Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist

Job overview

West Hertfordshire Community Respiratory Service, provided by CLCH, is seeking a Band 7 Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist to join our multidisciplinary team on a 12 months fixed term contract.

You will work as part of a community respiratory service operating 5 days per week across West Hertfordshire, supporting people with COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis and interstitial lung disease.

The role involves delivering patient-centred, integrated care through a range of specialist services, which could include:

• RCP-accredited pulmonary rehabilitation programmes
• Hospital at Home admission avoidance / virtual ward services
• Airways and dysfunctional breathing clinics
• Oxygen therapy clinics
• Airway clearance interventions
• Advice line support and service triage

You will work in line with evidence-based guidelines and contribute to innovative approaches to care delivery, including virtual services. You will collaborate with colleagues across disciplines and communicate effectively with patients, carers and team members in ways that meet individual needs.

In addition to clinical responsibilities, you will:

• Support and develop junior staff and contribute to clinical supervision
• Participate in student education and training
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement, audit and research activities

We are committed to supporting staff to take part in service improvement and professional development opportunities.

Main duties of the job

Key duties include:

• Work autonomously to deliver specialist clinical care appropriate to the needs of the patient group and based on principles that are evidence based and which enhance the quality of patient care.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments of complex respiratory patients with co-morbidities, including physical examination, and to develop treatment plans for patients using investigative and analytical skills, and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning.
• Assess, develop and implement specialist care programmes, including pulmonary rehabilitation, home oxygen therapy, hospital at home admission avoidance, breathlessness management and airway clearance particularly for bronchiectasis, adhering to evidence based guidelines.
• To accurately undertake specialist clinical skills including spirometry, airway clearance techniques and breathlessness management.
• Interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical tests to form an accurate assessment and suitability for the Hospital at Home scheme, co-ordinate appropriate services to ensure safe transfer of care to the community and develop comprehensive discharge plans.
• Provide care in a variety of clinical areas including patients homes and outpatient clinics.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Applicants are expected to present clear and relevant evidence of the competencies and responsibilities detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification, together with a demonstrated commitment to the Trust’s values of Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment.

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.