Paediatric physiotherapy is a specialist service for children and young people aged 0-18 years old (up to 19 for those in special schools) with gross motor difficulties that impact on their everyday function and independence.
Conditions include neurological, developmental delay, rheumatology, developmental co-ordination, abnormal gait, orthopaedic and musculoskeletal problems, rehabilitation following surgery or acquired head injury.
Community physiotherapists assess, treat and provide advice to children, young people and their families. They work as part of a multi-disciplinary team of paediatric occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, paediatricians, nursing teams, education and social care services.
Their work can involve:
- Direct therapy on an individual basis or in groups
- Specialist clinics
- Stretching and strengthening exercise plans
- Postural care, positioning and manual handling
- Health promotion and advice to schools on how children with physical needs can fully access the curriculum to their maximum potential.
- Training for parents, carers and school staff to carry out programmes to enable continued care.
The service provides therapy to children in the following locations:
- At home
- Willesden Centre for Health and Care
- Wembley Centre for Health and Care
- Children's centres
- Nurseries
- Special schools
- Special units
- Mainstream schools
An outpatient musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy service for children aged 0-16 years is also offered at the Willesden Centre for Health and Care. Referrals are accepted from any professional working with a child or young person who has a Brent GP.