Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Respiratory Therapy Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 22 September 2025

Job summary

Do you have an interest in respiratory patients and a caring nature that means you would like to help this client group improve their everyday lives by providing support to manage their anxiety and symptom management?

Are you passionate about empowering your patients? Would you like to join a highly motivated team that has been the recipient of the Trust's Clinical Team of the Year and has been nominated nationally for Excellence Awards? Our Team Moto is to "work in partnership to make a positive difference for those living with respiratory conditions".

With the emphasis on patient-centred and community-based care, there has never been a better time to join our team. Working alongside our occupational and physio therapists, you will help provide these patients with improved access to cognitive behavioural therapies either one-to- one or in a group, alongside helping your colleagues deliver their management interventions.

For the right candidate a full training and induction programme will be available. So please apply if you feel you can demonstrate a passion for wanting to make a difference to the lives of respiratory patients across East Kent.

Main duties of the job

As a respiratory therapy assistant practitioner, you will deliver excellent patient care along a care pathway across organisationalboundaries. Your role will involve supporting your senior colleagues to deliver individualised treatment plans for patients with complexrespiratory conditions.You will work alongside your allied health professional colleagues to deliver our recently established symptom management programmein a 1-1 and group setting. Your role will also include monitoring and assisting with equipment provision.In return for your hard work we can offer you a flexible working environment; personal development and a comprehensive corporate andlocal induction programme. As a trust, we strongly believe in making sure you have the right support, resources and training to enjoy yourjob and we provide a range of services to keep you in the best of health.This role is for 22.5 hours a week. We currently have bases in four localities across East Kent and this role works across all areas.Applicants will be expected to be flexible in their approach and travel across East Kent so must be able to drive and have access to a carfor use as part of their role.

Additional Working Pattern: 22.5 hours between Mon - Fri - pattern to be agreed

About us

Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we've got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent

We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences

We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn't visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission

The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won't involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We'll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both

See where you can go with KCHFTcareer pathways

Details

Date posted

08 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

846-7440035-CF

Job locations

East Kent

South Kent Coast, Ashford, Thanet and Canterbury

CT5 2HN


Job description

Job responsibilities

As a community Trust many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. As such you will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role to be able to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment, if you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a community Trust many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. As such you will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role to be able to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment, if you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant level 4 qualification (NVQ / QCF Diploma or certificate of care / Advanced apprenticeship) or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Experience as a Senior Healthcare Assistant / Worker in a health or social care setting
  • Full UK driving licence

Desirable

  • Experience within community healthcare setting or looking after respiratory patients in community setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of developments in the NHS and of up-to-date clinical practice

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the use of CBT to support behaviour change

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understands the role and remit of an unregistered worker

Desirable

  • Experience of motivational interviewing techniques or willingness to learn

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Sound communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)

Desirable

  • Knowledge of respiratory conditions and assessment

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Ability to organise own work

Ability to manage

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise and manage own time effectively
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant level 4 qualification (NVQ / QCF Diploma or certificate of care / Advanced apprenticeship) or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Experience as a Senior Healthcare Assistant / Worker in a health or social care setting
  • Full UK driving licence

Desirable

  • Experience within community healthcare setting or looking after respiratory patients in community setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of developments in the NHS and of up-to-date clinical practice

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the use of CBT to support behaviour change

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understands the role and remit of an unregistered worker

Desirable

  • Experience of motivational interviewing techniques or willingness to learn

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Sound communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)

Desirable

  • Knowledge of respiratory conditions and assessment

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Ability to organise own work

Ability to manage

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise and manage own time effectively

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).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

East Kent

South Kent Coast, Ashford, Thanet and Canterbury

CT5 2HN


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

East Kent

South Kent Coast, Ashford, Thanet and Canterbury

CT5 2HN


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist

Clair Gough

clair.gough@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

08 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

846-7440035-CF

Job locations

East Kent

South Kent Coast, Ashford, Thanet and Canterbury

CT5 2HN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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