Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist - Neonates
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time, Flexible working
- Posted
- 08/09/2026
- Closes
- 22/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly specialist Band 7 Physiotherapist to join an expanding Neonatal Allied Health Professional Team at Kettering General Hospital. The role involves delivering specialist assessment, intervention, and support for infants and families within the Neonatal Unit, contributing to service development and quality improvement. You will work within a supportive multidisciplinary team, shaping the future direction of the Neonatal Physiotherapy service. The hospital serves a population of approximately 350,000 and has a busy Level 2 Local Neonatal Unit.
Essential criteria
- Current HCPC registration
- BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degree
- Evidence of relevant postgraduate qualifications or CPD based activities in the field of neurodevelopment including completion of the online HEE Neonatal Physiotherapy Foundation Modules
- IT literacy
- Member of CSP
- Member of specialist interest group i.e APCP or other Paediatric SIG
- Experience of using local IT systems - PACS, Clinical Whiteboard
- Evidence of continuous professional development to Masters level or equivalent level of education, training or experience
- Knowledge and Experience
- Extensive post qualification clinical experience in Paediatric Physiotherapy, within a range of specialisms
- Significant experience at Band 6 level
- Experience of working on an acute Paediatric ward
- Evidence of clinical experience of responsibility for a caseload of inpatients and outpatients with neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
- Extensive theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and applied treatment techniques in relation to neurological impairment and physiotherapy
- Basic theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology for musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions and their management
- Up to date knowledge of national and local guidelines, policies and procedures etc for clinical speciality
- Experience of audit and service evaluation/service development projects
- Experience of providing advice, training and support in relation to the clinical specialism to other i.e. therapy staff, other health professionals, students etc.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with Neonates in NICU and SCBU
- Completed research or contributed to research based projects
- Highly specialised and effective assessment and clinical reasoning skills, prioritising problems, assessing associated risks and taking appropriate action within the specialist area of practice
- Highly specialised handling and observation skills for the assessment of neonatal patients
- Ability to formulate a specialised individual or specialist programmes/package of care for patients with neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions
- Ability to analyse information from a range of sources e.g. x rays, CT and MRI
- Mentor/preceptor/clinical supervisor to all grades of staff and students
- Effective manager of resources and promotes safe use of equipment. Advises on and orders supplies in relation to the clinical specialism
- The ability to prioritise effectively and assist others to do likewise
- Data collection and interpretation around service demands and areas of need and presentation of findings as required to Trust and wider health community
- Possesses the mental effort required for frequent concentration required in routine and in unpredictable work situations
- Possess the physical effort required to be able to perform the full range of physiotherapy duties
- Training and experience of operational management of staff
- Skills in use of a range of standardised tools relevant to neonatal care (Prechtl, Bayley)
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Passionate and committed to bringing our Dedicated to excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
- Accurately maintains patient/staff records
- Communicates highly complex condition related, sensitive information to patients/relatives an carers across the wider healthcare community
- Develop relationships between Acute Trust and Community colleagues across the region that aids the strategic development of Neurological services for patients
- Skills in negotiation, persuasion, motivation, reassurance, facilitation and influencing
- Understands and overcomes barriers to communication and acceptance
- Manages own specialist workload within the clinical area, prioritising as necessary
- Ability to work to deadlines as required
- Provides clinical supervision and support and guidance to other staff in clinical specialism
- Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
- Incorporates Trust valued and behaviour into professional practice
- Works within professional codes of practice
- Follows national, Trust policies and procedures and ensure other members of staff do likewise
- Appropriately uses empathy and compassion when dealing with distressing and emotional circumstances relating to patients, relatives and staff
- Challenges discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all
- Physical skills and ability to ensure accuracy and dexterity required for clinical procedures
- Standard keyboard skills
- Car driver
- Able to work in an environment where there is exposure to unpleasant working conditions and hazards that are unavoidable
- To be an independent decision-making practitioner
- Ability to undertake intense concentration when undertaking detailed patient assessments
- Education, Training and Qualifications
- Current HCPC registration
- BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degree
- Evidence of relevant postgraduate qualifications or CPD based activities in the field of neurodevelopment including completion of the online HEE Neonatal Physiotherapy Foundation Modules
- IT literacy
- Member of CSP
- Member of specialist interest group i.e APCP or other Paediatric SIG
- Experience of using local IT systems - PACS, Clinical Whiteboard
- Evidence of continuous professional development to Masters level or equivalent level of education, training or experience
- Knowledge and Experience
- Extensive post qualification clinic
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 0d ago · Closes in 15d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist - Neonates
The closing date is 22 September 2026
Job summary
Serving a population of approximately 350,000 from Kettering and its surrounding area, Kettering General Hospital is a busy district hospital with a level 2 Local Neonatal Unit, that typically admits around 450 babies per year. Our Neonatal service provides intensive, high-dependency and special care for 20 babies (from 27 weeks gestation) as part of the East Midlands Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (EMNON). Admissions to the unit comprise both Kettering-born babies and those born in other hospitals within EMNODN and referred to us for short-term intensive and high-dependency care.
Are you an ambitious and passionate Physiotherapist looking to make a lasting difference by supporting babies and families in the NICU?
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly specialist Band 7 Physiotherapist to join our expanding Neonatal Allied Health Professional Team. This newly created permanent 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.
Be part of an expanding Neonatal Physiotherapy service helping to define its future direction. Work within a supportive multidisciplinary neonatal
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