Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Band 6 Occupational Therapist to develop their skills in paediatric neurosciences in our team based at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Occupational Therapist to join our Neurosciences team working with children and young people with a range of neurological conditions such as brain and spinal injuries at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is a specialised tertiary centre, taking the most complex referrals from both local and national centres. We are the paediatric major trauma centre for the South West of England and host a range of specialised services. You will work within a therapy team with a vast amount of experience with access to regular clinical supervision and a range of training opportunities. You must be an effective team player with excellent communication and organisational skills.

Main duties of the job
Band 6 Occupational Therapist are experienced clinicians having completed core rotations as a Band 5. This post allows an experienced OT with existing broad postgraduate experience to further develop their expertise and clinical skills in the area of paediatric neurosciences.

The postholder will provide a comprehensive inpatient and out-patient Occupational Therapy service consisting of assessment, intervention and discharge planning for a caseload of paediatric patients under the care of neurosciences teams:

• Provide specialist Occupational Therapy input to children admitted to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, thereby ensuring that they achieve maximum rehabilitation potential and are discharged in a safe and timely fashion
• Run/ assist in running paediatric speciality clinics and therapy groups.
• Co-ordinate with local and regional occupational therapy teams to facilitate safe discharge, obtain equipment and to ensure appropriate follow-up is in place after discharge.
• Provide specialist advice to other members of the MDT, providing clinical education and training to others, deputising for senior team members as required.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team approach acting as an autonomous practitioner.
• Provide supervision and training to Band 5 Occupational Therapists, Therapy assistants and Students.
• Work flexibly to support the wider paediatric occupational therapy team as required.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Details
Date posted: 20 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year pa
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 387-W&C1832-NG
Job locations: Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Degree or Equivalent in Occupational Therapy
• Registration with HCPC
• Evidence of relevant post graduate continual professional development

Desirable

• Membership of RCOT

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Post graduate experience across a range of specialities eg Orthopaedics, neurology, community rehabilitation, developmental care or burns
• Evidence of working within a multidisciplinary team with clear understanding of roles and expectations
• Evidence of hospital discharge planning and caseload prioritising
• Knowledge of Occupational Therapy and it's application to paediatrics
• Knowledge of specialist equipment and ability to prescribe to support safe discharge
• Knowledge of postural management and assessment of specialised seating
• Post graduate experience working in a neurological setting

Desirable

• Experience of working with children and young people at Band 5 level or in other roles outside of healthcare
• Experience of supervising junior staff/students
• Experience of service development, audit or research

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent IT skills, able to use Microsoft & clinical systems
• Proven desire to work in a paediatric environment

Desirable

• Ability to fabricate upper limb splints

Aptitudes
Essential

• Good Team player
• Leadership skills
• Good communication skills
• Honest
• Trustworthy
• Hardworking

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them.