Job summary
The Countywide Community Respiratory Service, an integral component of the wider Lincolnshire Community Health Services, is responsible for delivering an enhanced quality of care, aiming to streamline the patients' journey in a Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Care setting. Theteam has a key role in delivering services for patients with COPD e.g. Community Pulmonary Rehabilitation (which also accepts non-COPD patients), Complex Case management, Oxygen Assessment, Respiratory Physiotherapy and the Respiratory Virtual Ward.
The post holder will predominantly support the running of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service across the south of Lincolnshire but may be required to support Pulmonary Rehabilitation elsewhere in the county at times. There may be times when the post holder will be required to support the other services delivered by the Countywide Community Respiratory Team.
This post is likely to commence from April 2025
Main duties of the job
To undertake specific skilled support work aiding the rehabilitation of patients with respiratory disease, involving Pulmonary Rehabilitation classes, assisting Respiratory Physiotherapists / Nurses in Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assessments, and to accept respiratory patients referredthrough the Countywide Community Respiratory Services and carry as own workload. The Post holder will treat patients according to agreed set treatment protocols, monitoring progression and making minor alterations to patient treatment programmes as required. They will be required to work unsupervised at times, reporting back patient progress to relevantprofessionals, informing the Physiotherapist or Nurse of any problems or concerns. The post includes administrative duties relevant to the job.
About us
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust is in the top 25 per cent of all community trusts for overall staff engagement in the 2021 NHS National Staff Survey.
At LCHS, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in LCHS' workforce.
LCHS recognises the increasing demand for more flexibility in working practices in order to accommodate the personal goals and commitments that employees experience at different stages during their working lives. Flexible working opportunities such as part-time working, compressed hours, job shares, and hybrid working models can help staff to balance their personal and work commitments. Arrangements can be put in place if it can be shown that the needs of the individual can be balanced with those of the service and the impact on other team members, enabling the Trust to recruit and retain skilled staff, raise staff morale, reduce absenteeism and respond to changing service needs more effectively.
We are an ambassador of a learning culture that will support the right individual to progress in their chosen career through an 'earn while you learn' apprenticeship programme. Visit our Learning and Development page to find out more https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/join-us/learning-and-dev
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To undertake highly skilled support work and rehabilitation of respiratory patients as delegated by the Physiotherapist or Respiratory Team member, which will include treating patients individually or in a group, in a variety of settings, with or without the direct supervision or presence of a physiotherapist, e.g. in the patients home or in Pulmonary Rehabilitation classes
- Assist the Physiotherapist in the rehabilitation of respiratory patients using a range of delegated exercises and manual physical therapy treatments. Work where required without direct supervision and be responsible for assessing patient progress, reporting back to the appropriate team member, highlighting any variations to expected outcomes
- Monitoring specific respiratory physiotherapeutic techniques in the primary care setting, following agreed protocols, without the Physiotherapist necessarily being present. Alsomonitoring, supporting and encouraging self-management of respiratory patients who have been seen by the Community Respiratory Team or discharged from secondary care, including those on oxygen therapy, reporting back any concerns to a registered clinician
- Instruct patients and carers, providing direction and guidance on a range of physical therapy and mobility activities, e.g. home based exercise programmes for Respiratorypatients. To undertake simple initial mobility assessments and provide and teach the safe and appropriate use of walking aids.
