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- Tasks: Lead a team in delivering neonatal developmental therapy for babies with complex challenges.
- Company: Join Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, dedicated to healthier futures for children.
- Benefits: Enjoy excellent annual leave, pension schemes, health programs, and exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on infant care while working in a supportive, compassionate environment.
- Qualifications: Degree plus postgraduate qualification, HCPC registration, and extensive neonatal care experience required.
- Other info: This role involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and opportunities for research and leadership.
The predicted salary is between 46000 - 52000 £ per year.
Principal Therapist (Clinical Lead Neonatal Developmental Therapy)
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Join the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team at Jessops Wing, Sheffield, as Principal Therapist and Clinical Lead for Neonatal Developmental Therapy.
You will:
- Lead a team of PT/OT therapists, diagnosing and delivering preventative therapy for babies with complex neurodevelopmental challenges in the NICU and follow-up care.
- Lead a preventative model of Infant and Family-Centred Developmental Care (IFCDC) on the neonatal unit and in follow-up.
- Collaborate with MDT colleagues and work with parents to support their baby’s care and development.
This post is employed by Sheffield Children’s Hospital and commissioned by Sheffield Teaching Hospital.
Main duties of the job
Reporting into the Head of PT and OT, your responsibilities will include:
- Lead Infant and Family-Centred Developmental Care (IFCDC) education for neonatology staff.
- Assess and treat neonates with complex challenges in inpatient, outpatient, community, and transition services.
- Promote a preventative, individualised, strength-based approach to infant and family-centred care in NICU and follow-up.
- Provide clinical leadership for the neonatal physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams on NICU and in follow-up.
- Offer expertise and recommendations for IFCDC practices across all professions on the NICU.
- Contribute to guidelines, audits, and research projects related to the specialist area.
- Collaborate with the network AHP team to develop neonatal physiotherapy and occupational therapy services following national and regional guidance.
- Work within MDT teams to ensure care and smooth transitions to ongoing teams locally and regionally.
About us
At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are:
- Brilliant Place to work
- Leaders in Children’s Health
We work successfully with local, regional, and national partners to provide physical and mental healthcare across acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are amongst the best in their field, recognised nationally and internationally for their expertise.
As well as having enormous pride in what we do, we are a friendly, welcoming, and motivated NHS Trust who are guided by our CARE values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Our nearly 4000 colleagues live these values, ensuring kind and compassionate care that makes patients and their families feel safe and at home.
Sheffield Children’s provides great benefits to support your wellbeing, with excellent annual leave and pension schemes, health programmes, and exclusive discounts–helping you succeed at work and beyond.
Job responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
- Degree level education plus post-graduate qualification to masters level plus training through short courses and experience as set out below
- HCPC registration
- Advanced training or certification in neonatal neurobehavior and neurological assessment
- Leadership training
- Regular participation in continuing education courses to stay updated with the latest advancements in neonatal care
- Research methodology training
- Member of faculties delivering relevant training packages
Experience
- Extensive experience in neonatal care, particularly in assessing and treating high-risk infants
- Extensive experience in working with highly vulnerable families within a context of trauma
- Proven track record in leading projects and managing services to improve clinical practice and patient care
- Involvement in clinical research, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Experience in providing respiratory physiotherapy care
- Experience in teaching, supervising and mentoring other healthcare professionals
- Involvement in community outreach and partnerships to promote neonatal health and support services
- Presentation at national / international forums.
Knowledge & Skills
- Expertise in conducting neurodevelopmental and behavioural assessments based on highly developed observational skills in infant behaviour and using advanced clinical reasoning
- Skilled in planning and delivering individualised therapeutic interventions, a significant understanding of neonatal neurobehavior and developmental assessment
- Ability to create highly specialized multidisciplinary care packages for infants with complex care needs in the NICU
- Ability to provide individualised, strength-based, and preventative care for infants and their families
- Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams (MDT) and provide consultation
- Capable of leading and mentoring a team, ensuring high standards of care, and supporting reflective practice for professional development
- Skilled in large and small group teaching and mentoring to motivate, inspire and upskill other professional groups working in the neonatal setting
- Knowledge of and commitment to promoting and implementing evidence-based practices in neonatal care
- Skills in managing projects to develop and implement service objectives efficiently
- Ability to develop working relationships with families to support them in providing care techniques, supporting infant development, and health practices
- Experience in maintaining comprehensive records, analysing data, and contributing to clinical research
- Evidence of participation in collaborative research within specialty
Personal Attributes
- Using advanced clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills to address complex cases
- Being adaptable and responsive to the dynamic needs of neonatal care
- Staying updated with the latest practices and continuously improving skills through education and research
- Ability to use a trauma informed approach when communicating with vulnerable families within a neonatal context who will be coping with high levels of stress and potential life altering diagnoses
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
425-25-6981779
Job locations
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Principal Therapist (Clinical Lead Neonatal Developmental Therapy) employer: Sheffield Children's
Contact Detail:
Sheffield Children's Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Therapist (Clinical Lead Neonatal Developmental Therapy)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the latest advancements in neonatal care and Infant and Family-Centred Developmental Care (IFCDC). This will not only enhance your knowledge but also demonstrate your commitment to the role during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust. They can provide valuable insights into the team dynamics and expectations, which can help you tailor your approach when discussing your leadership style.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your experience that showcase your ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and implement evidence-based practices. Highlighting your past successes will make a strong impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on current research and clinical guidelines related to neonatal care. Being able to reference recent studies or initiatives during your interview will show your dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in patient care.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Therapist (Clinical Lead Neonatal Developmental Therapy)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your extensive experience in neonatal care and leadership roles. Emphasize your qualifications, particularly your post-graduate education and any advanced training relevant to neonatal neurobehavior.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for neonatal developmental therapy and how your skills align with the role's responsibilities. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Detail your experience working with high-risk infants and vulnerable families. Provide examples of projects you've led or participated in that improved clinical practice and patient care, showcasing your commitment to evidence-based practices.
Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills: Since this role involves collaboration with parents and MDT colleagues, highlight your strong interpersonal skills. Share instances where you've successfully communicated complex information to families or worked effectively within a team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sheffield Children's
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Therapist, you'll be leading a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership experiences, how you've managed teams in the past, and your approach to mentoring and supporting colleagues.
✨Demonstrate Your Clinical Expertise
Highlight your extensive experience in neonatal care, particularly with high-risk infants. Be ready to provide specific examples of assessments and treatments you've conducted, showcasing your advanced clinical reasoning skills.
✨Emphasize Collaboration
Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is key in this role. Prepare to discuss how you've worked effectively with other healthcare professionals and families to support infant development and care.
✨Discuss Evidence-Based Practices
Be knowledgeable about the latest advancements in neonatal care and be ready to talk about how you implement evidence-based practices in your work. This shows your commitment to continuous improvement and high standards of care.
