Spinal Cord Injury Outreach Practitioner

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Job summary
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious clinician from a Therapy background (Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy) to transition into a specialist acute Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Practitioner role.

This position is a crucial component of the team delivering high-quality Spinal Cord Injury care at University Hospital Southampton.

The successful applicant will provide clinical leadership, expert practice, and advanced holistic knowledge to support multidisciplinary teamworking in the field of SCI management.

In return, we offer regular supervision, dedicated mentorship, and robust support for your ongoing training and professional development.

About us
University Hospital Southampton is one of England’s largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS, we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will provide specialist advice and outreach support to Trauma Units and local District General Hospitals (DGHs), ensuring robust, proactive care plans are in place for patients with traumatic and non-traumatic SCIs.

A key focus will be maintaining patient safety, optimising acute care, and preventing secondary complications during any delays prior to their admission to a Spinal Cord Injury Centre (SCIC) or rehabilitation setting.

Acting as a vital link across the Wessex Spinal and Trauma Networks, you will liaise directly with DGHs, Trauma Units, and the Salisbury Spinal Cord Injuries Centre to facilitate a seamless, coordinated, and timely approach to care, repatriation, and rehabilitation.

Utilizing your clinical expertise, you will provide targeted education, training, and support for medical, nursing, and therapy teams managing these high-dependency patients.

Crucially, you will act as a champion for SCI patients and their families, ensuring their voices are heard and they are supported throughout their care journey.

Person Specification
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential

• Relevant Professional Qualification e.g. Registered Nurse / Occupational Therapist / Physiotherapist
• Teaching and assessing the Clinical Environment or equivalent teaching qualification or experience
• Evidence of continued Professional Development in specialist field of practice
• Tissue viability training
• Skin, bladder and bowel management training
• Extensive experience of working with SCI patients, ideally in a variety of different settings
• Advanced range of clinical knowledge and experience involving patients with SCI and disability management
• Advanced physical skills required for complex patient positioning and movement including teaching and demonstrating to others
• Ability to travel across Wessex Network

Desirable

• Masters level qualification or willingness to start Master’s Degree program within 12 months of appointment
• Advanced physical assessment course
• Specialist seating skills
• Relevant Spinal Cord Injury / neuro course
• Leadership training
• Presentation skills training
• Evidence of experience carrying out small scale departmental projects
• Evidence of being responsible for developing protocols for the specialist area
• Evidence of conducting research within the specialist area

Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

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).