Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To fully achieve and maintain the clinical competencies required for this post with appropriate training as required.

• To co-ordinate and deliver the appropriate protocols and procedures relevant to the role in line with national guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation programmes.

• To conduct screening and a comprehensive assessment, including interpretation of clinical investigations, conducting appropriate submaximal tests to provide a baseline assessment of functional capacity and apply this to exercise programming.

• Make clinical decisions regarding the suitability, eligibility and adaptability of each patients exercise programme.

• Competently lead and instruct the exercise component, including modifying and/or progressing exercise appropriately and setting exercise targets.

• Prescribe and deliver safe and effective individualised exercise programmes using appropriate risk stratification and an individuals co-morbities.

• Make use of appropriate monitoring equipment and analysis of patients observations pre and post exercise, as well as providing advice to patients on devices for personal use (eg fitbit type or digital apps)

• To ensure exercise programmes are developed in partnership with the patients that respects their choices and values

• To undertake measurement and evaluation of your intervention through the use of goal orientated exercise programmes and outcome measures in order to progress the individual exercise programme.

• To maintain an accurate and timely record of the treatment provided, the individuals response to the treatment and any modifications of the rehabilitation exercise prescription in accordance with Trust and department standards.

• To contribute to regular updates and discussion on patient exercise interventions and progress to the cardiac rehabilitation team at the multi-disciplinary team meetings to ensure clinical effectiveness.

• To co-ordinate the cardiac rehabilitation intervention with other disciplines as required: ensuring effective communication with other health professionals and the patient is kept up to date.

• To participate in the development and delivery of education and health promotion programmes to patients, relatives and carers.

• To encourage and empower patients to take responsibility for on-going self-management during the cardiac rehabilitation period and to provide a longer-term exercise plan at discharge from the service.

• To be a key resource for Phase IV services available post discharge from cardiac rehabilitation and making appropriate referrals to Phase IV.

• To support the Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse (Heart Failure) role in accordance with local and national policy and ensure the needs of patients and their families are central to service improvement initiatives.

• To deliver a home-based cardiac rehabilitation programme to patients and carers via the Reach Heart Failure Manual Programme.

• Monitor patients progress, encouraging them to undertake and complete the Reach HF programme.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

• To demonstrate specialist skills, knowledge and expertise in clinical practice.

• To provide clinical leadership and supervision to the Exercise Instructor (band 4)

• To participate in the staff Individual Performance Review scheme as an appraiser for junior staff once the relevant training has been completed.

• To participate in the development and training of cardiac rehabilitation staff.

COMMUNICATION

• To use communication skills of persuasion and negotiation to motivate patients and their family/carers to enable them to progress in their cardiac rehabilitation programmes and maximise their rehabilitation potential.

• To be empathetic and sensitive to the needs of patients of all ages and abilities, as well as their families and carers.

• To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, families and carers, including situations where they may have sensory impairments, learning difficulties, or where English is not their first language.

• To communicate in a professional manner, sharing ideas and information, in a friendly and approachable manner, with all members of the cardiac rehabilitation team, extended colleagues and external agencies in order to achieve the best outcomes for the patients.

• To attend and contribute to all team meetings and case conferences that relate to patients and/or service development.

• To liaise with Phase IV providers, including attending meetings to provide updates on the cardiac rehabilitation service and Phase IV referral statistics as required

PROFESSIONAL and EDUCATION

• To be responsible for maintaining own competency required for this post with appropriate training and CPD activities.

• To participate in the staff Individual Performance Review scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development plan to meet set knowledge and competencies.

• To undertake activities to ensure continuing professional development including active participation in regular team meetings, in service training, case management (MDT) meetings and external course.

• To engage in external activities and meetings relevant to the role such as the BACPR exercise professionals group

AUDIT AND RESEARCH

• To participate in and contribute to audit and research activities within the cardiac rehabilitation service or related services as required

• To contribute to the development and achievement of the annual service standards and BACPR_NCP certification.

ORGANISATIONAL

• To effectively manage and prioritise own caseload in conjunction with cardiac rehabilitation nursing staff.

• To contribute to the timely writing of discharge summaries by ensuring the exercise information is documented.

