Changes to Gloucestershire’s Occupational Therapy Services
On 1 August 2026, the Occupational Therapy service previously provided by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC) on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) transferred back into Gloucestershire County Council’s Adult Social Care service. This followed a decision made by the GCC cabinet in August 2025, to operate a new model for Adult Social Care services in the county.
The transfer means that from 1 August onwards, any social care-related adult Occupational Therapy needs will be provided by GCC, whereas health-related Occupational Therapy will be provided by GHC.
Adult Social Care OT provision includes:
Long‑term support needs (gradual, predictable deterioration, including palliative NOT End of Life)
Functional decline/ADLs/confidence impacting daily living including accessing the community & wellbeing (not due to acute medical issue)
Home adaptations
Falls history requiring environmental modification (e.g. slips & trips)
Carer breakdown
Moving & handling when due to carer breakdown, predictable deterioration requiring alternative equipment or techniques
Housing/OT involvement for unsafe or unsuitable accommodation
Equipment for independence Prevention or reablement where goal is functional independence, not Therapy (stable health conditions)
Please note, local authority OT support will only be provided to people who are ‘resident’ in Gloucestershire, regardless of which GP they are registered with. This may affect people who live outside the county but remain registered with a Gloucestershire GP.
Adult Social Care OT provision referral process
To refer into GCC Occupational Therapy, you need to contact the Adult Social Care Helpdesk. You can do this using the referral form here: Adult Social Care - General Enquiry Form | ASC Form Privacy – Gloucestershire Forms.
If you would prefer to call the team, their phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm - Call 01452 426 868.
GHC provides a health-related OT service (for those who are 18+ and are registered with a Gloucestershire GP), which includes:
Rapid, unexpected deterioration in function
Individuals at risk of re-admission to hospital
Rapidly deteriorating palliative condition or sudden unexpected deterioration at end of life - support to enable preferred place of care
Post hospital discharge follow-up (for people discharged outside Home First pathway) where there are unanticipated safety or functional concerns on arrival home
GHC health-related OT provision referral process
Referrals into GHC’s health-related OT service can be made by completing the attached form and sending it to ICTReferrals.Central@ghc.nhs.uk
However, if you have any queries, please email ICTReferrals.Central@ghc.nhs.uk – this inbox is currently in use and reviewed every day.