Cerebral Palsy Integrated Pathway (CPIP) for Occupational Therapists

Date: 6th November 2026; 

Where: Sheffield (Hosts Sheffield Children's Hospital) 

Cost: £150 + VAT

Who is this course for?

This training course is for occupational therapists who work in a service that is prepared to establish the OT CPIP surveillance protocol. Participants will need a basic understanding of how to use a goniometer. Following completion of this training, the participant’s service will be able to access the OT CPIP assessment on the CPIP management system.

What is OT CPIP?

The goal of OT CPIP is to maximise the participation in occupations of children and young people (CYP) with cerebral palsy by regularly reviewing their activity and function using standardised outcome measures. The assessment considers CYP's current occupational performance profile; person centred goals and the impact of tone and/or spasticity on hand & upper limb function and the importance of early detection and intervention of these changes. The CPIP protocol involves twice yearly assessments with younger children and annual assessments with older children.

OT CPIP assessment has been in place in NHS Lanarkshire since 2015 and NHS GG&C since 2016. In that time, we have seen improved consistency of access to evidence-based pathways for children across both health boards. OTs involved in the surveillance programme have improved their understanding of cerebral palsy and the impact of spasticity and dystonia on hand use and participation in occupations. We have improved the communication between community therapists and acute colleagues, ensuring that referrals for Botox and other tone management interventions are led by child centred, occupation-based goals.

About the presenters

Tahnee Conn
Tahnee Conn is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years’ experience working in paediatric community services in Australia and Scotland. She is an Advanced Practitioner in neurodisability for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, with a focus on improving equity of access to assessment and intervention for children with cerebral palsy. Her work has supported improved acute–community pathways and the implementation of OT CPIPS across the health board.

Heather MacIntosh
Heather MacIntosh is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years’ experience, primarily within NHS Lanarkshire Children and Young People’s Services. She specialises in early intervention in neurodisability, particularly cerebral palsy, with a focus on upper limb therapy, Botox as an adjunct, and splinting. Her interest in upper limb CPIP surveillance led to the development of the system in Lanarkshire and its subsequent national rollout.