University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) both have a level 2 Local Neonatal Unit, Gosset ward (LNU) at Northampton General Hospital and Local neonatal Unit at Kettering General Hospital. The Local neonatal Units provides intensive, high-dependency and special care from 27 weeks gestation, as part of the East Midlands Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (EMNON).
Admissions to the unit comprise both Northampton and Kettering -born babies and those born in other hospitals within EMNODN and referred for short-term intensive and high-dependency care.
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly specialist Occupational Therapist to join our expanding Neonatal Allied Health Professional Team. This newly created cross site role offers the chance to play a key part in shaping and developing an innovative service that supports babies and their families during some of the most critical stages of early development.
As part of a significant investment in the service, you will work alongside, Dieticians, psychologist, Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy colleagues at UHN, and will be supported by a friendly, knowledgeable and highly collaborative neonatal multidisciplinary team.
Be part of developing a new neonatal OT service, helping to define its future direction.
Benefit from flexible working arrangements, which will be considered for the successful candidate.
To carry a designated clinical caseload including highly complex and diverse patient groups and prioritise that work efficiently,
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
Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of individualised infant and family-centre developmental care, using evidence-based practice to support clinical outcomes as appropriate,
Detailed occupation-based, neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioural observations of infants using specialist skills to assess physiological, motor, sensory, state regulation and cognitive behaviours
Use advanced clinical assessments including Prechtl General Movements Assessment, Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS), Newborn Individualised Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP).
Provide specialist support for colleagues and the families of babies in managing expectations around potential recovery,
Support discharge planning and transitions to paediatric, outpatient and community services for caseload
To advise nursing staff on individualised neonatal programmes, including but not exclusive to: positioning, developmental activities, stretching exercises, equipment use, self-soothing strategies, environmental management, etc.
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.
We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.
Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
For a full list of all roles and responsibilities please refer to the attached job description and person specification.
