Specialist Physiotherapist - NICU

Transformation Unit; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Luton is seeking an experienced Physiotherapist to join the Neonatal Therapy Team. The role covers Level 1 and Level 3 Neonatal Units across two hospital sites, providing specialist assessment, intervention and family-centred care.

The post is Band 7 and based in Luton/Bedford. You will work with a multidisciplinary team to deliver follow-up care to infants up to two years, support developmental and respiratory/orthopaedic needs, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy.
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent postgraduate courses/in-service trainings relevant to the clinical field.
• Post graduate qualifications/evidence of post graduate learning relevant to the clinical field.
• Bayley scales of infant and toddler development assessment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist neonatal physiotherapy support within the Family Integrated Care model to infants and families on the neonatal units at Bedfordshire Hospitals Neonatal Services on both Luton and Bedford sites.
• Manage a full caseload within NICU and neonatal follow up until 2 years old, providing advanced assessment and interventions.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to provide evidence-based care and support for families and carers.
• Assist in service development, teaching, clinical supervision and neurodevelopmental follow‑up care for infants and families from discharge to two years of age.

Education

Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy

Postgraduate qualifications in neonatal physiotherapy

CPD portfolio

Bayley scales of infant and toddler development assessment

Tools

Bayley scales

Neonatal assessment tools

Job description

Employer Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Luton and Dunstable Hospital Town Luton Salary £49,387 - £56,515 pa pro-rata Salary period Yearly Closing 24/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 08/12/2026

Specialist Physiotherapist - NICU

NHS AfC: Band 7

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic Physiotherapist to join the Neonatal Therapy Team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The team provides specialist neonatal therapy services across a Level 1 and Level 3 Neonatal Unit over two hospital sites and a neonatal follow-up clinic. Luton Hospital’s purpose-built neonatal unit offers modern facilities and equipment, providing an excellent environment for babies, families and staff.

Working alongside two neonatal physiotherapists and a neonatal occupational therapist, you will provide specialist assessment, intervention and developmental support for high-risk infants and their families. This includes early intervention, developmental and family‑centred care, as well as support for respiratory and orthopaedic needs where required.

Working with the multidisciplinary team, you will support service development, teaching, clinical supervision and neurodevelopmental follow‑up care for infants and families from discharge to two years of age.

We are looking for a Physiotherapist with:

• Significant post-registration paediatric experience (essential)
• Experience in acute paediatric and neonatal settings
• Excellent communication and MDT working skills
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Neonatal physiotherapy experience (desirable)

A development post may be considered for candidates who demonstrate the potential and commitment to develop into the role.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of specialist neonatal physiotherapy support within the model of Family Integrated Care to infants and families on the neonatal units at Bedfordshire Hospitals Neonatal Services on both Luton and Bedford site
• The role will use highly specialist skills to manage their own complex caseload, working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team. They will be responsible for providing advanced neonatal physiotherapy assessment, advice and interventions with babies who are most at risk of developmental issues in the future and to support the neonatal unit with promoting and delivering family integrated developmental care.
• The post holder will work as an integral member of the neonatal multidisciplinary team, working closely alongside families, Neonatal Consultants and Nursing Teams, Infant Feeding team, AHP and Psychology Team (local and ODN) to provide evidence based care.
• The post holder will manage a full caseload within NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and neonatal follow up until 2 years old, ensuring each child receives the highest standard of care possible within resource limitations.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills. To interpret clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of highly complex conditions. These include children with neurological, orthopaedic and respiratory problems.

To have highly developed skills in the observation, handling and assessment skills for an extremely fragile patient population and to interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts, including perinatal and maternal history to assist in the formulation of accurate diagnoses and prognoses in a wide range of highly complex conditions.

To formulate individualised management and treatment plans recommending the best course of intervention. To formulate a specialised programme of care using clinical reasoning and to utilise a wide 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 patient’s conditions, care management is often longer term and thus requires frequent re‑assessment.

To assist with reviewing, organising and participate in the neurodevelopmental follow up clinic with Neonatal consultants to assess children at 9 months and 2 years.

To assist with reviewing, organising and participate in the physiotherapy follow up outpatient clinics

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent postgraduate courses/in-service trainings relevant to the clinical field.
• Post graduate qualifications/evidence of post graduate learning relevant to the clinical field
• Bayley scales of infant and toddler development assessment.
• Neonatal Assessment course eg Prechtl assessment of general movements, Lacey assessment of preterm infant (LAPI)

Communication Skills

• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication
• Ability to disseminate complex information to others
• Ability to pass on skills/ knowledge to others within formal and informal environments
• Be able to communicate where there may be barriers to understanding
• Experience of video assessments and Microsoft teams meetings.

Experience

• Substantive post graduate experience including work at Specialist level and paediatrics
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Experience of follow up of preterm and high risk babies and/or working on a neonatal unit
• Experience working within NHS
• Experience at Band 6 level within an acute trust
• Demonstrable ability to manage highly complex patients independently
• Experience of performance management and staff appraisalExperience of clinical audit and service evaluationExperience of initiating, managing and evaluating changeExperience at Band 7 levelDevelopment of protocols and guidelinesExperience of neonatal assessment tools

  Knowledge

  • Specialist knowledge of physiotherapy related to working within the neonatal intensive care environment and neonatal neurodevelopmental follow up.
  • Ability to relate theory to practice
  • Ability to pass on skills/ knowledge to others within formal and informal environments
  • Specialist knowledge of broad range of illnesses, injuries and conditions relevant to the speciality
  • Specialist knowledge of a broad range of physiotherapy assessment and treatment techniques relating to the speciality.
  • Up to date knowledge of relevant national clinical guidelines, recommendations, protocols or publications relevant to the speciality
  • Awareness of the wider local and national agenda around neonatal physiotherapy and NHS developments

  Skills

  • Highly specialised observation and treatment skills relevant to the assessment of neonates and infants developmental needs
  • Excellent time management, delegation and prioritisation skills
  • Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure
  • Ability to adapt to change
  • Ability to travel across site
  • Ability to work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team
  • Committed to personal and team development
  • Ability to demonstrate personal and professional integrity and present a profession image of the team/profession
  • Data collection & analysis skills

  It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

  You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

  All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

  Employer certification / accreditation badges

  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.

  Name Nicola Shaw Job title B8a Paediatric Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01582 718266