My Positive Steps Physiotherapy Placement Experience

My Positive Steps Physiotherapy Placement Experience –

Over the past few weeks, I have been fortunate enough to complete my placement at Positive Steps Physiotherapy. Coming into this placement, I was unsure what to expect, as I had little experience in paediatrics, particularly working with neurodivergent children and children with complex needs. However, this placement has become one of the most rewarding and eye-opening experiences of my physiotherapy degree so far.

I have developed many new skills, particularly within communication. Working with non-verbal patients challenges me and helped me appreciate the importance of non-verbal communication, including body language, facial expressions, and behavioural cues. This experience has helped me develop confidence in adapting my communication style to better suit each patient and understand their individual needs. I will always remember learning Makaton signs – especially the sign for “Pub”!

Experiencing hydrotherapy for the fist time is something I will not forget, having no previous experience within this area. Where this experience has helped me understand and appreciate how beneficial it can be, not only for physical rehabilitation, but also for giving children opportunities that they may not otherwise have access to. Seeing patients enjoy being in the water and gain confidence within that environment highlighted that physiotherapy could have benefits far beyond physical rehabilitation alone, including improving confidence, enjoyment, social partipation, and overall quality of life.

Another aspect that made this placement so enjoyable was the people I had the opportunity to meet along the way. Everyone involved within the wider Positive Steps community were incredibly welcoming, supportive, and kind. From my first day, I felt encouraged to learn, ask questions, and get involved. It was inspiring to see how much care and effort goes into supporting each patient’s needs. The relationship between staff, families, and patients truly demonstrates the importance of teamwork, compassion, and creating the safe and supportive environment.

Another opportunity that was particularly valuable during this placement was learning more about the parent pathway. This helped me appreciate how important parental involvement is within a child’s care and rehabilitation, as well as how valuable parents’ perspectives are regarding the care and support their child has received. Hearing about the different experiences parents had encountered, alongside the challenges they had faced when accessing support and services, reinforced the importance of patient-centred care within physiotherapy.

These conversations highlighted how essential effective communication is in ensuring parents feel listened to, respected, and involved in decision making surrounds their child’s care. It made me reflect on the key skills required as a physiotherapist, including active listening, empathy, patience, and clear communication. I also recognise the importance of acknowledging parents’ concerns and ensuring their input is valued, as they often have the greatest understanding of their child’s needs, behaviours, and daily challenges. This experience reinforced to me that building strong relationships with families is a fundamental part of providing effective and holistic paediatric physiotherapy care.

This placement has developed my clinical understanding and personal confidence. It has improved many of my skills and increased my awareness of the wider social and emotional factors that influence rehabilitation. Most importantly, it has strengthened my interest in paediatric physiotherapy and introduced me to areas such as hydrotherapy that I would like to further explore in the future.

This experience has shown/reminded me that physiotherapy is not only about improving physical function, but also about helping children participate, engage, and enjoy activities that improve their overall quality of life.

Written by: Callum Norford (Physiotherapy Student)