Job summary
This is an exciting role for a Band 7 Occupational Therapist to help develop and deliver the Neonatal Occupational Therapy Service at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
Neonatal OT promotes infant neurodevelopment on the neonatal unit by empowering parents/caregivers to provide developmentally supportive care, considering adaptations tothe environment to promote an optimal sensory experience for brain development with the aim to support improved outcomes babies and families.
The level 3 NICU is one unit thatis divided into three areas:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)- provides support for babies with breathing problems and other specialist treatment needs
- High Dependency Unit (HDU)- provides support for babies who require less intensive care than babies in NICU, but are still not stable enough for care in the SCBU
- Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) - provides support for babies who need tube feeding, additional oxygen support and light therapy (phototherapy).
You will be working closely with our AHP colleagues in Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Dietetics and Psychology, as well as the wider MDT, to deliver a comprehensive Neonatal service.
Main duties of the job
To take a lead role, as an autonomous practitioner, in the advanced assessment and treatment of acutely ill neonatal patients, with cardiac, respiratory, orthopaedic, neurology, and neuro-developmental problems who may have complex multi-pathology/ chronic presentation.
- Provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions to infants and their families.
- Able to demonstrate the value of occupational therapy for neonates, helping to establish OT as a key profession within the MDT.
- Supervise and teach students, and the wider neonatal multi-disciplinary team.
- Undertake evidence-based projects, including recommendations for change in practice and may participate in departmental research and audit.
- Deputise for Occupational Therapy team leaders in operational management.
About us
This post sits within the Paediatric Occupational Therapy service at Evelina London Children's Hospital. You will contribute to service development alongside your colleagues in the neonatal service as well as the Paediatric OT team. You will be supervised by the Neonatal Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist and professionally managed by the Trust Head OT.
Evelina London is part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. We are the second largest provider of children's services in London. Our vision is to be the world leading centre of life changing care for children, young people and their families.
We care for more than 104,000 children and young people each year at our hospital and community sites. Our neonatal unit cares for around 800 babies a year, and has some of the best survival rates in the UK. The neonatal unit provides 24-hour specialist care for premature and sick infants who are born in South East London and southern England. In addition to medical care for problems such as extreme prematurity, breathing difficulties and infection, they care for babies with neonatal surgical problems, heart conditions, brain, eye, airway, kidney and metabolic problems. There are 20 intensive care cots, 12 high dependency care cots and 14 special care cots.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the roles and responsibilities of the post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the roles and responsibilities of the post.
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Masters level or equivalent training in specialist area or evidence of significant practical experience, in specialist area
Desirable
- Completion of HEE modules
- Completed further study neonates: NBO/NBAS, FINE I/II, Sensory beginnings
Experience
Essential
- Experience commensurate with a Senior Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist role
- Minimum 2 years clinical experience in neonates/early years paediatrics
- Evidence of continuing professional development and post registration education and training
- Ability to supervise junior staff and students
- Experience in collecting data, quality improvement and evaluating audit
Desirable
- Experience of working on a neonatal unit
- Experience of working with babies and families
- Experience of research
Skills/Knowledge/Ability
Essential
- Specialist knowledge, application and analysis of standardised & non- standardised assessment tools
- Experience of working within multi-disciplinary team
- Demonstrate clinical leadership skills and excellent team building skills
- Demonstrate ability to motivate and manage teams through change positively
- Ability to work autonomously, acting decisively on behalf of self and others
Desirable
- Knowledge and application of FICARE
- Knowledge of developmental care approach and interventions
- Experience of working within or across a clinical network
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly and adapt approaches in response to clinical needs and priorities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to manage conflict positively
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Masters level or equivalent training in specialist area or evidence of significant practical experience, in specialist area
Desirable
- Completion of HEE modules
- Completed further study neonates: NBO/NBAS, FINE I/II, Sensory beginnings
Experience
Essential
- Experience commensurate with a Senior Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist role
- Minimum 2 years clinical experience in neonates/early years paediatrics
- Evidence of continuing professional development and post registration education and training
- Ability to supervise junior staff and students
- Experience in collecting data, quality improvement and evaluating audit
Desirable
- Experience of working on a neonatal unit
- Experience of working with babies and families
- Experience of research
Skills/Knowledge/Ability
Essential
- Specialist knowledge, application and analysis of standardised & non- standardised assessment tools
- Experience of working within multi-disciplinary team
- Demonstrate clinical leadership skills and excellent team building skills
- Demonstrate ability to motivate and manage teams through change positively
- Ability to work autonomously, acting decisively on behalf of self and others
Desirable
- Knowledge and application of FICARE
- Knowledge of developmental care approach and interventions
- Experience of working within or across a clinical network
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly and adapt approaches in response to clinical needs and priorities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to manage conflict positively
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
