Children's Community Physiotherapy
Contact us
Ashford team
Telephone: 01233 651922
Location: The Rainbow Centre, Great Chart Road, A28 Bypass, Ashford, TN23 4ER
Folkestone team
Telephone: 01303 854461
Location: The Beacon, Park Farm Road, Folkestone, CT19 5DN
Dover team
Telephone: 01304 222521
Location: Children’s Assessment Unit, Buckland Hospital, Coombe Valley Road, Dover, CT17 0HD
What we do
Our children's community physiotherapy service is for children who have additional needs and/or need to be seen in a community setting. This could be at home or school.
This service is for children and young people, age 0-19 years. We assess and treat conditions that affect growing bones and muscles.
Conditions we treat include:
neuromuscular disorders e.g. muscular dystrophies
neurological conditions e.g. cerebral palsy, head injuries
respiratory conditions e.g. cystic fibrosis
rheumatological conditions e.g. juvenile idiopathic arthritis
congenital disorders e.g. spina bifida, limb deficiencies
orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions
delayed movement development
conditions where mobility is affected e.g. oncology
congenital syndromes.
For children who can attend an outpatients clinic appointment, please see our Children's Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service.
What to expect
Physiotherapy advice or treatment is based on an assessment of the child’s needs.
Assessment may include:
strength and co-ordination
motor development
posture and balance
quality of movement
function.
After an assessment, any treatment will be discussed with the child and their family. Therapy goals will be agreed together.
Possible ways of supporting the child may include:
provision of training and advice for parents/carers and other service providers (health, social care, education)
advice on how to support the child in different environments
assessment for specialist equipment and/or appliances
involvement with educational and transition planning
direct therapy with the child individually or in a group.
Where to find us
Our service is mainly provided within community settings such as:
schools
children's centres
patients' own homes, or
in our own clinics
Rainbow Centre, Ashford
The Children’s Assessment Unit at Buckland Hospital
The Beacon, Folkestone.
Please note children and young people with a Canterbury, Faversham or Thanet GP need to refer to Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.
How to use this service
Your child can be referred to our service by:
yourself (parent or carer)
a teacher
a health visitor
a nursery
a GP, or
another healthcare professional.
See our referral information for inclusion criteria and a link to the form, under the Children and Young People's Therapy Service.