Assessment and Treatment process

Assessment and treatment can be done in several ways and the service tailor made to suit the needs of you and your child. An assessment may be required to identify areas of difficulty with a view to treatment or referral on to a specialist for further tests before treatment can begin.

Assessment may also be carried out to identify areas of need in terms of offering practical help and support for home and school.

• Referrals can be made by family doctors, Consultants, therapists and parents/carers. It is a requirement that communication with the child’s GP is permitted regarding the service in order to maintain continuity of care. The Physiotherapist also likes to liaise with local services where they have been involved in order to maintain good relations between the family and services and to ensure continuity of care is maintained. This will only be done with signed consent from the parents/carers.
• Signed, informed consent will be sought from the person with parental responsibility before the child is seen. Where the child is old enough (has sufficient understanding), their consent will also be sought.
• The physiotherapist may ask for a birth and developmental history before seeing your child as this saves time during the first appointment and prevents discussions which may be awkward in front of your child.
• An appointment is made and an initial assessment is undertaken. A letter or more formal report can be provided as necessary. A treatment plan can be discussed and implemented as required.
• The initial appointment is carried out at Vale Healthcare clinics at the Vale Clinic (Hensol) or Cardiff Bay Clinic but where appropriate, a home visit can be arranged when follow up is required. It may also be appropriate and possible to arrange school visits.
• Treatments can be carried out at the Cardiff Bay Clinic or Vale Clinic (Hensol), the child’s home or in another venue such as where access to a trampoline or swimming pool is required.
• Parent/carer education is integral to the process to help gain a better understanding of the child’s difficulties and learn how best to support them. This can alleviate anxiety and be empowering by feeling more in control of the unknown.
• Participation in the whole process is important for all children and their views and opinions will be sought, listened to and acted upon wherever possible.
• It may be possible to arrange training sessions for people responsible for the care or education of your child.
• A home programme can be devised to be done over a period of time in between follow-up appointments. This is especially useful for those travelling to the clinic from outside the area.
• Photographs or short video clips can be filmed in order to illustrate reports or home programmes. Consent for this will be gained from the parents/carers before hand.

What happens if the problems are more complicated than initially thought?

The Physiotherapist can refer your child on to a Consultant specialising in orthopaedic or general paediatrics. She also has close links to other specialists such as:

• Occupational Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Clinical and Educational Psychology
• Paediatric Podiatry

How do I know whether my child can be helped?

If you are unsure about whether your child needs an appointment, please telephone Liz Atter (our Children's Physiotherapist) on 07722 147 502 to discuss your concerns.

You may reach the answer phone so leave your name, number and a short message and she will contact you as soon as possible.

How much will it cost?

How much will it cost?The costs vary depending on the type of service required and where the child is seen. Typically costs start at £40 for a 30 minute session.

Return to the main Children's Physiotherapy webpage

Return to the main Vale Healthcare Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation webpage