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Job summary

Main area
Spinal
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref
320-SURG-1427
Employer
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Derby Hospital
Town
Derby
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 pro rata pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/07/2026 23:59
Interview date
05/08/2026

Employer heading

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust logo

Spinal Cord Injury Practitioner

Band 7

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.

With over 14,000 members of staff you can expect huge variety and new opportunities every day! Our staff go above and beyond and take pride in caring for our patients.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to promoting inclusion, equality, diversity and human rights in employment and delivery of its services.  The Trust is committed to providing an environment where all employees, patients, carers and visitors experience equality of opportunity by means of understanding and appreciating the value of diversity.

As a Trust we promote an inclusive environment and welcome applications from a diverse pool of talent and backgrounds.  All individuals are valued and given every opportunity to succeed based on merit.

The Trust actively encourages applications from members of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. These groups are under-represented in our organisation, and it’s important to us that our workforce reflects the diversity of our communities as much as possible.

Armed Forces and Disability Confident guaranteed interview scheme

To further support the pledges in the Armed Forces Covenant and to make a positive contribution to support ex-armed forces personnel (veterans) make the transition to civilian life, the Trust has introduced a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for veterans who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification, to help them overcome barriers to find civilian employment. The scheme will operate for all external recruitment.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer and committed to both employing and retaining people with disabilities.  This commitment is to guarantee an interview for any candidate that has disclosed a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification.  Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 will be considered upon request.

if you are blind or visually impaired and require application material in an alternative format- such as Braille, large print, audio or accessible electronic formats or  you require support/adjustments with your application please contact the recruitment team on  01332 788466

Care Leaver Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Trust is proud to be a signatory of the Care Leavers Covenant and is committed to supporting care-experienced people into employment.

Applicants who identify as a care leaver and who meet the essential criteria for the role, as detailed in the person specification, will be guaranteed an interview.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this within your application.

Join us and help make a real difference to our Trust.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for; 

Job overview

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen within Royal Derby Hospital.

This role forms part of the East Midlands Networked Model of Care (NMC) under the National Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Transformation Programme.

The post holder will be part of a peripatetic team working across the East Midlands, based at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB), and primarily supporting SCI patients within NHS hospitals across the Derbyshire region, including Burton Hospital. Regional cross-cover will be required to meet service capacity and demand, supporting both SCI patients and the staff responsible for their management and care.

The role requires the individual to work autonomously alongside a range of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals, including the UHDB rehabilitation medicine team and spinal surgical consultants, both internal and external to the host Trust, as well as the regional specialist spinal injuries unit in Sheffield. The post will be administratively hosted at UHDB, with the expectation that the post holder will travel between sites as required.

The post holder will liaise closely with patients, their families, hospitals, and rehabilitation centres to ensure a coordinated and timely approach to care and rehabilitation. This will be delivered through a networked model of care led by the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Unit, Sheffield, as the regional Spinal Cord Injury Centre (SCIC).

Main duties of the job

·  Responsibility for supporting the management of the spinal injured patient from pre-admission to admission to regional SCIC.

·  To provide outreach support to referring Trusts within a timely manner.

·  Support the Lead SCI Practitioner in the development of clinical outcomes and standards of care benchmarking with other Spinal Injury Units.

·  To support the Lead SCI Practitioner in the development of an educational framework to meet educational needs of the staff internal & external to Sheffield SCIC.

·  Provide advice in primary and secondary health care settings.

·   Support the Lead SCI Practitioner to develop innovative approaches to care which are evidence based.

·   To complete KPI’s related to the service specification and Networked Model of Care as set by NHSE.

Closing date of applications: 23 July 2026

Interview date: 05 August 2026

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • Provide specialist clinical expertise in spinal cord injury (SCI), delivering assessment, advice, and care coordination across the patient pathway.
  • Manage a complex caseload independently, supporting clinical decision-making, care planning, and timely referrals to specialist services.
  • Lead and facilitate effective multidisciplinary communication across acute, rehabilitation, and community settings to ensure safe, seamless patient care.
  • Act as a key point of contact for patients, families, and professionals, promoting compassionate, person-centred care and shared decision-making.
  • Support patient flow and discharge planning, working collaboratively to optimise pathways and ensure continuity of care.
  • Deliver education, training, and specialist guidance to staff, contributing to improved standards of SCI care and prevention of complications.
  • Contribute to clinical governance, audit, service improvement, and quality initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and experience.
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships across regional SCI networks, trauma services, and partner organisations.
  • Maintain accurate clinical records and practice in accordance with professional, legal, and organisational standards.
 
 
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 Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers
 
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. Further information is available on the Skilled Worker visa: Your partner and children - GOV.UK

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below). 

Person specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Registered Nurse or AHP
  • Relevant experience at band 6 or above in Spinal Cord Injury
  • Evidence of post graduate education or experience
Desirable criteria
  • Relevant SCI courses
  • Minimum of 2 years experience of working with spinal cord injury patients

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience in managing patients with an acute spinal cord injury and rehabilitation or equivalent
  • Specialist knowledge of spinal cord injury
  • Effective leadership, communication and teaching skills
Desirable criteria
  • Acute Spinal or Neurological +/- rehab experience
  • Knowledge/ experience of service development

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of acute SCI management and pathways
  • Evidence of supporting teaching, learning and service development
  • Knowledge of research and audit processes
Desirable criteria
  • Spinal Trauma experience
  • Awareness of Major Trauma and Spinal Cord injury Networks and services
  • Experience of undertaking audit and research

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Management of Acute Spinal Cord injury care
  • 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 criteria
  • ASIA assessment
  • Neurogenic Management (bladder, bowel, skin , AD and OH)
  • Collar Care Management
  • Evidence of developing clinical pathways

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantCareLeaver CovenantAge Friendly EmployerNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Michelle Emsley
Job title
SCI Clinical Lead - East Midlands
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07812279772
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