Neonatal Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in Chertsey inChertsey PUBLISHED THU 12 JUN 2025 Jump to job information section

Due to team expansion, we have a post available for a Neonatal Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist to work in our Level 3 Neonatal Care Unit.

We are a friendly, dynamic and supportive unit where the successful candidate will have the privilege of providing highly specialist care for premature and sick babies from the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Network as well as supporting their families and the MDT with advice and management support.

The post holder will help to develop, co-ordinate, deliver and evaluate the occupational service provided to the Neonatal and transitional care service. Flexible and part time requests will be considered.

Please contact Gemma Frisby, Clinical Lead for Children's Physiotherapy if you have any questions via email

To promote infant neurodevelopment on the neonatal unit by empowering parents/caregivers and working in collaboration with staff to provide developmentally supportive care, considering adaptations tothe environment and caregiving to promote an optimal sensory experience for brain development.

To support the parent-infant relationship, by providing education and support to parents in order to understand and respond to their babies' behavioural cues and signs of stress, to co-regulate their body systems andparticipate in co-occupations such as sleeping, feeding, and early interaction.

To provide specialist assessment and early intervention for sensory, motor, attention, regulation and play development to support the infant to reach their development potential

To use highly specialist skills to manage their own complex caseload, working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team.

To support timely discharge and provide anticipatory guidance to ease transition to home. Teaching and training alongside the AHP team to the wider unit forms part of this post.

To develop and work in collaboration with the MDT team to deliver neonatal follow up clinics.

To provide specialist neonatal OT advice to the wider therapy, neonatal and paediatric teams of contact to provide occupational therapy advice to the wider trust.

Please read the job description and personal specification for a details list

About us

To carry a designated neonatal clinical caseload including highly complex and diverse patient groups and prioritise that work efficiently, taking into account clinical and service priorities using specialist knowledge to underpin decisions.

Apply an enhanced level of understanding of the effect of preterm birth, perinatal problems and congenital disabilities on the development and occupations of infants and their families and make appropriate recommendations for intervention and support.

Support discharge planning and transitions to paediatric, outpatient and community services for caseload, providing relevant information to unit discharge team and internal paediatric and community teams.

Taking the lead role in MDT ward rounds in turn with other members of the team promoting Family Integrated and Developmental Care principles to facilitate parental involvement.

To be responsible for setting and monitoring of standards, policies and evidence based guidelines for clinical practice for the neonatal occupational therapy service and evaluate outcomes.

To be able to manage potentially stressful and upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.

To supervise junior, senior staff, therapy assistants, students and apprentices where appropriate

To communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in a patients care, both those from within the organisation and those outside to ensure efficient multidisciplinary working.

In addition to this, familiarise yourself with the full job description document attached to the advert.