Enable job alerts via email!
Team Lead Neonatal Occupational Therapist Fixed Term
NHS
Greater London
On-site
GBP 56,000 - 64,000
Full time
Generate a tailored resume in minutes
Land an interview and earn more. Learn more
Job summary
A prominent healthcare institution in the UK is seeking a Team Lead Neonatal Occupational Therapist for a fixed-term position. The role involves coordinating therapy services across multiple neonatal units, providing clinical leadership, and managing a complex caseload. Ideal candidates will possess specialist skills in neonatal care, excellent communication abilities, and evidence of professional development. The position, based at King's College Hospital, offers a competitive salary and is an opportunity to lead in a growing field of occupational therapy.
Qualifications
- Experience in working with neonatal patients.
- Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
- Specialist knowledge of paediatric neurological conditions.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate Occupational Therapy service provider across units.
- Manage a complex caseload autonomously.
- Provide clinical leadership and support for junior staff.
Skills
Education
The closing date is 08 December 2025.
We have an exciting opportunity for a band 7 neonatal occupational therapist to join the existing neonatal OT and wider MDT teams on a 12 month fixed term maternity cover contract covering the neonatal units.
At Denmark Hill site we have a 36 bedded busy, surgical NICU including gastroenterology, neurosurgical and respiratory specialties as well as extreme prematurity. On the Princess Royal site there is a 14 bedded Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) including general medical, moderate prematurity and respiratory support needs.
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic specialist occupational therapist to join our existing team to provide services to these units, lead projects and support therapists and the MDT.
The OT will join our well-established Neonatal Therapy Team and will be based at Denmark Hill but provide services cross-site.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced OT wishing to work and continue to specialise in this growing area and develop the services as a team.
To assist in coordinating and developing the provision of Occupational Therapy within the Multi-disciplinary therapy team at King's College Hospital, including providing weekly cover to the Local Neonatal Unit at PRUH. The post holder has a key role in ensuring that a high quality and effective OT service is provided within allocated resources. This post will take a lead in developmental care and early intervention on the Neonatal Units at Denmark Hill and the PRUH sites. The Neonatal Units provide specialist medical and surgical services to premature and sick newborn infants requiring intensive care, high dependency care, special care and neurodevelopmental follow-up. The post holder will use highly specialist knowledge and skills to manage their own complex caseload autonomously. This post provides clinical leadership to a Band 6 neonatal OT and will support the Clinical Lead OT in service development. The post holder will be expected to represent neonatal and paediatric Occupational Therapy and the wider neonatal and paediatric therapy team at relevant meetings, and will advise on service developments in line with policy development. The post holder will be expected to take an active lead on the implementation of local clinical governance initiatives, evidence based practice (EBP) and clinical audit, and organisation of the local OT programme, facilities and staffing.
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
To carry a designated clinical caseload including highly complex and specialist neonatal patients and prioritise that work efficiently, taking into account clinical and service priorities using highly specialist knowledge to underpin decisions.
To provide cross-cover to the paediatric wards as required.
To be able to use assessments and outcome measures specific to a neonatal population.
To be able to identify infants at risk of neuro-development difficulties and manage as appropriate.
To use evidence based/client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
- To work with patients/families to identify OT goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist OT assessment tools.
To provide and prescribe individual patient equipment as required, such as appropriate seating, upper limb splints and small aids. To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guidelines.
- To keep up to date with new developments and changing trends in OT relevant to specialist areas.
- To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
- To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the clients social and physical environment.
- To assess the occupational needs of a defined patient group and establish and evaluate appropriate OT interventions.
- To develop new working practices and local guidelines and keep abreast of new techniques in relation to the management of the patients in this specialty particularly in line with any national guidance.
- To contribute to production of clinical guidelines and local policies ensuring evidence-based, implemented and audited.
- To provide guidance and advice to other professions and bodies involved in the provision of neonatal services and to the patients and their carers.
- To be able to engage and motivate patients through effective communication skills.
- To be highly skilled in communicating with babies and children of all ages and abilities including those with learning difficulties and/or challenging behaviour.
- To be able to sensitively communicate with parents and families of babies admitted to the neonatal unit.
- Provide patients, families and other carers with specialist advice or instruction to promote theunderstanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure consistent patient management, including the use of specialist equipment, such as special seating or orthotics.
- To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patients condition and treatment progress. This will include the sharing and receiving of some complex and/or sensitive information.
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximize potential and to improve understanding of the condition which will require the appropriate response to the patients level of communication, facilitating the best possible communication outcome e.g. use of interpreters.
