Children's assessments
Home and school visits for children with handwriting, coordination or sensory difficulties, including evidence for an EHCP.
School assessmentsOccupational therapy in Chester-le-Street and nearby villages
Practical occupational therapy for older people, adults and children in Chester-le-Street, Pelton, Sacriston, Great Lumley and Ouston, with home visits arranged from Newcastle and video reviews to keep follow-up simple.
- Falls and equipment advice
- Rehab after a hospital stay
- Village visits planned together
- Video reviews where suitable
Request a quote
Tell us a little about what you need and we will be in touch to discuss the next steps.
How we help
Home-based occupational therapy in and around Chester-le-Street
Private Occupational Therapy offers falls prevention visits, equipment and seating assessments, rehabilitation at home and adaptation advice in Chester-le-Street and its villages, alongside children's and return-to-work support.
An occupational therapist comes down from Newcastle upon Tyne on the A1(M) and sees people where everyday tasks happen, mostly at home but also at school or work, with video for some reviews. The order is straightforward: an initial conversation, an assessment visit, a written report with recommendations, then rehabilitation sessions or follow-up if the goals call for them.
What you can rely on
- Goals agreed in conversation first
- A quote before any work goes ahead
- Findings written up in plain English
- Advice your family can act on
- Progress checked against those goals
- Updates to your GP or carers, with consent
A town between Newcastle and Durham
Chester-le-Street sits on the River Wear between Newcastle and Durham, with the A167 running south to Durham and junction 63 of the A1(M) giving a direct route north. That makes it one of the more straightforward parts of County Durham for Private Occupational Therapy to reach, and travel is still shown in the quote you receive before anything is booked. The full list of areas served covers the rest of the region.
The town centres on Front Street and the Riverside, with Lumley Castle on the far bank of the river. Around it lie villages with deep mining roots, among them Pelton, Pelton Fell, Ouston, Sacriston and Great Lumley, plus South Pelaw immediately to the north. Appointments in the villages are grouped where practical, so a visit to a bungalow in Sacriston is as easy to set up as one in the middle of Chester-le-Street.
Older adults
Staying steady and independent at home
A fall, a near miss, or a parent who has quietly stopped going upstairs is often what prompts a family to look for an occupational therapist.
A falls prevention visit looks at lighting, flooring, the steps at the front and back doors, getting on and off the toilet, bathing, and how the person rises from their favourite chair. Housing in the town and villages includes older terraces with steep stairs and yard steps as well as bungalows that suit later life but may still need changes.
Where equipment would help, an equipment and seating assessment matches each item to the person and the room, so nothing is bought that does not fit. For someone living with dementia, the advice also covers routines and simple changes that make the home easier to understand.
Typical recommendations
- Grab rails and second stair rails
- Raised seating and toilet frames
- Bath boards or a level-access shower
- Brighter lighting on stairs and paths
- Pendant alarms and daily routines
- Guidance for carers and relatives
Rehabilitation once you are back home
People from the area may be treated at the University Hospital of North Durham or receive outpatient care and rehabilitation at Chester-le-Street Community Hospital on Front Street, both run by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. Private occupational therapy can add practical, home-based support during and after that care. It does not replace NHS treatment, has no link with the trust, and can be arranged directly without a referral.
After a stroke, a hip fracture or major surgery, sessions focus on daily tasks in the person's own surroundings: washing and dressing, preparing food, managing the stairs, and getting back out to Front Street or a social group. Adult occupational therapy is usually delivered as a short block of goal-led sessions with a review at the end, and the person decides which goals come first.
Families and work
Children, school and working life
Support is not limited to later life. Younger clients and working-age adults in Chester-le-Street can use the same service, at home, in school or at work.
Return to work
Workplace visits and phased return plans for adults recovering from injury, surgery or illness.
Return to workVideo reviews
Progress checks and coaching by video, reducing the number of trips once the first assessment is done.
Who handles grants and care locally?
Durham County Council is the local authority for the town and its villages, covering adult social care, Disabled Facilities Grants and Education, Health and Care Plans. An independent OT report can help you understand what is needed and support a request, although the council follows its own assessment steps and timescales, so check with it before relying on a particular route.
Payment is usually private, through an insurer, or via a solicitor or case manager after an injury claim, and personal budgets can sometimes be used where the funder agrees. The fees and funding page explains how each works.
FAQs
Chester-le-Street questions answered
Do you visit the villages as well as the town?
Yes. As well as Chester-le-Street itself, Pelton, Pelton Fell, Ouston, Sacriston, Great Lumley, South Pelaw and the surrounding area can all be visited, with appointments grouped where possible to keep travel reasonable. Mention your village when you enquire so the visit can be planned around it.
Can a relative arrange a visit for an elderly parent?
Yes, provided the parent agrees and takes part. Relatives can attend so they hear the recommendations first-hand and can help put them in place afterwards.
Request a home visit
Tell us the town or village, who needs support and what has changed recently, and Private Occupational Therapy will come back with how a visit to Chester-le-Street or the surrounding area would work, along with a quote.