Job Description

An exciting one-year secondment / fixed term maternity leave cover opportunity has arisen for a highly specialist and innovative, senior Occupational Therapist in our tertiary Trevor Mann Neonatal Baby Unit, which offers medical and surgical care to infants born prematurely or who are unwell across the region. This rewarding role will provide specialist occupational therapy input within the unit's ITU, HDU and SCBU wards.



We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and experienced OT, who is passionate about working alongside families and colleagues to optimize the best possible outcomes for infants born sick or premature. The ideal candidate would have experience of working in a neonatal unit setting although those with recent developmental paediatric experience are encouraged to apply.



You will work with infants and families within a family integrated care model and be able to provide effective interventions and approaches within this framework.



You must have a comprehensive understanding and experience of child development and paediatric interventions and be familiar with the unique development of the preterm infant. You would ideally be competent in carrying out neurodevelopmental inpatient and follow up assessments relevant to the neonatal population.



The Occupational Therapist is an integral member of the unit's multi-disciplinary team and you will be expected to work closely within this team to facilitate effective care of infants and families. You will liaise with other external services to provide a smooth transition of care.



Education for all unit staff around Family Integrated care (FICare) and developmental care is a key component of this role . You will be expected to autonomously manage your own caseload providing a high standard of occupational therapy to infants and families with complex presentations. You will need to have excellent clinical and communication skills and be able to lead, motivate and support others.



There will be opportunities to contribute to service development whilst assisting in the management of the Neonatal Therapies Service. There are also opportunities to undertake evidence-based quality improvement projects to support service development.



At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.



We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.



As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.



We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Candidate Information Pack:

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/



Attached you will find the job description and person specification which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role.



We highly recommend you view this document and use it when completing the application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.



This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.