Contact us
For more details please see the locations listed at the bottom of the page.
East (Thanet, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable, Faversham)
0300 123 8112
kentchft.cteast-admin@nhs.net
West (Maidstone and Malling, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks)
0300 123 7004
kentchft.ctwestkent@nhs.net
North (Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley)
0300 790 6235
kentchft.ctsnorthteam@nhs.net
Who we are
The Children’s Therapies and Care Coordination Team provides a community-based service to children and young people who need specialist help in a range of areas. The team consists of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, therapy assistants, education specialists, specialist nurse advisors and care coordinators. Our aim is to support children and young people in developing their skills to their full potential so they can participate in everyday activities, and this is in partnership with the child’s family and other important people in the child’s life, for example school staff.
The children and young people we work with may have a range of identified needs which can vary in severity and complexity. Some children and young people need a number of professionals to be involved (integrated approach) and this may be co-ordinated by the care co-ordination team. Others need support from one professional team only.
Role of Children's Therapies
The team work closely with the child / young person’s family as well as in partnership with other agencies including pre-schools, schools, and medical staff. The team can be involved at a number of levels (see below) in supporting children and young people.
- Universal
Skills are developed by the child’s family and overall workforce by using strategies and advice that can be carried out in a range of environments. This may include training, access to advice leaflets and signposting to other support services. - Targeted
Providing targeted / short term support for children who may have a specific need or are at risk. Specific training, access to workshops, time-limited group work, specific advice. - Specialist
Providing specialist support to children with identified needs varying in severity and complexity. As this level children / young people continue to require universal and targeted support but also a level beyond this (this may include assessment ad direct / indirect intervention.
How to access the service
We operate an online referral system that can be accessed via Children's Therapies - The Pod. Referrals may be a requested for one or more professional teams to be involved. Referrals to Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy can only be made by a health, education or social care professional. We are unable to accept parental/carer referrals for these two disciplines. To help you decide if a referral is appropriate please see our referral criteria.
Referral criteria updated as of 5 September 2022.
On The Pod you will also find lots of advice and strategies to follow, prior to making a referral. Please access our online shop and advice pages for more information on how to make a referral and our online referral forms.
Where do we work from?
The services are provided in a range of venues, depending on the child / young person’s needs as well as local arrangements, these may include:
- multi-agency children’s centres,
- community clinics,
- pre-school settings,
- school settings.
What areas do we cover?
The team covers three main geographical areas within Kent:
- east Kent (Thanet, Canterbury, Canterbury coastal, Sandwich, Faversham and rural Swale)
- west Kent (Maidstone, Malling, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks)
- north Kent (Gravesham, Swanley and Dartford).
Helpful links
![Kelsi logo Kelsi logo](https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Kelsi-logo.jpg)
KELSI is an online resource for education professionals in Kent. Provided by Kent County Council.
![KCC logo KCC logo](https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/KCC-logo.png)
Early Help provide a range of services to meet the educational, social and emotional needs of children, young people and families in Kent.
Ready, Steady, Go, Hello programme
In healthcare, we use the word 'transition' to describe the process of preparing, planning and moving from children's to adult services. To support people with a long term condition through transition, we've adopted the Ready, Steady, Go transition programme.
![Ready-steady-go-icon Ready steady go icon](https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ready-steady-go-icon.png)
This programme has been developed by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and you will be directed to their dedicated website.
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Our locations
Abbey Court
7-15 St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9TF
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Darent Valley Hospital
Darenth Wood Rd, Dartford, DA2 8DA
24 hours, every day of the year.
This hospital is run by the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, please visit Darent Valley Hospital for more details.
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Exchange House
Thomas Way, Hersden, Kent CT3 4NH
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Gravesham Community Hospital
Bath Street, Gravesend, DA11 0DG
Urgent treatment centre
We offer a walk-in service. However, we advise you to call NHS 111 before you travel to make sure you are directed to the most appropriate service for you. We may direct you to another service if we are unable to treat you at this centre.
8am to 8pm, every day of the year.
X-ray: 8.30am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.
See our minor injury units page for more details.
Our services at this location:
- Children’s Therapies
- Children’s Hearing Service
- Community Orthopaedics
- Integrated Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy ESP Service
- Radiology
Please note there may be be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Parking
There is a small public car park at Gravesham Community Hospital (18 spaces) and the machine takes cash only.
The hospital can be very busy, the nearest council parking is at St George’s Centre.
Greenbanks
Westfield Road, Garlinge, Margate, Kent, CT9 5PA
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Helpful information for the dental clinic
Dental number: 0300 0136215
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (closed for lunch 1 to 2pm)
Parking: Yes
Closest train/tube station: Margate train station
Bus routes: Bus 32 to Westfield Road, Garlinge.
Taxi rank: No
Is the clinic shown on the map: Yes
Inside the clinic:
Lift: Ground floor service
Bariatric chair: Yes
Inhalation sedation: Yes
IV sedation: Yes
Other speciality treatments: No
Hoist: Yes
Wheelchair access: Yes
Anything else: No
Heathside Centre
Invicta House, Heath Road, Coxheath, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AH
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG
24 hours, every day of the year.
This hospital is run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, please visit Kent and Canterbury Hospital for more details.
Our services at this location:
- Children’s Therapies
- Children’s Assessment Centre
0300 1238112 – Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Children’s Assessment Centre
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Tonbridge Community Hospital
Vauxhall Lane, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 0NE
Community hospital
Please see our Tonbridge Community Hospital page for more details.
Our services at this location
- Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy
- Children’s Therapies
- Community Orthopaedics
- Continence Service
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
July 2024
West Kent
May 2024
Canterbury and Coastal
March 2024
Canterbury
January 2024
Canterbury/Coastal
May 2023
Thanet
May 2023
Canterbury & Coastal
May 2023
North Kent
May 2023
West Kent
April 2023
North Kent
April 2023
Canterbury & Coastal
April 2023
West Kent
March 2023
West Kent
March 2023
West Kent
March 2023
Canterbury
January 2023
Canterbury & Coastal
January 2023
Thanet
December 2022
North Kent
December 2022
Canterbury & Coastal
December 2022
Thanet
June 2022
Canterbury
May 2022
Canterbury
June 2022
Canterbury
April 2022
West Kent
April 2022
Canterbury
March 2022
West Kent
March 2022
Canterbury
March 2022
Canterbury
February 2022
Canterbury
February 2022
Thanet
February 2022
Thanet
February 2022
West Kent