- Encourage patients and their carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence. To provide training and advice, teaching and instruction to relatives and carers as required, to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy, and ensure a consistent approach to patient care. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills
- Be responsible for the administrative arrangements for organising Pulmonary Rehabilitation, e.g. rooms, equipment and paperwork. Gathering initial information regarding the patients from medical notes / databases as required. Carry out necessary clerical tasks as required by the Physiotherapist. To maintain accurate, comprehensiveand up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements. Handling complex or sensitive information provided or received appropriately. Be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the department. To maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
- Set up and keep tidy any work areas and clean equipment regularly. Ensure all equipment is safe and not damaged. Report any faulty equipment. Be responsible in ensuring that all equipment they use is used correctly and safely as per manufacturers guidelines.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To undertake highly skilled support work and rehabilitation of respiratory patients as delegated by the Physiotherapist or Respiratory Team member, which will include treating patients individually or in a group, in a variety of settings, with or without the direct supervision or presence of a physiotherapist, e.g. in the patients home or in Pulmonary Rehabilitation classes
- Assist the Physiotherapist in the rehabilitation of respiratory patients using a range of delegated exercises and manual physical therapy treatments. Work where required without direct supervision and be responsible for assessing patient progress, reporting back to the appropriate team member, highlighting any variations to expected outcomes
- Monitoring specific respiratory physiotherapeutic techniques in the primary care setting, following agreed protocols, without the Physiotherapist necessarily being present. Alsomonitoring, supporting and encouraging self-management of respiratory patients who have been seen by the Community Respiratory Team or discharged from secondary care, including those on oxygen therapy, reporting back any concerns to a registered clinician
- Instruct patients and carers, providing direction and guidance on a range of physical therapy and mobility activities, e.g. home based exercise programmes for Respiratorypatients. To undertake simple initial mobility assessments and provide and teach the safe and appropriate use of walking aids.
- Encourage patients and their carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence. To provide training and advice, teaching and instruction to relatives and carers as required, to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy, and ensure a consistent approach to patient care. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills
- Be responsible for the administrative arrangements for organising Pulmonary Rehabilitation, e.g. rooms, equipment and paperwork. Gathering initial information regarding the patients from medical notes / databases as required. Carry out necessary clerical tasks as required by the Physiotherapist. To maintain accurate, comprehensiveand up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements. Handling complex or sensitive information provided or received appropriately. Be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the department. To maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
- Set up and keep tidy any work areas and clean equipment regularly. Ensure all equipment is safe and not damaged. Report any faulty equipment. Be responsible in ensuring that all equipment they use is used correctly and safely as per manufacturers guidelines.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Evidence of formal education with achievement of core literacy and numeracy skills
- Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care/diagnostic and therapeutic support or equivalent relevant qualification
- Demonstrate commitment to life long learning via personal development file
Desirable
- IT training/qualification
- NHS Care Certificate
Previous Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years experience working as a therapy assistant with either physiotherapists or occupational therapists or evidence of experience working in the field of exercise therapy
- To have worked independently managing own patient/client list
- Experience of liaising with other agencies, services and professional colleagues
- To have worked as part of a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous experience working with respiratory patients
- Evidence of active involvement in training e.g. presenting in inservice training
- To have worked in the community setting
- To have worked with exercise groups
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Computer literate
- Be able to assess, implement and assist in treatment programmes
- Good verbal and non-verbal communicator with the ability to motivate people
- To understand and practice confidentiality
- To have developed coping strategies to deal with the emotional nature of the work
- To have prioritisation skills to independently manage own workload
- Demonstrate a flexible and mature nature
Desirable
- Previous experience of managing/supporting a Pulmonary Rehabilitation class
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Good organisational skills
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- The post requires the ability to travel around the community area during the working day
Desirable
- Associate membership of CSP
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Evidence of formal education with achievement of core literacy and numeracy skills
- Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care/diagnostic and therapeutic support or equivalent relevant qualification
- Demonstrate commitment to life long learning via personal development file
Desirable
- IT training/qualification
- NHS Care Certificate
Previous Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years experience working as a therapy assistant with either physiotherapists or occupational therapists or evidence of experience working in the field of exercise therapy
- To have worked independently managing own patient/client list
- Experience of liaising with other agencies, services and professional colleagues
- To have worked as part of a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous experience working with respiratory patients
- Evidence of active involvement in training e.g. presenting in inservice training
- To have worked in the community setting
- To have worked with exercise groups
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Computer literate
- Be able to assess, implement and assist in treatment programmes
- Good verbal and non-verbal communicator with the ability to motivate people
- To understand and practice confidentiality
- To have developed coping strategies to deal with the emotional nature of the work
- To have prioritisation skills to independently manage own workload
- Demonstrate a flexible and mature nature
Desirable
- Previous experience of managing/supporting a Pulmonary Rehabilitation class
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Good organisational skills
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- The post requires the ability to travel around the community area during the working day
Desirable
- Associate membership of CSP
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.
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).
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.
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).
