Clinical Specialist OT- Operational Lead

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare provider in Norwich is seeking a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist. This role focuses on managing the paediatric OT team, conducting assessments, and developing individualized treatment plans. The successful candidate will have a degree in Occupational Therapy and specialized experience within a neonatal intensive care setting, ensuring high-quality patient care and operational leadership within the team. Benefits include flexible working hours and support for career development.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Discounted gym memberships

Excellent pension scheme

On-site nursery

Support in career development

Qualifications

• Appointment as a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist requiring degree-level education.
• Familiarity with neonatal intensive care for patient assessments.
• Experience in leading and managing operational teams in healthcare.

Responsibilities

• Manage the paediatric OT team and report to therapy leads.
• Undertake assessments and diagnosis for a range of complex conditions.
• Implement strategies to improve patient and family experiences in the NICU.

Skills

Operational management

Occupational therapy specialization

Patient assessment

Analytical skills

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Clinical Specialist OT – Operational Lead

Day to day operational management of the paediatric OT team, reporting to AHP Therapy Leads.

Upper limb/neuro clinic.

In‑patient and out‑patient paediatric caseload.

Be responsible for training and developing more junior staff.

NICU post.

NICU Responsibilities

To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, using investigative and analytical skills, to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of highly complex conditions.

To work with families and infants to address their occupational needs in the NICU, providing intervention to support preterm babies' neurodevelopment and appropriate occupational therapy input to infants with diagnoses affecting their development. To have highly developed skills in observation, handling and assessment for an extremely fragile patient population.

To develop and implement strategies with the MDT which will improve the experience of all babies and families on the unit.

To formulate individualised treatment plans and specialised programmes of care using clinical reasoning and to utilise a range of treatment skills. This usually involves liaison with a wide range of professionals across the health and social services.

Due to the complexity and nature of the patients' conditions, care management is often longer term and thus requires frequent re‑assessment.

Interview Date

29th January 2026

Key Responsibilities and Leadership Role

• Experienced Occupational Therapist with highly specialist skills responsible for the occupational therapy management of patients presenting to the relevant service/team within the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
• To be the clinical lead occupational therapist responsible for a defined area of work as specified in Appendix 1 (where relevant).
• To be an expert clinical resource for the occupational therapy management of patients presenting to the relevant specialty, both within the Trust and regionally, as required.
• To represent the occupational therapy service as a clinical expert in initiatives both within and outside the Trust as requested by the occupational therapy services manager or occupational therapy service lead.
• To be responsible for an individual caseload including prioritisation, assessment and management of patients with a range of acute and chronic conditions.
• Relying on expert clinical judgement and using highly analytical skills, to determine clinical diagnosis and treatment.
• To maintain records as a legally autonomous practitioner.
• To provide a leadership role clinically, educationally, professionally and managerially.

Employment Requirements and Specifications

Please refer to the job description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post. The job description, which includes a person specification, provides a full outline of responsibilities and requirements for this role. Please use your supporting statement to demonstrate how you meet the person specification.

Visa and Immigration

If you are wishing to apply for this role and would require sponsorship (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer), you can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this post by assessing your circumstances against criteria specified on the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job.

Travel and Parking

Staff parking is available onsite; however, this is limited during core working hours. We have more capacity in the evening and at weekends and can usually provide spaces during those hours. We look to allocate these spaces fairly. Our Travel Office have a set of criteria that staff must meet in order to qualify. If you qualify for a space, you may be placed on a waiting list if we are at full capacity.

The NNUH is served by a number of public buses, and we offer generously discounted monthly passes with First Bus & Konect. The Costessey Park and Ride runs regularly each day from 06:30 (from P&R) to 20:45 (from NNUH) and this service is free for NHS staff. There is a regular Thickthorn P&R service as well which is free. Applications to the Travel Office are required for this service. We also have a discounted service from the airport P&R if you purchase a bundle. Please see Konect website for further details.

The NNUH host multiple bicycle racks and a salary sacrifice scheme. We also benefit from a Beryl station on site.

DBS Check

If this post involves working with children or adults the application form will ask for information regarding previous convictions as you will be required to undertake a Criminal Record and Barring Check known as a DBS check.

NHS Service & Registration

Should you be appointed to the post we will need to establish any previous NHS service via the ESR IAT and we will accept the submission of your application as your agreement to this. You will need to have current UK professional registration where this is a requirement of the role.

Application and Communication

Following candidate feedback and to reduce our dependency on paper, all our communication with you regarding your application will be by email so could you please check your e‑mails (and Spam) regularly.

We value equality in our team and recruit from all sections of the community. We recognise there is a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and if you meet the minimum criteria detailed in the person specification and have a disability, you may wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme by indicating this in the relevant section on your application.

We look forward to receiving your application and if you do not hear within the next four weeks this will usually mean that you have not been short‑listed. However, if you wish to confirm this please contact the person indicated on the advert.

Flexibility and Working Patterns

Whilst every effort will be made to recruit to the post as it is advertised, there may be occasions where we consider alternative working patterns, such as part time working, or contract types, such as secondments, depending on circumstances. Should you wish to work in a different working pattern to that stated in our advertisement, please indicate this in the supporting statement to your application.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream – access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
• Free 24‑hours confidential counselling support
• On‑site Nursery
• On‑site cafes offering staff discounts
• Support in career development
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Our Values and Vision

People‑focused – We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues, to provide a safe and caring experience for all.

Respect – We act with care, compassion and kindness and value others' diverse needs.

Integrity – We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do.

Dedication – We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest professional standards.

Excellence – We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and our hospital.

About NNUH

At NNUH it is our privilege to provide healthcare to over one million people across Norfolk and surrounding areas. Our vision is to 'provide the best care for every patient', and if this inspires you and you share our values, we really want you to join our team. NNUH is currently the busiest trauma unit in the East of England caring for almost 850 trauma patients annually many with complex care needs. We are enhancing our urgent and emergency care specialist services for patients with significant injuries and have an ambition to become a Major Trauma Centre.

Our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world. We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition: ... (benefits listed above).