Your Physiotherapy journey in West Essex

Who will refer my child to the service?

We accept referrals from GPs, any medical practitioner and sometimes your school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) for children and young people registered with a West Essex GP.  We do not accept self-referrals (from parents/carers).

Where do you see my child?

We support families across Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford in a variety of settings, including virtually via telephone call or video call and face-to-face in clinic sites. We also attend schools/nurseries and carry out home visits as clinically needed.

We provide Physiotherapy clinics at:

• St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping
• Florence Nightingale Child Development Centre in Harlow
• Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop Stortford
• Saffron Walden Community Hospital

We also support children who have Physiotherapy needs attending:

• Harlow Fields Special School
• Oak View Special School
  

How do we assess your child?

Your child’s initial assessment will be provided via a video call or a telephone call, to gather background information and assess your child in a comfortable home environment. Goal setting will be discussed at this initial assessment together with you and your child.

As you continue your Physiotherapy journey through the service, we will discuss the plan for future assessments and follow up with you, and the most appropriate setting for this.

What do we provide for your child?

We aim to maximise independence and increase participation in home, school, and community environments in line with your child’s goals.

We provide specialist assessment, advice and help to assist children with their physical function, such as their positioning, movement and balance. We work to enable them to achieve their best physical function and potential.

We recommend home based programmes and provide training, advice and strategies for you to carry out. Our role as your Physiotherapist is to upskill and educate parents and carers, including any regular carers for example school/nursery staff, to deliver the Physiotherapy programme and allow you and your child or young person, to self-manage, long term.

We will follow up on a case-by-case basis, as needs change.

When will you discharge my child?

Your child will be discharged from physiotherapy once the Physiotherapy goals have been achieved or are self-managing towards long term/ongoing goals. Your child will be discharged with ongoing advice and can come back to us, via a new referral, if new goals are identified.

Some children and young people remain on our caseload longer, if they have rapidly changing needs that need professional support for example some children with complex, long-term conditions.