• To ensure exercise related equipment is appropriately cleaned between uses and in good working order and exercise areas are safe for use throughout the day, including the reporting of any faulty equipment to medical physics and organising annual service checks.

• To contribute to the input of data on NACR, iClip and local databases for patient caseload monitoring and data collection in a timely manner.

• To contribute to the smooth running of the service by assisting with team administration tasks as required.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirement of the Health and Safety Regulations.

• To maintain compliance with all infection control policies and procedures.

• To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained

during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.

• To work in accordance with the Trusts Equal Opportunities policy to eliminate unlawful discrimination in relation to employment and service delivery.

• To ensure skills are up-to-date and relevant to the role, to follow relevant Trust policies and professional codes and to maintain registration where this is a requirement of the role.

• To ensure all mandatory and statutory training is up to date.

• To comply with St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust No Smoking Policies.

• To undertake such duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and the needs of the service.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• Degree in Sports and Exercise sciences or appropriate related field
• BACPR Specialist Exercise Instructor Level 4 (cardiac disease) or equivalent
• Basic Life support

Desirable

• Post graduate degree in relevant field
• Exercise qualifications in other clinical populations eg Pulmonary rehab etc
• Training in mentoring / performing appraisals
• REACH-HF Trained
• Member of a Professional Body

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of two years delivering exercise within a cardiac rehabilitation programme
• Leading and delivering exercise with individuals and groups
• Competence in performing and analysing a variety of functional capacity assessments appropriate to the individual and providing an exercise prescription based on the FCT outcome
• on-going evaluation of the exercise prescription and subsequent adaptation / progression of exercise plan
• Experience of supervision/mentoring of junior staff
• Experience of audit and research

Desirable

• Experience in delivering exercise / fitness programmes to specialist groups (eg stroke, diabetes, COPD, older persons)
• Experience in mentoring / performing appraisals

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge about the relevant national standards, policies and guidelines, and application to practice in cardiac rehabilitation
• Knowledge about the Health-related benefits of regular physical activity and exercise
• Cardiovascular anatomy and exercise physiology and principles of exercise prescription for cardiovascular training.
• Coronary heart disease (including signs and symptoms and recognition of disease progression) and its implications for risk stratification and exercise prescription.
• A range of cardiovascular conditions and co-morbidities with appropriate application of exercise adaptations and contraindications.
• Cardiovascular medications, and exercise related considerations
• Common cardiac investigations and interventions and relevance of results to exercise planning
• The need to remain up to date with professional practice and for continuing own professional development
• The skills required for effective team working

Skills

Essential

• Undertake independent assessment of people with a range of complex cardiac conditions and co-morbidities including appropriate functional capacity assessments and risk stratification in order to implement tailored, individualised exercise programmes.
• Competently lead and instruct the exercise component of the cardiac rehabilitation programme, encompassing a variety of modes of delivery ie face to face/group sessions and remote / home based exercise.
• Provide appropriate instructional and educational material to individuals to support their exercise programme - including those with communication difficulties.
• Evaluate exercise programmes and modify as needed for people to optimize their fitness potential.
• Provide verbal and written discharge plans for long-term, independent activity.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Able to present information in a clear logical manner
• Manage sensitive, stressful or challenging situations tactfully, effectively and compassionately.
• Ability to manage own workload - able to organize and prioritise
• Work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, providing education, support and advice
• Computer literacy
• Presentation skills

Other

Essential

• Physically fit and able to meet the demands of the role
• Able to work harmoniously within a diverse workforce and deliver a quality service to people from different backgrounds and with varying abilities by embracing and individualising their varied needs.
• To have an awareness of limitations in own knowledge and skillset and take personal responsibility to actively seek learning opportunities for professional development.
• To work within the Trust's policies and procedures.
• To work in such a way that reflects the trust's values
• To demonstrate awareness of confidentiality related to health care
• To actively contribute to service development
• To demonstrate self-motivation and initiative.
• To demonstrate attention to detail
• To have an awareness of own sense of physical and psychological well-being and to know when to seek support or help if / when needed

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

St George's Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cardiac Rehabilitation Gym, Cardiac Outpatients, Ground Floor, Atkinson Morley Wing, St Georges University Hospital

Blackshaw Road

Tooting, London

SW17 0QT

Employer's website

https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)