Job overview
We are excited to offer a newly created Band 7 Paediatric Occupational Therapist post, funded through new investment to enhance outcomes for children and young people with upper limb conditions under orthopaedic care. This is a unique opportunity to shape and develop a specialist upper limb therapy service, working with children who have experienced upper limb injury, undergone orthopaedic surgery, or require intervention related to neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy.
You will play a key role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions, including rehabilitation following orthopaedic procedures, Botox injections, and tendon lengthening or transfer surgeries, supporting children to maximise function, independence, and participation.
You will also be a valued member of the wider specialist OT team, providing clinical support and education to more junior staff and become a source of expertise both locally and nationally.
We are looking for an innovative, inclusive clinician who is passionate about delivering a high-quality patient centred service, someone with advanced clinical and leadership skills, who is confident to challenge current practice and ensure that our patients receive up-to-date evidence-based treatments. In-service training programmes & staff appraisal systems are in operation to support your development to enable you to meet the demands of the post.
Main duties of the job
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is a specialised tertiary centre, taking the most complex referrals from both local and national centres. We host a range of highly specialised services and have links to local universities. You will work within a therapy team with a vast amount of experience with easy access to wider teams at BRHC. The post holder will:
- Provide a highly specialised Occupational Therapy Service including the assessment, treatment and management of children and young people under the care of the upper limb orthopaedics team.
- Be a core member of the upper limb MDT, assisting in the development, planning and progression of service provision
- Act as a source of expertise and demonstrate advanced knowledge and experience in the highly skilled management of children presenting with functional upper limn difficulties due to cerebral palsy, trauma or limb difference
- Provide specialist advice and education to other members of the MDT, presenting at local, national and international meetings.
- Support the wider paediatric occupational therapy team as required
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Person specification
Aptitudes
Essential
- Demonstrates a commitment to own and others’ professional development
- Committed to team working
- Leadership
- Commitment to Trust values
- Trustworthy
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Sound IT skills e.g Word, excel, virtual appointments
- Proven responsibility for own decision making whilst working closely within a team
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
- Ability to work independently as an autonomous practitioner
- Ability to fabricate upper limb splints from a range of materials
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant post graduate experience across a wide range of specialities
- Evidence of working within a multidisciplinary team with clear understanding of each disciplines roles and expectations
- Experience of research, audit and/or service development
- Experience delivering a range of high quality, specialist and innovative Occupational Therapy treatment interventions
- Significant experience of treating a variety of commonly seen orthopaedic and acquired upper limb conditions, e.g. neurology, trauma, limb difference
- Experience of making a variety of splints commonly used in hand therapy
Desirable
- Proven experience in developing and delivering teaching, training and supervision of others
- Previous Band 7experience and managing people
- Experience of dynamic splinting
- Experience of working within paediatrics at senior level (Band 6 or above)
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
- Registration with Healthcare Professions council
- Evidence of recent and relevant post graduate continued professional development equivalent to MSc level
Desirable
- Attendance at courses relevant to speciality – BAHT, Splinting, Cerebral Palsy
- Involvement in relevant special interest group
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 7 Occupational Therapist roles in Bristol
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust in Bristol, South West, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro rata for part time roles. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 12 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (18 Jun 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.