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Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Occupational Therapist to contribute to the development and delivery of the Neonatal Occupational Therapy Service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Neonatal Occupational Therapy promotes infant neurodevelopment within the neonatal unit by empowering parents and caregivers to provide developmentally supportive care. The role involves supporting adaptations to the infant’s environment to optimise sensory experiences that are critical for brain development, with the aim of improving outcomes for babies and their families.
The Level 3 Neonatal Unit is divided into three areas:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – providing specialist intensive care and respiratory support for babies requiring the highest level of medical intervention.
- High Dependency Unit (HDU) – caring for babies who require ongoing monitoring and treatment but are stable enough to step down from intensive care.
- Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) – supporting babies who require additional care, such as tube feeding, oxygen therapy, or phototherapy, but who no longer require intensive or high-dependency care.
You will work closely with Allied Health Professional colleagues in Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics, and Psychology, alongside the wider multidisciplinary team, to deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based neonatal service.
Main duties of the job
- Take a lead role as an autonomous practitioner in the advanced assessment and treatment of acutely ill neonatal patients with cardiac, respiratory, orthopaedic, neurological, and neurodevelopmental conditions, including those with complex and chronic presentations.
- Provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions for infants and their families, delivering high-quality, family-centred care.
- Demonstrate and promote the value of Occupational Therapy within neonatal services, helping to establish and strengthen the role of OT as a key profession within the multidisciplinary team.
- Supervise, support, and educate students, junior staff, and members of the wider neonatal multidisciplinary team.
- Lead and contribute to evidence-based projects, quality improvement initiatives, research, and audit activities, making recommendations to inform and improve clinical practice.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the role and the responsibilities involved.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience commensurate with a Senior Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist role
- Minimum 2 years clinical experience in early years paediatrics
- Evidence of continuing professional development and post registration education and training
- Ability to supervise junior staff and students
- Experience in collecting data, quality improvement and evaluating audit
Desirable
- Experience of working on a neonatal unit
- Experience of working with babies and families
- Experience of research
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly and adapt approaches in response to clinical needs and priorities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to manage conflict positively
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Masters level or equivalent training in specialist area or evidence of significant practical experience, in specialist area
Desirable
- Completion of HEE modules
- Post graduate training/courses specific to neonatal care: NBO/NBAS, FINE I/II, Sensory beginnings
Skills/Knowledge/Ability
Essential
- Specialist knowledge, application and analysis of standardised & non- standardised assessment tools
- Experience of working within multi-disciplinary team
- Demonstrate clinical leadership skills and excellent team building skills
- Demonstrate ability to motivate and manage teams through change positively
- Ability to work autonomously, acting decisively on behalf of self and others
Desirable
- Knowledge and application of FICARE
- Knowledge of developmental care approach and interventions
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Senior Specialist Neonatal Occupational Therapist with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £58,133 - £65,261 per annum inc HCA pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 29 Jun 2026.
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