Paediatric Physiotherapy is the treatment and care of babies, children and young people from birth to 16/19 years old.
Paediatric Physiotherapists bring their specialist skills as a Physiotherapist and have additional knowledge and expertise of child development and childhood disabilities. (APCP/CSP, 2014)
Children’s Physiotherapists support children and their families with development and physical needs presenting from neurological, developmental, orthopaedic and specific respiratory conditions. Children and young people may also have complex and long term medical, social and learning needs.
The focus of the service is on maximising a child or young person’s physical ability within their everyday activities at home, in education and in their community. We aim to support and encourage self-management and independence.
The Service will:
- Help a child/young person achieve maximal gross motor potential by providing specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment and advice.
- Provide assessment and support to parents of children who present with normal variants in the development of walking.
- Provide assessment, treatment and advice for children presenting with general developmental delay with/without pathology where it impacts on their gross motor development.
- Provide pre and post-surgery management and rehabilitation for children and young people.
- Provide assessment and advice on respiratory conditions.
- Provide specialist assessment of equipment for mobility and posture.
- Work as part of the multidisciplinary team for a holistic approach.
- The Physiotherapy service will contribute to Education, Health and Care plans and reviews for children and young people.
Moving on – Transitions and Discharge
Transition
Where the service continues to be involved at transition points, such as school entry or moving from primary to secondary, children to adults services, the service support the child/young person and family by ensuring links are made with other relevant agencies.
Please contact your therapist as your child approaches these transitions if you have any concerns.
Discharge
Once the child or young person has reached their ability to become self-sufficient with their physical skills or they have reached their anticipated level of independence or when parents or other professionals are self-sufficient with care and management strategies discharge can be considered.
A child can be discharged from the service for any one of the following reasons:
- No functional goals identified from the initial/review assessment.
- Assessment and advice given and no treatment is indicated.
- Treatment goals achieved and episode of care completed with no ongoing needs.
- Difficulties no longer have a significant impact upon child’s development.
- Non-compliance with a therapy programme by child / carer.
- Abuse/violence/aggression toward staff by client/carer.
- Child/family does not engage with the service – in line with Bridgewater Patient Access Policy.
The decision to discharge will always be discussed and agreed with the child/young person, their family and other relevant professionals.
Meet the team
Our service is made up of a team of qualified Physiotherapists, Therapy Assistants and Administration Officers.
Staff have experience in a range of specialist areas of interest, meaning we can offer support to children and young people with a variety of different needs.
All our staff have an Enhanced DBS with clearance to work with children and vulnerable people and our Physiotherapists are registered with The Health and Care Professional Council.
Rebecca Emery – Team Leader and Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist
Ruth Ade-Hall – Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist
Kathryn Royden – Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist
Laura Chesman – Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist
Victoria Usherwood – Senior Physiotherapist
Janette Lybert – Therapy Assistant
Phillipa Peet – Therapy Assistant
Keryn Green – Therapy Assistant
Hayley O Keefe – Administration Officer
Diane Smith – Administration Officer
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