Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist- Neonatology & Neurodevelopment

Job summary
Transform Neonatal Care Across the South West of England

We are seeking an innovative, experienced, and highly motivated Occupational Therapist to join our neonatal team in this unique leadership role. This is an exciting opportunity to combine expert clinical leadership within a tertiary neonatal service with strategic regional leadership across the South West Neonatal Network.

The post is structured as 3 days Clinical Lead, 2 days Neonatal Network Occupational Therapy Lead.

This role offers the opportunity to shape and influence neonatal occupational therapy practice at both local and regional levels, ensuring that babies and families receive high-quality, evidence-based developmental care and occupational therapy support throughout their neonatal journey.

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

The post may be offered for full or part time hours, to be discussed at interview.

Main duties of the job
Clinical Lead

• 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.

Network

• Provide strategic occupational therapy leadership across the South West Neonatal Network.
• Build professional networks and communities of practice across the region.
• Support workforce development, education and competency frameworks.
• Facilitate collaborative quality improvement initiatives and research opportunities.
• Represent occupational therapy within regional and national neonatal forums.
• Promote equitable access to neonatal occupational therapy services across the network.

About us
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.

Details
Date posted: 10 September 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&C5588-LH
Job locations: Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8BJ
United Kingdom

Job description
Job 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

• 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
• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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).

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 cumumulatively 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).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).