FOI 2025/1462

I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
This request concerns organisational policy and practice only relating to Occupational Therapy (OT) involvement in CHC assessments.
It does not request any personal or clinical data and must not be routed to SAR.
Please provide:
1. OT involvement in assessing CHC travel / community access needs
1.1 The ICB’s policy on when OT should assess CHC patients for:
• travel safety
• supervision in vehicles
• driver need
• sensory regulation during travel
• community access / daily living mobility
1.2 Any criteria, decision trees, or internal guidance used by CHC teams when requesting OT input.
2. Frequency of OT assessments (Organisational data)
2.1 Any guidance on:
• how often OT should reassess CHC patients
• when repeat assessments are needed
• whether OT reassessment is tied to CHC reviews
2.2 Any policy indicating whether OT involvement is optional, recommended, or mandatory for travel/driver needs.
3. OT assessments commissioned for travel/community access needs
3.1 Number of OT assessments commissioned by the ICB (organisation-wide) since 2020 where the primary reason included:
• vehicle safety
• community access
• sensory regulation
• escort/driver need
(Anonymised numbers only — not personal data.)
3.2 Templates or blank forms used for such OT assessments.
4. OT and “6-week assessment periods”
4.1 Any policy that authorises:
• 6-week trial periods
• incident-log-based travel assessments
• delaying travel funding pending OT input
4.2 If no policy exists, please confirm this.
5. Universal application
5.1 Whether the above OT processes apply equally to all CHC patients, including those with:
• autism
• learning disabilities
• behavioural needs
• sensory regulation needs
Format and statutory duties
Please provide all documents electronically.
This request contains no personal data and therefore cannot be refused on GDPR grounds.

NHS Greater Manchester (GM) Integrated Care Board (ICB) is the commissioner of health and care services across the GM Integrated Care System (ICS). The role of NHS GM ICB is to commission providers to deliver health and care services, such as Occupational Therapy (OT). Some of these services are carried out in conjunction with Local Authority (LA) partners, also in the form of joint teams, which can also cover multiple statutory organisations.

Therefore, NHS GM ICB does not directly deliver OT Services, especially in respect of Continuing Healthcare (CHC) / Individualised Packages of Care (IPOC). The ten CHC / IPOC Teams within NHS GM ICB are tasked to oversee the case management, eligibility decision, as well as commission packages of care in line with the National Framework.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64b0f7cdc033c100108062f9/National-Framework-for-NHS-Continuing-Healthcare-and-NHS-funded-Nursing-Care_July-2022-revised_corrected-July-2023.pdf

On occasions, the CHC Teams may commission private OT or Physiotherapy support as part of a Personal Health Budget (PHB). However, the role of the CHC Teams would be the ‘commissioner’, not to directly deliver the health provisions.

NHS GM ICB is therefore required to signpost you to the Local Authority and NHS Trusts who statutorily deliver OT Services across the GM ICS. NHS GM ICB suggests reaching out directly, via the contact details below, as each of these statutory organisations will be able to provide the necessary details in respect of the operational and clinical delivery of OT Services.

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