Children & Young People's Physiotherapy
Description of service
Children and Young People’s Physiotherapy Service is part of the Children and Young People’s Therapies Service. You can read more about each at:
- https://www.hct.nhs.uk/our-services/childrens-physiotherapy/
- https://www.hct.nhs.uk/our-services/children-young-peoples-therapies-service/
You will work with babies, children and young people aged 0-19 years. You will also accompany physiotherapists to assess and treat children in a variety of other settings, including special schools for children with
You may have the opportunity to see children with conditions such as:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Developmental Delay
- Co-ordination difficulties
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME)
- Downs Syndrome
- Learning Difficulties
- Orthopaedic problems
- Juvenile Inflammatory Arthritis
- Hypermobility
You will also have opportunities to see/use various therapy methods e.g. Bobath techniques, splinting and casting, and have the experience of working in a multi-disciplinary setting with OT’s, SALTs, doctors and education staff.
Areas covered
Bull Plain Clinic
27 Bull Plain
Hertford
SG14 1DZ
There is no parking on site. The nearest car parks are Gascoigne way multi-storey (SG14 1DB – Gascoigne Way) or Hartham Common Car park (SG14 1QR – Hartham Lane)
Child Development Centre
Danestrete Centre
Stevenage
SG1 1HB
Located in centre of Stevenage, close to the bus and train stations. There is very limited parking at CDC for students. Having your own car would be helpful during this placement but it is not essential. Please call the placement in advance to arrange.
Marlowes Health and Wellbeing Centre
39-41 Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP1 1LD
The centre is located in Hemel Hempstead town centre with good public transport links.
By Bus: The centre is served by numerous bus routes including routes 2, 3, 4, 46, 301 and 532 which stop outside The Forum and additional bus and coach routes including 29, 31 and 759 which stop at West Herts College.
By Train: The nearest train station is Hemel Hempstead station, just over one mile walk from the centre or a short bus ride.
By Bicycle: There is space for bicycles to be parked in open bicycle hoops and motorbike parking bays at the rear of the centre.
By car: Parking at the centre is very limited. It is for Blue Badge holders only, on a first come, first served basis. Service users, patients, parents and carers will need to park off site. There are several public car parks that are available close to the centre, including High Street, Water Gardens, Gadebridge Lane and Queensway car parks. There are also drop off spaces at the front of the site for people arriving by a taxi or private transport.
Peace Children’s Centre
Peace Prospect
Watford
WD17 3EW
There is free parking on site (barrier-controlled access). Entrance is via the one-way road ‘Peace Prospect’ – enter this in between the Leisure Centre and West Herts College, just before the traffic lights.
Watford Junction (National Rail & London Overground) station and buses that stop in Watford Town Centre are walking distance to Peace CC.
Main contact:
Joanne Salter
joanne.salter2@nhs.net
Dress Code/Uniform:
Uniform is not required for this placement. Please wear clean, comfortable, practical, professional clothing. Please ensure you wear closed in shoes and your hair is tied back if required.
Accommodation information:
There is no accommodation available for this placement.
Recommended pre-placement reading:
- It would be helpful to read a basic paediatric text i.e. ‘Physiotherapy in Paediatrics’ by Roberta Shepherd
- A basic understanding of normal development would be beneficial. This text is recommended:
Sharma, A., & Cockerrill, H. (2014). Mary Sheridan’s from birth to five years (4th ed.). Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. - You will also work with a number of children with cerebral palsy so any neurology knowledge/experience will be beneficial. This text is recommended:
Rosenbaum, P., & Rosenbloom, L. (2012). Cerebral palsy: From diagnosis to adult life. London: MacKeith Press. - Similar books on cerebral palsy will also provide you with a basic understanding of the condition as well as websites.
- APCP guidelines: apcp.csp.org.uk/publications
- NICE Guidelines Spasticity in under 19s: www.nice.org.uk
- Patient information leaflets and exercise guidance can be found on our website under ‘useful information’: www.hct.nhs.uk/our-services/childrens-physiotherapy
- At the CDC we have a wide range of paediatric books and articles together with internet access in a resource room
Preparing for your placement:
We understand that Paediatrics will be a new area of physiotherapy to most students coming on this placement and lots of learning and knowledge can be gained over the course of the placement.
What to bring on your first day:
Most sites do not have facilities offering food. We suggest that you initially bring a packed lunch and money for tea/coffee etc.
What to expect on your first day:
You will receive an induction into the department and trust from your clinical educator. You will work together with your clinical educator to assess and treat the children booked in on the first day, and learn how to record notes on the online system. Over the first week you will set your objectives.
Working hours:
Your working pattern on this placement will tend to be 08:30-16:30 daily but with different staff working different hours there is scope for earlier starts/later finishes which can be discussed on the first day.
physical and/or learning difficulties and mainstream schools/nurseries.
Specialties covered
