Highly Specialist Physiotherapist- Neonatal

NHS; Watford; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is looking for a Highly Specialist Physiotherapist to join the Neonatal Unit at Northwick Park Hospital. This role involves advanced assessment and management of complex neonatal cases while working alongside a multidisciplinary team to provide specialist physiotherapy services. Responsibilities include managing patients with complex needs, developing care plans, and training staff. Applicants should have a recognized physiotherapy degree, experience in Neonatal settings, and excellent communication skills. Competitive salary included.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in the NHS.
• Specialist experience in managing premature infants on a neonatal unit.
• Family-centred practice within a multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced assessment and treatment of acutely ill neonatal patients.
• Provide specialist assessments in neonatal follow-up clinics.
• Supervise and teach physiotherapists and students.

Skills

Good written and spoken English

Excellent interpersonal skills

Analytical and reflection skills

Good presentation skills

Organisational skills

Education

Recognised Physiotherapy Degree

Registered Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP)

Health Professions Council (HPC) – Licence to Practice

CPD/Post-registration training in paediatrics and neonatal care

Job description

Highly Specialist Physiotherapist – Neonatal

Closing date is 21 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen due to a secondment to work alongside the Band 8a Principal Neonatal Physiotherapist to provide physiotherapy service to the Neonatal Unit at Northwick Park Hospital.

We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced and innovative Physiotherapist to join our multidisciplinary Paediatric Therapy Team. You will work alongside the Band 8a Neonatal Physiotherapist in the delivery of highly specialist physiotherapy services to the neonatal unit and the preterm screening clinics, developing the service. You will be responsible for providing highly specialist physiotherapy services to the NNU and screening clinics at Northwick Park Hospital, ensuring assessments are completed, development care plans are in place and family‑integrated care principles are used.

Main duties of the job

To manage a highly specialist and complex caseload of infants on the neonatal unit.

• Comprehensive advanced clinical assessment and differential diagnosis of individual children with diverse and complex presentations, using a range of specialist assessment tools/techniques.
• Planning, delivering and evaluating a range of highly specialist treatment programmes from a range of specialist clinical options.
• Using highly specialist knowledge and demonstrating advanced skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management and wider issues relating to service provision.
• Providing highly specialist advice and programmes to other professionals and parents regarding the management and care of children and young people in both the neonatal and preschool settings.

About us

The department offers excellent support systems with appraisal and personal development plans. The trust offers an extensive range of leadership and service improvement programmes as well as supporting individual learning/development needs through a range of internal and external training opportunities. Support is also provided through regular supervision sessions, peer support meetings and the staff appraisal programme.

You will be based at Northwick Park Hospital within the Community team based at Alexandra Avenue clinic and be part of a dynamic, friendly physiotherapy and multi‑disciplinary neonatal team.

For an informal discussion or visit, please email Anita Patel, Principal Neonatal Physiotherapist – [e-mail]

Job responsibilities

The main specific areas of responsibility for this post are:

• To take a lead role, as an autonomous practitioner, in the advanced assessment and treatment of acutely ill neonatal patients, with respiratory, orthopaedic, neurology, cardiac and neuro‑developmental problems who may have complex multi‑pathology/chronic presentation.
• To provide specialist assessments and advice in neonatal follow‑up clinics and in neonatal neurology clinics based at Northwick Park Hospital.
• To supervise and teach physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants, students, and the wider Neonatal MDT.
• To undertake evidence‑based projects, including recommendations for change in practice, and may participate in departmental research and audit.
• To deputise for physiotherapy team leaders in operational management.
• For full details of the job description and main responsibilities, please see the full job description and personal specification.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

• Recognised Physiotherapy Degree and Registered Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP).
• Health Professions Council (HPC) – Licence to Practice.
• Evidence of CPD/Post‑registration training in paediatrics and neonatal care.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of working in the NHS.
• Specialist experience of working as a Physiotherapist in the management of premature infants on a neonatal unit and the approaches to the management of complex and chronic conditions as a result of prematurity.
• Specialist knowledge and understanding of a broad range of neonatal, paediatric conditions and problems.
• Specialist knowledge in early intervention and implementing developmental care plans/therapy programmes.
• Family‑centred practice within a multidisciplinary environment.
• Significant postgraduate paediatric experience of managing own caseload of CYP including those within neuro‑development, physical difficulty, neurology in both acute and community settings; prescribing and reviewing equipment; writing clinical notes and reports; clinical audit; working with interpreters and community group.
• To have proven experience in developing and providing uni/multidisciplinary education and training to carers, parents, professionals and students.
• Understanding of national legislation and initiatives relating to disability and to the education, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people across health, education and social care.
• Understanding and application of the principles of both record keeping and reporting and of clinical governance and audit.
• Experience of line‑managing and supervising staff including: development of PDPs, appraisal, managing performance and absence, and allocating appropriate workloads.

Skills, Abilities and Attributes

• Good written and spoken English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and established negotiation and problem‑solving skills – including observation, listening and empathy skills.
• Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills and well‑developed concentration skills.
• Good presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Good organisational skills and ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own workload and others.
• Demonstrates ability to be a team player.
• Ability to communicate effectively within families within an MST setting.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offences 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.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

£53,751 to £60,651 a year Pro rata per annum incl. HCAS