximize developmental potentials. Structure & Set up of an Integrated Home-Based Program
Ovspring’s Early Intervention and Rehabilitation Team provides the consultation and input on curriculum on the Home based program, while junior therapists is charged with the task of carrying out the program under supervision of the Home Program Supervisor.
The process of setting up an Integrated Home-Based Program:
Step 1. Identification of Child’s Treatment Priorities & Learning Needs
Typically, children should have been assessed by Ovspring’s professionals and baselines charted out. If not, a series of diagnostic teaching sessions (eg. 8 to 12 hourly sessions within 4), where appropriate, is conducted with the child by the Home Program Supervisor and/or the child’s team of therapists at Ovspring (eg. educational therapist, speech-language therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist). This enables the team to identify the child’s specific learning needs, and other difficulties across different domains such as speech, social skills and pragmatics and motor skills. Subsequently the appropriate Individual Treatment and Educational Plan (ITEP) is prepared. The ITEP is a “blueprint” for carrying out treatment and teaching. A timeframe (eg. 3 months, 6 months) is usually set for reviewing these goals by the Program Supervisor.
Step 2: Mentoring & Supervision of Junior Therapists
Once an ITEP is set up, the Program Supervisor is tasked with mentoring and supervision of junior therapists. The junior therapist is required to shadow the Program Supervisor in her intervention with the child on 4 to 6 occasions, following which the junior therapist is required to carry out intervention sessions on at least 2 to 4 occasions under supervision.
The Program Supervisor:-
- provides the initial training and ongoing supervision for junior therapists
- draws up lesson or treatment plans outlining learning objectives and tasks/activities (based on ITEP goals within agreed timeframe eg. 3 mth quarterly)
- helps procure materials to execute these goals
- provides guidance on consolidates data collection, analyse data & weekly monitoring of lesson planning versus outcomes
- conferences with and set up feedback loop to parents on child’s progress weekly, monthly or quarterly
- initiates referrals to other team members (if required), should difficulties be noted
* Case manager or executive may be involved to assist in discussing structure of the integrated home therapy program, fees & other information required by parents.
Step 3: Commencement & Supervision of Home-Based Program
The Program Supervisor (&/or case executive) assist parents with guidelines for the setting up of the work area at home via a home visit. Depending on review and progress, program supervisor may conduct lessons according to ITEP objectives during the initial period of training with junior therapists to ensure that progress can be closely monitored.
The recommended frequency of home therapy will depend on each child’s needs. The junior therapist(s) is required to assist in data collection, review meeting of weekly goals and feedback to Program Supervisor and/or parents where appropriate. Lesson planning & feedback review / supervision with junior therapists usually takes between 1.5 to 2.5 hours weekly, depending on frequency of weekly sessions/timing and concerns raised.
Step 4: Feedback Loop & Monitoring of Progress & Goals (Formal Review)
Depending on the ITEP, the Program Supervisor will set up a meeting with parents for a formal review session (1 hour to 1.5hours). Progress will be reviewed, and goals will be adjusted for the next time-frame. These changes will be reflected in an adjusted ITEP document and discussed with team members to ensure that therapy planning are consistent going forward.
Benefits of the Integrated Home Therapy Program
The success of the Home Therapy Programme depends on parent-involvement and understanding of the process, continuity and longer term benefits of such a home therapy program.
Given the ultimate goal of rehabilitation and integration into mainstream schools and adult life, the Home Therapy Programme can make significant contribution in terms of:
(i) Intensive Individualised Therapy of up to three (3) hours a day at home
(ii) Time-Savings and Convenience, as parents no longer need to take the child to a school or centre several times a week
(iii) Individualised and tailored programme according to your child's specific needs
Working with Schools & Agencies
Ovspring professionals values and welcomes the need to work with the child’s school (if any) to share in goal setting, progress and strategies. Such partnerships should be managed and facilitated by parents and caregivers.
For clarification & enquiries on the above, please contact:
Christine Tan
Parent Support Coordinator Grace Yap
Deputy General Manager (Case Administration)
Ovspring Developmental Clinic
1 Fifth Avenue #03-04
Singapore 268802
Tel: +65 6466 8090
Fax: +65 6467 1344
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