University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Consultant Respiratory Physiotherapist / Speech & Language Therapist

The closing date is 04 September 2025

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Job summary

The Consultant Therapist will provide expert clinical leadership to develop services and promote respiratory care pathways for the local population. Taking the lead role and responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the specialist respiratory care services, working with the Lead Medical Consultant and Director of nursing and integrated professions. Through clinical leadership and strategic planning, leading on and working in collaboration with integrated care systems (ICS), consultant medical colleagues and service/divisional managers, deliver a robust and sustainable respiratory service model for the Healthy Lives Partnership (HLP).

This is an exciting time for respiratory services and the successful person will help shape the way respiratory care evolves in Plymouth

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

Delivering a service to patients with activity which is traditionally that of medical consultants, be a clinical expert with advanced respiratory practice skills, equipped to lead clinical decision making, diagnose and be responsible for the patient journey autonomously across acute and community settings. Expected to lead complex clinical decision making in changing and potentially unpredictable situations with their team. The consultant Therapist will provide leadership and mentoring for advanced practitioners / clinical specialist Therapists and input at senior levels into the appropriate HLP forums to shape patient pathways.

The Consultant Therapist will act as an innovator, motivator, key change agent and role model, with a high level of autonomy to support and influence the respiratory clinical pathways for people. Implementing national initiatives, service reconfiguration and appropriate models of care. Develop and transform respiratory care to meet the needs of local population demographics, by advancing high quality clinical care and service leaders and oversee the implementation of evidence into practice. Demonstrating the development of innovative and effective person-centred care with continued measurable and positive lasting improvements for people. Engaging public, service users, carers and families in joint activities to improve and evaluate respiratory care pathways.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details

Date posted

21 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year £76,965 - £88,682 Per Annum Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

216-LH-M7408444

Job locations

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Expert Practice

Demonstrate clinical expertise, working autonomously, making highly complex clinical decisions. utilising highly advanced knowledge and experience in dealing with Respiratory patients with highly complex presentations.

Request, interpret and act upon the results of investigations pertinent to the healthcare of respiratory patient population.

Practice autonomous expert clinical practice, receiving and making referrals to/from a frame of clinical environments across the health network.

Help firmly establish values-based professional practice across pathways, services, organisations and systems, working with individuals, families, carers, communities and others.

Lead health and social care provision with service users and communities, including practice accreditation, change, and continuous improvement across the system.

Help put in place peer reviews and evaluations of safety, quality and health outcomes, from pathway to systems level.

High-quality, values-based professional practice that improves peoples experience, supporting them to make decisions in complex situations.

A positive approach to working with difference and diversity, challenging stigma and using the best possible communication methods.

Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers. Identifying and accessing where appropriate suitable equipment/persons to aid treatments, motivating, gaining cooperation and progressing rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind, have English as a second language or who may be unable to accept diagnosis or who have unrealistic expectations of therapy interventions.

Sharing decision-making with service users and partners in every situation, so that the effectiveness of physical, psychological and social interventions and services and the transition through each stage of care and services can be assessed.

For further details please see the attached JD & PS

Job description

Job responsibilities

Expert Practice

Demonstrate clinical expertise, working autonomously, making highly complex clinical decisions. utilising highly advanced knowledge and experience in dealing with Respiratory patients with highly complex presentations.

Request, interpret and act upon the results of investigations pertinent to the healthcare of respiratory patient population.

Practice autonomous expert clinical practice, receiving and making referrals to/from a frame of clinical environments across the health network.

Help firmly establish values-based professional practice across pathways, services, organisations and systems, working with individuals, families, carers, communities and others.

Lead health and social care provision with service users and communities, including practice accreditation, change, and continuous improvement across the system.

Help put in place peer reviews and evaluations of safety, quality and health outcomes, from pathway to systems level.

High-quality, values-based professional practice that improves peoples experience, supporting them to make decisions in complex situations.

A positive approach to working with difference and diversity, challenging stigma and using the best possible communication methods.

Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers. Identifying and accessing where appropriate suitable equipment/persons to aid treatments, motivating, gaining cooperation and progressing rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind, have English as a second language or who may be unable to accept diagnosis or who have unrealistic expectations of therapy interventions.

Sharing decision-making with service users and partners in every situation, so that the effectiveness of physical, psychological and social interventions and services and the transition through each stage of care and services can be assessed.

For further details please see the attached JD & PS

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • oProven expert advanced knowledge of specialist Respiratory care and current treatments.
  • oProven knowledge and understanding of health care needs in a multicultural society.
  • oProven knowledge of health promotion activities and strategies.

Qualifications

Essential

  • oBSc / MSc in Physiotherapy/ Speech and Language Therapy.
  • oHCPC registration.
  • oMSc in respiratory care or relevant field

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • oExcellent time management and organisational skills.
  • oAbility to demonstrate a variety of media / IT skills.
  • oAbility to manage change and contain conflict ensuring resolution with positive outcomes and with use of negotiation skills.

Desirable

  • Membership or honorary office with professional groups or club.
Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • oProven expert advanced knowledge of specialist Respiratory care and current treatments.
  • oProven knowledge and understanding of health care needs in a multicultural society.
  • oProven knowledge of health promotion activities and strategies.

Qualifications

Essential

  • oBSc / MSc in Physiotherapy/ Speech and Language Therapy.
  • oHCPC registration.
  • oMSc in respiratory care or relevant field

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • oExcellent time management and organisational skills.
  • oAbility to demonstrate a variety of media / IT skills.
  • oAbility to manage change and contain conflict ensuring resolution with positive outcomes and with use of negotiation skills.

Desirable

  • Membership or honorary office with professional groups or club.

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Director for Nursing and Integrated Professions

Sarah Budden

sarah.budden@nhs.net

01752439087

Details

Date posted

21 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year £76,965 - £88,682 Per Annum Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

216-LH-M7408444

Job locations

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Supporting documents

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