University Hospital Southampton NHS FT
Spinal Cord Injury Outreach Practitioner
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Overview
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.
Working for Our Organisation
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.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
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.
Detailed Job Description And Main 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.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Please refer to the detailed job description below for more information about the role.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience
Essential Criteria
- 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 Criteria
- 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 Criteria
- Patients First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills