Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy
I trained as a Physiotherapist at Northumbria University and completed subsequent junior physiotherapy experience at Sunderland Royal Hospital. This sparked my initial interest in paediatric physiotherapy where I moved to a senior role working at Northumberland NHS Trust. I have engaged in a clinical lead role drawing upon interests in leadership and service development.
My specialist interest area is in the management of children with complex needs and neuromuscular disorders and I have spent a number of years working in educational settings. I have a passion for integration, child-centred care, postural management of children and developing functional skills, particularly in Cerebral Palsy.
I am a member of the APCP Committee (Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists) and I'm keen to maintain links with clinical practice and Higher Education (HE).
I am currently studying for a professional doctorate based on eliciting the voice of the child in the SEND and EHCP Process.
Teaching and supervision
I have been lecturing at the University of Sunderland for over three years and continue to enjoy enjoying integrating clinical experience into teaching.
I am currently involved in teaching on the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy course with an interest in integrating students' professional skills along the lifespan. I lead modules around professional practice, holistic practice across lifespan, and leadership across levels 4-6.
Research interests for potential research students
I am interested in students' readiness for practice and their experiences of their training. This is particularly surrounding paediatric placements and roles as junior clinicians.
My previous work within the NHS was in a wider multidisciplinary team and the integration of inter-professional learning is another interest of mine to embed into teaching and practice. Similarly, working alongside colleagues such as orthotists has developed my interest in biomechanics in neuro-disability and this may be an area of subsequent research in the future. I currently lead on the Physiotherapy course in developing interprofessional learning experiences across levels 4-6.
Childrens neurological physiotherapy.
Management of children with complex and multiple disabilities in a specialist school settings.
Allied Health in the SEND Process
24-hour postural management for children with complex physical disabilities.
Publications:
Chesterton, P. and Chesterton, J., 2023. The paediatric physiotherapy curricula landscape: A survey of United Kingdom entry‐level programs. Physiotherapy Research International, p.e2012.
Work Presented at the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists Conference. Manchester. October 2023.
Chesterton, P., Chesterton, J. and Alexanders, J., 2023. New graduate physiotherapists’ perceived preparedness for clinical practice. A cross-sectional survey. European Journal of Physiotherapy, 25(1), pp.33-42.