University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist- Neonatology & Neurodevelopment

The closing date is 08 April 2026

Job summary

A rare, new and exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist to join our team . The post will provide expert Occupational Therapy to the Neonatal Service at St Michaels' Hospital and leadership to the team at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

As part of this forward thinking and innovative team this post in neonatology will support staff, parents & babies on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael's Hospital and be instrumental in the continued development of this new service. You will link closely with the South West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network with opportunities for education & learning and be an instrumental stakeholder for any service development within the Bristol Group model

The postholder will be a valued member of the specialist OT team, working collaboratively with the current clinical lead and paediatric therapy lead. We are looking for an innovative, inclusive clinical leader who is passionate about delivering a high-quality patient centred service.

Main duties of the job

  • To lead a highly specialised Occupational Therapy service and autonomously carry a clinical caseload, including highly complex specialist neonatal and paediatric patients admitted to the neonatal unit and BRHC.
  • To provide direct line management and operational support to a team of qualified and non qualified staff
  • To be a core member of the neonatal MDT, assisting in the development, planning and progression of service provision in accordance with best evidence and local and national targets
  • To demonstrate advanced knowledge of foetal new-born development, developmental disabilities and promotion of the roles of Occupational Therapy in neonatal services.
  • To act as a source of expertise and demonstrate advanced knowledge and experience in the highly skilled management of high risk infants requiring neonatal care.
  • Identify, co-ordinate and undertake continual professional development.

About us

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Details

Date posted

25 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum, pro rata for part time roles

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

387-W&C3898-NG

Job locations

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Upper Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS2 8BJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
  • Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
  • Evidence of relevant post-graduate CPD equivalent to at least MSc level
  • Relevant Neonatal Training courses e.g. NBAS, NBO, FINE, Infant Bobath, Sensory Beginnings, General Movement, EI Smart, Bayley IV, miniAHA

Desirable

  • Management / Leadership Training
  • Registration with RCOT

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Significant post graduate experience across a wide range of specialities
  • Experience working within paediatrics at a senior level (Band7 or above) including neonatal care, neurodevelopment or neurosciences
  • Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessment and interventions in neonatal units
  • Evidence working within a multidisciplinary team with clear understanding of roles and expectations
  • Proven experience of research, audit and/or service development
  • Proven experience in developing and delivering teaching, training and supervision of others
  • Experience managing individuals and managing team performance

Desirable

  • Experience of hospital discharge planning and caseload prioritisation
  • Experience of prescribing specialised paediatric equipment.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent organisational and time management skills
  • Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
  • Excellent clinical leadership skills
  • Sound IT skills
  • Ability to work independently as an autonomous practitioner
  • Proven responsibility for own decision making whilst working closely within a team
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Desirable

  • Ability to fabricate upper limb splints from a range of materials

Aptitudes

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Good team player
  • Leadership
  • Honest
  • Trustworthy
  • Hardworking
Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
  • Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
  • Evidence of relevant post-graduate CPD equivalent to at least MSc level
  • Relevant Neonatal Training courses e.g. NBAS, NBO, FINE, Infant Bobath, Sensory Beginnings, General Movement, EI Smart, Bayley IV, miniAHA

Desirable

  • Management / Leadership Training
  • Registration with RCOT

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Significant post graduate experience across a wide range of specialities
  • Experience working within paediatrics at a senior level (Band7 or above) including neonatal care, neurodevelopment or neurosciences
  • Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessment and interventions in neonatal units
  • Evidence working within a multidisciplinary team with clear understanding of roles and expectations
  • Proven experience of research, audit and/or service development
  • Proven experience in developing and delivering teaching, training and supervision of others
  • Experience managing individuals and managing team performance

Desirable

  • Experience of hospital discharge planning and caseload prioritisation
  • Experience of prescribing specialised paediatric equipment.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent organisational and time management skills
  • Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
  • Excellent clinical leadership skills
  • Sound IT skills
  • Ability to work independently as an autonomous practitioner
  • Proven responsibility for own decision making whilst working closely within a team
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Desirable

  • Ability to fabricate upper limb splints from a range of materials

Aptitudes

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Good team player
  • Leadership
  • Honest
  • Trustworthy
  • Hardworking

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Address

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Upper Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS2 8BJ


Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Address

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Upper Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS2 8BJ


Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Paediatric Occupational Therapy Professional Lead

Lisa Mills

lisa.mills@uhbw.nhs.uk

01173428429

Details

Date posted

25 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum, pro rata for part time roles

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

387-W&C3898-NG

Job locations

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Upper Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS2 8BJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)'s privacy notice (opens in a new tab)