Respiratory Practitioner hospital @home/virtual ward

Job overview

We are excited to be recruiting 2 respiratory practioners (CNS or physiotherapist) to run a new innovative and forward think respiratory hospital @home/virtual ward service.

This role is part of an innovative integrated respiratory pathway delivered in partnership between Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the @Home service. Based within the @Home community team, the postholder will provide specialist respiratory assessment and management for patients receiving acute-level care in their own homes, supporting both early supported discharge and hospital admission prevention. The role is embedded within the day-to-day delivery of the @Home service while receiving specialist respiratory clinical support, supervision and professional development from the Integrated Respiratory Teams (IRT). This includes participation in respiratory multidisciplinary team meetings, clinical supervision, teaching and education sessions, enabling the postholder to deliver high-quality, evidence-based respiratory care within an integrated multidisciplinary model. The postholder will also contribute to service development, quality improvement and clinical governance, helping to strengthen integrated respiratory care across Southwark and Lambeth.

Closing date: 17/08/2026

Interview date: 09/09/2026

Main duties of the job

The role will be responsible for setting up a new respiratory virtual ward service within @home with support and oversight from the IRT. The new service will provide specialist assessment and management for patients with acute exacerbations of COPD or those requiring weaning oxygen.

The post holder will review patients in their homes providing expert assessment and management plans and work closely with @home clinicians and the IRT to provide specialise patient care. They will build and maintain relationships across multiagencies and will work closely as part of a team of specialist respiratory clinicians to provide care to patients across Lambeth and Southwark.

The post holder will provide specialist respiratory teaching to the @home clinicians, they will themselves receive specialist respiratory teaching and supervision from the IRT as well as specialist frailty and multisytems teaching and supervision from @home. They will attend MDMs for both services.

This is a new role and service evaluation and development will be a key part of the role. The post holder will be responsible for contributing to the ongoing development of clinical practice, and standards of care within the service, including development of policies, protocols and guidelines and leading service developments. They will also ensure the safety and well being of services users, and always work in a manner that promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person centered care principles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Managerial

• To work autonomously, managing a caseload of patients within the specialty whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct patient care
• Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.
• Act as an advocate for patients  in Lambeth and Southwark across KHP , to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
• Ensure that patients’ receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
• Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.
• Co-ordinate the provision of specialist services to patients, both within hospital and/or in the community setting, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary colleagues
• Promote high quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the specialist service, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical standards
• Provide professional and clinical leadership and expertise in the speciality and to act as a resource for education and clinical expertise in the hospital and community settings.
• Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication within scope of practice.
• Participate in the promotion of the specialist service through dissemination of specialist knowledge, both locally and nationally.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating high standards of care and providing clinical leadership in the specialist areas.
• Actively participate in local, national and international networking to maintain and develop expert level of knowledge in the specialty.
• Develop and evaluate assessment tools that will ensure an appropriate level of nursing or physiotherapy intervention so that patients who present with the most complex needs receive the most appropriate specialist care.

Research and Development

• Promote and undertake nursing or physiotherapy research and to publish the outcome, updating own knowledge to promote excellence in clinical practice.
• Utilise research findings in the delivery of specialist patient care, developing new ways of working and to disseminate relevant information to staff.
• Participate in and be aware of other clinical research trials for patients
• Lead and contribute to audit and research within the specialty in collaboration with colleagues, developing action plans and disseminating information.
• To be familiar with current clinical research protocol issues and relevant treatment and procedures employed in the diagnosis and treatment within their speciality.

Management and Leadership

• Provide a leadership role model and demonstrate expert knowledge and high standards of clinical practice.
• Develop the role according to patients changing needs and research findings, within the resources available.
• Maintain accurate records of the clinical service and ensuring that confidentiality of information is adhered to
• Provide cover for the other Clinical Nurse Specialist or physiotherapist as appropriate.
• Develop policies, protocols and clinical guidelines in support of the specialist service.
• Participate in the promotion of the specialty by publishing and presenting innovations and research findings locally and nationally.
• Provide specialist education to members of the clinical team, which facilitates learning and individual personal development.
• Implement and work within the Trust’s HR policies on all staffing matters, including sickness, capability and disciplinary issues. Take corrective measures if indicated in liaison with Human Resources and clinical leads.

FULL DETAILS WITHIN ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION