Physiotherapy (community)

As well as individual physiotherapy your child maybe referred to attend a therapy group. These groups run at Sunshine House, Mary Sheridan Centre and other community sites. You can ask your child’s physiotherapist for more information about our groups:

• fizzibabes group
• neonatal group
• cruisers and climbers group

Cerebral palsy integrated pathway South East (CPIPSE) is a standardised musculoskeletal examination of the spine and lower limbs by physiotherapists for all children with cerebral palsy aged between 2 and 16.

If your child has cerebral palsy, they'll have a formal assessment to measure their ranges and muscle length. This assessment will detect early changes in lower limb joints and muscles. All children receive regular X-rays of their hips based on their age and severity of their cerebral palsy. The results of this assessment will be discussed with you and will be entered onto a national database.

Your child's physiotherapist may recommend therapeutic equipment to support your child's development and posture to help them participate at home, in the community, nursery or school.

Equipment commonly prescribed by your community physiotherapist are:

• standing frames
• sleep systems
• walkers
• seating systems at school or nursery only (home seating is provided by social services occupational therapists)

The physiotherapist will discuss the suitability of equipment with you and apply for funding. Once the equipment has been approved, ordered and delivered, your physiotherapist will arrange a time to set it up and show you how to use it. Your physiotherapist will check the fit and suitability of the equipment when you need it. However, if you have concerns about the equipment, please stop using it and contact your physiotherapist as soon as possible on 020 3049 8181. If your child is no longer using the equipment they have been prescribed, please contact your physiotherapist who will discuss this with you and arrange for replacement or collection of the equipment if appropriate.

Wheelchairs are provided by wheelchair services. Please contact them if you have any concerns about your child’s wheelchair.

Seating and bathing equipment for home use are supplied by Lambeth social services or southwark social services.

The physiotherapy team link up with local community sports clubs who provide inclusive sports, to offer taster sessions of sports across Southwark and Lambeth. This is organised with support from Evelina London Children’s Charity, which means we are able to offer these sessions for free.  

The taster sessions aim to promote, encourage and empower young people to participate in community sports and keep active. They're typically aimed at children older than 5 and caters for all levels of abilities. Each year, we aim to showcase different sports.

We value our connections with the local clubs across Southwark and Lambeth, some of which you will find in the locals offers for each borough.

Please speak to your physiotherapist if this is something you and your child would like to participate in.

We work very closely with the orthotics team. During your child’s assessment and treatment, we'll consider whether your child may benefit from an orthotic prescription. We offer joint clinics with our orthotics colleagues to get the best outcome for your child.

Read more about the community orthotics service.

We work alongside a range of other medical professionals and specialist teams to assess and monitor children at high risk of movement difficulties, or those with emerging or confirmed conditions.

These clinics are a 'one stop shop' bringing together health professionals and your family in one place to help diagnose your child and support them.