- To effectively build professional relationships and communicate effectively with the wider neonatal team, to support the integration of OT into the neonatal unit.
- To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers, agencies MDT members and other agencies.
To promote awareness of the role of OT within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.
To be integral in discharge planning including liaison with staff in referring hospitals or community staff, to which patients are discharged for further early intervention support, providing timely discharge reports and handover documents.
To take an active part in departmental meetings.
To ensure open lines of communication within own team and guide junior staff in effective communication skills.
To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and provide specialist OT reports relevant to practice setting.
To comply with the RCOT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local policies and procedures.
- To contribute to the induction, training of students and other staff both within the Trust and where appropriate externally.
- To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of OT students on practice placement within the Trust.
- To teach on the OT in-service training programme.
- To teach medical and nursing staff as part of induction programs and in-service training programs.
- To develop, implement and review the occupational therapy service to the neonatal units at DH and PRUH sites.
- To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within your team, leading on delegated projects.
To participate in the delivery of the OT service objectives and development plan.
- To be responsible for advising on resources to carry out the service.
To carry out routine admin duties as required.
To maintain equipment inventory, ensure equipment is ordered appropriately and investigate bids for further equipment.
To be responsible for regular inspection and ensure reporting of defects of equipment used in this area.
To be aware of the cost/benefit implications in the selection of appropriate equipment to be provided for patient long-term use as an individual and by the team.
- To apply specialist skills and knowledge in order to establish professional competence and fitness to practise as a senior OT.
- To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.
To contribute to the formulation of departmental policies and procedures and participate in agreed developments in the occupational therapy service or its organisation.
To initiate and implement changes to working practices related to research findings or service initiatives e.g. following demand and capacity work including evaluation of such changes.
To undertake clinical audit, report on findings and after discussion with the clinical lead, implement changes and re-audit.
To have a sound knowledge of Clinical Governance and have an active role in clinical effectiveness and audit within the department, taking a lead role as required.
- Contribute to the trusts, directorates and teams clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.
To apply national guidelines/legislation relating to health and social care in the NHS service provision.
- To undertake audit projects relevant to OT and/or service area, disseminating findings at local level.
- To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
To lead in journal club presentations and inservice training programmes.
Lead, coach and manage the performance of the band 6 OT in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.
- To deputise for the clinical lead where appropriate.
- Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure band 6 OT has a clear set of objectives and development plans.
- Assist the Clinical Lead to review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.
- Assist Clinical Lead to ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
- To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
- To live and role model the Kings Strong Roots, Global Reach Strategy of:
- B: Brilliant People
- L: Leaders in Research, Innovation & Education
- D: Diversity, Equality & Inclusion at the heart of everything we do
- To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
- To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
- This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
- All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;
- attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
- familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
- reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately
- Degree or other recognised qualification in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Post Graduate training relevant to clinical area
- Evidence of learning including reflective practice and training received
- MSc in relevant subject
- Qualifications specific to neonatal care incl. Bayley III, FINE 1, NBAS, NBO
- Documented evidence of continuing professional development within OT and paediatrics
- Relevant post graduate experience including paediatric early intervention, and acute paediatrics.
- Specialist post graduate experience in neonatology and early intervention.
- Supervision of junior staff and students
- Experience of audit proceduresWide ranging post graduate clinical experience in a variety of settings
- Leadership and first line management experience
- Research Experience
- Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessment and interventions in paediatrics, neonatology and early intervention
- Specialist knowledge and understanding of a broad range of paediatric neurological conditions and difficulties
- Knowledge and understanding of a broad range of paediatric conditions including orthopaedic and neurodisability
- Knowledge of OT models of practice
- Knowledge and application of paediatric, neonatal and neurodevelopmental standardised assessments and outcome measures
- Detailed knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application.
- Knowledge of the relevant legislation and policies governing paediatric services including The Children's Act, Child Safeguarding.
- Application of Health and Safety Risk management policies
- Ability to work autonomously without direct access to clinical supervision and set priorities.
- Ability to represent Occupational Therapy profession in MDT and Operational meetings.
- Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues.
- Supervisory and appraisal skills.
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance and practice.
- Ability to organise and respond to complex information.
- Ability to build effective relationships.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Commitment to child & family- centred approach and non-discriminatory practice.
- Commitment to lifelong learning.
- Flexible approach to working and able to undertake weekend working if required.
- Aware of equal opportunities and diversity issues.
- Able to work at moderate levels of physical activity involving manual handling and therapeutic handling.
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.
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum, including high cost allowance
Fixed term
12 months
Full-time
213-Division-A-7627399-A
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
