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Job summary

Main area
Neonatal Occupational Therapy
Grade
Band 8a
Contract
Permanent: Full or part time considered
Hours
Part time - 15 hours per week
Job ref
387-W&C5588-LH-A
Employer
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
Town
Bristol
Salary
£57,528 - £64,750 per annum, pro rata for part time roles
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust logo

Regional Lead Neonatal Occupational Therapist

Band 8a

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

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Job overview

The South West Neonatal Network has the exciting opportunity to recruit a Regional Lead Neonatal Occupational Therapist. If you are passionate about neonatal care and the role that Occupational Therapists and wider Allied Health Professionals play in supporting neonatal families, this opportunity is for you.

The Network brings professionals together across the region to ensure that outcome and quality standards are improved within neonatal care, while encouraging continuity and consistency of access to neonatal services. The successful candidate will be a collaborative and innovative professional, with a drive to support development of the neonatal AHP workforce.

Main duties of the job

To work as a regional member of the South West Neonatal Network with a primary focus of supporting, developing and succession planning the Neonatal Occupational Therapy (OT) workforce.

To facilitate, in line with the recommendations of the National Neonatal Critical Care Review (NCCR) and the NHS Long Term Plan (2019), the delivery of a service to all neonatal units within the network that supports equitable access to and provision of, highly complex, discipline specific, OT knowledge and skills to neonatal infants and their families.

This is a regional post predominantly working from home or from a base office in Bristol. Some travel will be required across the South West region, with very occasional travel nationally. The Network is hosted by BFT.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.  

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. 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.  

 Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. 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. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential criteria
  • 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 criteria
  • Management / Leadership Training
  • Registration with RCOT
  • Master’s degree or ability/commitment to undertake a health care related higher degree (MA/MSc) and complete within 4-5 years

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria
  • 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
  • Experience of guideline / policy writing
  • Knowledge of key national issues/agendas relevant to the neonatal field
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of hospital discharge planning and caseload prioritisation
  • Experience of prescribing specialised paediatric equipment.
  • Experience of regional working
  • Experience of leading and implementing service developments, including developing business cases and large scale change management

Skills & Abilities

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

Aptitudes

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

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDDisability Confident - two yearsVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerNHS Pastoral CareStep into healthMenopause Workplace PledgeDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldPride In Veterans

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lisa Mills
Job title
Paediatric Occupational Therapy Professional Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0117 3428429
Additional information

Amy Warren

Clinical Lead Physiotherapist for Neonatology

[email protected]

 

Mary Leighton 

Network Manager 

[email protected]

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