Job summary
A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen at Royal Derby Hospital.

The Spinal Cord Injury and Neuro Rehabilitation In-Reach Practitioner (SCI & NRIT) is a specialist role supporting patients with spinal cord injury, cauda equina syndrome and complex neurological conditions across acute, rehabilitation and community settings.

Based at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB), the post holder will be part of a peripatetic team working across the East Midlands, primarily supporting SCI and NRIT patients within Derbyshire hospitals, including Burton Hospital. Regional cross-cover will be required to meet service demand and support patients, families and clinical teams.

The post holder will provide specialist assessment, advice, education and care coordination, promoting seamless care pathways and improved patient outcomes.

Working autonomously within a multidisciplinary environment, the successful candidate will collaborate with the UHDB specialist rehabilitation medicine team, spinal surgical consultants, the regional specialist spinal injuries unit in Sheffield and neuro services at Queen's Medical Centre (QMC). The role is administratively hosted by UHDB and requires travel between sites across the region.

Get in touch to find out more about this rewarding role and the innovative service we provide.

Main duties of the job
You will provide expert assessment, case management, rehabilitation support and care coordination for individuals within this role.

You will ensure ward-based patients receive comprehensive assessment and support in areas including neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction, pressure area care and skin integrity, mobility, sensation, cognition, mood and psychological wellbeing, nutrition and hydration.

The role includes providing outreach support to referring Trusts across the network, offering specialist advice and guidance in both primary and secondary care settings. You will identify patients requiring specialist neurorehabilitation, coordinate rehabilitation pathways and facilitate access to appropriate services.

You will contribute to the development of clinical outcomes, standards of care and benchmarking with Spinal Injury Units and specialist rehabilitation services.

You will also support the development and delivery of an educational framework.

The successful candidate will support patients throughout their rehabilitation journey, coordinate multidisciplinary care, provide clinical education and contribute to service development. You will promote rehabilitation-focused care through early intervention, collaborative working and evidence-based, innovative approaches that improve patient experience and outcomes.

Closing date of applications: 29 October 2026
Interview date: 12 November 2026

About us
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together.

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts:

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.

Details
Date posted: 15 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year pro rata pa
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 320-CDCS-4438
Job locations: Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, DE22 3NE, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB; this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account. UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship. Important visa information: Due to UK Home Office immigration rule changes effective from 22 July 2025, applicants sponsored under Occupation Code 6131 (Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants) may not be eligible to bring dependants under the Skilled Worker route if their Certificate of Sponsorship is issued on or after this date. Applicants are responsible for understanding how these rules apply to their individual circumstances. The Trust cannot provide immigration advice.

Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse or AHP
• Relevant experience at band 6 or above in Spinal Cord Injury
• Evidence of post graduate education or experience

Desirable

• Relevant SCI courses
• Demonstrable experience of working with spinal cord injury patients

Experience
Essential

• Experience in managing patients with an acute spinal cord injury and specialist rehabilitation or equivalent
• Specialist knowledge of spinal cord injury and complex neurological conditions
• Effective leadership, communication and teaching skills

Desirable

• Acute Spinal or Neurological +/- rehab experience
• Knowledge/ experience of service development

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of acute SCI management and pathways
• Awareness of specialist rehabilitation management and pathways
• Knowledge of research and audit processes
• Evidence of supporting teaching, learning and service development

Desirable

• Spinal Trauma neuro rehabilitation experience
• Awareness of Major Trauma and Spinal Cord injury Networks and services
• Awareness of specialist rehabilitation pathways
• Experience of undertaking audit and research

Skills
Essential

• Management of Acute Spinal Cord injury care and rehabilitation or equivalent
• Effective communication (verbal and written) interpersonal, coaching and mentoring skills.
• Evidence of professional development
• Effective leadership skills
• Project and organisational development
• Good understanding of IT and technology skills

Desirable

• ASIA assessment
• Neurogenic Management (bladder, bowel, skin, AD and OH)
• Collar Care Management
• Evidence of developing clinical pathways
• Knowledge of assessment and management of neurological and autonomic dysfunction (bladder, bowel, sexual, sensory, motor, nutrition, hydration and functional impairments.)

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, DE22 3NE, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Matron, Jenny Sinclair, jenny.sinclair1@nhs.net, 07384457801

Privacy notice: University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice.