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What you can expect from us:

We are a team of physiotherapists and technical instructors who specialise in working with neurodivergent children and young people and those with neurological conditions. The team includes Technical Instructors who support therapy interventions. We work closely with our Child Development Centre (CDC) colleagues and other agencies and may do joint appointments with them, including the Occupational Therapists, Children’s Community Nurses and other professionals that may be involved with your child; this also includes liaising with physiotherapists and other professionals in hospitals such as Derriford and Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Physiotherapy Appointments

Appointments take place in a variety of settings such as the Plymouth CDC, other satellite clinic sites, home or school. For photos of the spaces we use at the Child Development Centre, have a look here. We also have a base at Woodlands Special School for the physiotherapists working with children in Woodlands, Mill Ford and Cann Bridge schools. We cover a large geographical area including East and North East Cornwall, Plymouth, West Devon and South Hams.

Appointments may be by phone, video, or in person. If it is in person, it helps if your child is wearing clothes they can move freely in and enables us to see their arms and legs, eg shorts and a vest. Appointments can last up to an hour but are often shorter.

If you are given a time and date you cannot attend, please cancel as soon as you can, so we can reschedule the appointment.

What do Physiotherapists do?

We assess, advise and educate on conditions requiring physiotherapy in children and young people (CYP) aged 0-18 (19 in Special Education). These may be around delayed motor milestones such as sitting, crawling and walking or difficulties achieving motor skills due to certain conditions. You may receive a programme or advice to carry out daily at home, and older children may be able to take some responsibility for this themselves. We consider active parent/carer and CYP participation in the therapy programme essential to achieving goals that will be set together. Where blocks of treatment are indicated, these will be discussed with you and your child and may be with a Physiotherapist or a Technical Instructor.

What types of conditions do we work with?

Conditions we see range from common to extremely rare, and not every child will have a diagnosis. Intervention is tailored to the individual and their needs. Conditions may include:

• Neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy
• Neuromuscular conditions such as Muscular Dystrophy
• Other neurodevelopmental conditions
• Difficulties and/or delay with motor skill acquisition and co-ordination

We do not see children with Musculo-skeletal/Orthopaedic injuries or conditions, they will either be seen by the Derriford Paediatric Physiotherapy Team or local MSK physiotherapist depending on age and location.

How are people referred?

Referrals are accepted from GPs, Consultants or other professionals. (Including education in Cornwall). Information provided should include what the problem is, any relating history to that problem and any other information that may be deemed relevant. These can be sent to:

Plymouth Child Development Centre, Scott Business Park, Beacon Park Road, Plymouth PL2 2PQ  

Who is in the team?

Therapies Lead	EMMA MEES
Physiotherapists	SUSAN BELL
	FIONA BLOGG
	LUKE CHUBB
	CLAIRE FRIMPONG-ANSAH
	CLAIRE LOADER
	KERRY LYNCH
	LAURA SCAWN
Therapy Technical Instructors	KAREN KERRIGAN
	ANDREA LANGSTON
	RACHEL MOSS
	ELAINA STEPHENS-JUDE