Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist

The closing date is 13 July 2025

Job summary

Band 6 Respiratory Specialist Physiotherapist

Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you want to extend your respiratory clinical skills via a static respiratory post in a forward thinking department? Then you could be the person for us. We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to join our respiratory physiotherapy team Cross-Site at University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

You will play a key role in the clinical provision of services to a varied patient caseload. Therapies are considered an integral part of the Multi-disciplinary team at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust and as such enjoy MDT working. Respiratory experience will be gained in the following areas

Critical care
Respiratory and cardiology wards
Surgical wards
Cystic Fibrosis
Paediatrics including High Dependency
NIV and Optiflow provision including Assisted Ventilation Unit
Pulmonary Rehabilitation

The post offers the opportunity to build on existing clinical respiratory knowledge and skills and to grow service development experience in a supportive environment. There will be opportunity to develop your clinical skills via simulation training, as well as developing from band 7 respiratory specialists at each site, and a cross-site band 8A critical care clinical specialist physiotherapist.

Main duties of the job

Candidates should have good clinical reasoning, time management and communication skills. You will be involved in the supervision and teaching of Band 5 physiotherapists, Therapy Assistants and students. The successful candidate would also be expected to contribute to service development within the acute respiratory team which may involve cross site service development. You will be expected to support staff to obtain and maintain respiratory competencies to work on the on-call and weekend working rotas. You will be expected to actively participate in on-call and weekend working.

Continued professional development is encouraged and viewed as integral to providing a quality service for patients. We offer regular supervision, in-service training and actively promote the personal development of all our therapists. 7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust.

The physiotherapy department is a very inclusive environment to work in and is keen to continue to highlight the importance of this working closely with our local community.

Working in Therapies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVS-EjGWloM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RimWWRzVS5Y

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
Improving the experience of staff with disability
Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
Making equalities mainstream

Date posted

03 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum plus HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

197-UT6993

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Stadium Road

London

SE18 4QH

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

1 To provide a specialist respiratory physiotherapy service of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients in the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

2 To participate in the Band 6 respiratory rotation scheme, involving rotating cross-site across a range of respiratory inpatient, outpatient and community clinical areas. Rotations are 8 months long.

Job Summary

1 To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

2 To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions; to provide a provisional diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.

3 To take responsibility for own caseload, being responsible for a defined area of the service, with the support of a Band 7/8 physiotherapist.

4 With the team, to participate in evidence based audit / research activity to further the team's clinical practice within each rotation. To make recommendations to the lead Band 7/8 for any changes to practice by the team.

5 To supervise junior physiotherapists and physiotherapy students in the clinical setting.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1 CLINICAL

1.1 To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work,including the management of patients in your care.

1.2 To undertake a comprehensive, and holistic, assessment of patients includingthose with complex presentations / multi-pathologies.

1.3 To use manual and other assessment techniques and clinical reasoning skills to provide an accurate diagnosis of patients' conditions and identify their problems.

1.4 To assess patients' understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informedconsent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients wholack the capacity to consent to treatment.

1.5 To use clinical assessment and reasoning skills combined with a specialistknowledge and clinical experience of patho-physiology, evidence-based practiceand treatment strategies to provide an effective treatment plan and goals incollaboration with the patient.

1.6 To evaluate patients' progress, re-assess and alter treatment programmes as required.

1.7 To formulate accurate prognoses and liaise with the multi-disciplinary team regarding discharge planning, where necessary, to ensure safe, timely and effective discharge from hospital, or following an outpatient episode of care.

1.8 To be responsible for the safe and competent use of gym, electrotherapy, manualhandling and respiratory equipment, as well as the use of other aids and appliancesby patients in your working area, ensuring that any Band 5 Physiotherapists andassistant staff attain competency prior to use.

1.9 To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to communicateeffectively with patients during assessment and treatment. To communicateappropriately at all times with all individuals in a respectful manner.

1.10 To use active listening and optimum communication skills to discuss patientsconcerns, worries and prognoses with them and their families, for example patientswho have progressive, degenerative or terminal illnesses and those with newlyacquired disabilities.

1.11 To be an active member of the respiratory oncall & weekend rota. When working at weekends and in the absence of Band 7 staff, to be responsible for any Band 5 physiotherapists in the team.

1.12 To provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patients' respiratory conditions, when working on the emergency duty rota and on acute ward rotations.

1.13 To supervise and delegate to assistant staff and Band 5 Physiotherapists.

1.14 To work within Trust, departmental and CSP guidelines, ensuring a good working knowledge of national and local standards.

1.15 When working in the community and domiciliary settings, to work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior physiotherapist if required. When working in the outpatient rotation, to work in GP outreach clinics as necessary.

2 MANAGEMENT

2.1 To maintain an accurate and evaluative record keeping system in accordance with the Trust and departmental policies, and which can be used for audit and legal purposes.

2.2 To be responsible for organising, prioritising and planning your own caseload tomeet service needs and patient priorities, adjusting plans as situations arise.

2.3 To identify and manage clinical risk within your own patient caseload and clinicalarea.

2.4 To comply with all Trust policies and procedures, and the Health & Safety at WorkAct, and the Data Protection Act. To report on complaints, accidents and clinicalincidents to the immediate senior as soon as possible.

2.5 To be familiar with and comply with local fire procedures.

2.6 To be familiar with all Trust and Therapy emergency and precautionary procedures, both on and off site, and to respond as necessary eg. hydrotherapy, emergencyresuscitation, infection control etc.

2.7 To ensure that all equipment defects are reported to the Therapy Manager immediately, and that appropriate action is then taken.

2.8 To advise and demonstrate to carers, nursing and other staff on the safe manual handling, positioning and moving of patients.

2.9 To provide training on the use of equipment and management of conditions forcarers, nursing and other staff when necessary.

2.10 To deputise for the Band 7 in their absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work of junior and assistant staff to meet service priorities on a daily basis.

2.11 To be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of students, junior staff and assistants on a day to day basis. Adhering to fair-share model for each team.

2.12 To make appropriate referrals to other health professionals following assessment/ identification of need.

2.13 To participate in the managerial matters of the unit and department as required, and to attend staff meetings.

2.14 To participate in the induction programme for all new staff where appropriate.

2.15 To undertake additional duties as may be deemed necessary, as requested by the team leader or Superintendent in the specific rotation.