
The Children’s Physiotherapy Service assess a wide range of conditions using specialist skills to improve mobility, strength and stamina and encourage children to participate in physical activity.
A Children’s Physiotherapist has expertise knowledge of childhood development, movement patterns, and a wide range of clinical conditions.
We work closely with the child, young person and their families to formulate individual treatment programmes in order to achieve their maximum potential.
Our staff are registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC) and have Enhanced CRB checks. We are all members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and of its professional network, the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP).
Musculoskeletal Children’s Physiotherapy
We are a highly specialised team of chartered Children’s Physiotherapists who are able to assess, diagnose and offer treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions affecting babies, children and young adults up to 17 years of age.
What we can help with:
We offer a wide variety of treatments approaches including:
Neonatal
Physiotherapists in the neonatal service provide assessments for babies born early or with possible concerns about their future development. We work closely with nurses and doctors on the neonatal unit and in clinics to identify babies who may benefit from our service. Neonatal physiotherapy can stay involved up until the child is two years old and following this if further physiotherapy intervention is required the child would be referred to the Pre 5 Children’s Physiotherapy.
We offer a wide variety of treatments approaches including:
Pre 5 Children’s Physiotherapy
Our Pre 5 therapy service offers assessment and advice to children under the age of 5 in regards to concerns surrounding their physical development. Referrals may be allocated to a specialist clinic or a physiotherapist working in the geographical area where they live.
We offer a wide variety of treatments approaches including:
Special Schools
This service is based in Kingsland and Oakfield Park special schools, with outreach to other special schools in the area. We are a highly specialised team treating children with complex needs in their school environment, helping with their respiratory care and development progression. A key focus is maintaining postural integrity using nationally recognised methods to implement this over a 24-hour period. Yearly measurements are taken of all the special school children on caseload to ensure that they are not growing with unwanted postural changes. This includes:
Mainstream Schools
This is a service to children with a physical disability aged over 5 – 18 who attend a mainstream school or college. We work with other professionals, families, education staff and the child to meet their needs.
This includes:
Children’s Ward
As a physiotherapy service we cover the ward and A and E / Children’s Unit if needed. Our primary role on the ward is to assess as an inpatient and give respiratory care to those that require it. We liaise closely with Occupational therapists for mobility and functional assessments if required post discharge. As well as patients who have had surgery, we assess and treat patients with respiratory conditions.
We offer a wide variety of care:
Cerebral Palsy - information about cerebral palsy, resources as well as support for families.
Down's Syndrome - information, counselling and support for people with Down's syndrome, their families, carers, and professionals.
Family Fund - a charity aiming to support, advise and possibly help with funds for families with severely disabled children.
Mencap - postural care - a charity supporting families who have a member with learning disabilities. It highlights the importance of good postural care for thousands of people with multiple disabilities:
Muscular Dystrophy - the leading UK charity dedicated to beating muscle-wasting conditions by finding treatments and cures and to improve the lives of everyone affected by them.
Perthes Association - information and support for parents of children with Perthes disease and related conditions.
Premature babies - Bliss gives vital support and care to premature babies in the UK. They are devoted to improving the lives of babies born too soon, too small or too sick.
Talipes/Clubfoot - a national charity supporting children and adults affected by a lower limb condition such as clubfoot or a hip condition.
Wakefield Council: Children and young people - information about local services for children and young people.
Wakefield Council local sporting and fitness - information about local sporting and fitness opportunities.