NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.
The role:
As an Advanced Specialist Physiotherapist you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team contributing to the strategic development of the service, working closely with stakeholders, ensuring that policy and practice reflect the best practice and to support the delivery, evaluation and monitor the effectiveness of COPD/Respiratory for both patients and carers.
The Community Respiratory Team is a multidisciplinary team (MDT) that aims to support the vulnerable COPD population of Glasgow City Monday to Friday. It is an evidence based service, and evaluation has demonstrated effective return on investment (CRT, Final Report, 2017). The MDT is resourced specifically to support three distinct intervention pathways:
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Prevention of hospital admission (support for acute exacerbation)
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Early supported discharge
- Chronic disease management (rehabilitation and self-management)
The main role of the service is to provide a timely, individualised and clinically effective care, including assessment, treatment to support effective exacerbation management and avoidable hospital admission, maximise function and promote self-management. The service will work collaboratively with GPs and Secondary Respiratory Care Services including the Early Supported Discharge team
Team members: Physiotherapists, Nurses, OT, Pharmacist, Rehabilitation Support Worker, Business Support and Leadership roles.
In the context of developing services the post holder requires to be flexible and responsive to the needs of individual clients and the service, supporting management, engage in review, audit and evaluation, as appropriate.
Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:
- This is a permanent post with full and part-time hours considered due to additional available hours - please include in application or contact Team Leads to discuss these options.
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Shift Pattern - Monday-Friday 8.30- 4.30 with potential for weekend work in the future.
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You will be based at Woodside Health and Care Centre
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Previous applicants need not apply.
Key responsibilities:
Clinical
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Undertake autonomously, the advanced, comprehensive and holistic assessment of patients with COPD using Investigative, observational, analytical and problem solving skills.
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To contribute to the decision regarding whether a patient is appropriate to be treated at home or whether they require an acute hospital admission.
- To support effective flow through the team and best use of resources including effective triage, prioritisation decisions and discharge decisions.
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To form individualised treatment and maintenance plans using advanced clinical reasoning and extended treatment skills to formulate specialised programmes of care including patient centred goal planning to support post exacerbation rehabilitation and effective self-management of COPD.
- Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.
- Provide an immediate therapeutic intervention or management strategy to COPD patients at crisis point to prevent unnecessary hospital admission, liaising with GPs, Hospital @ Home where required.
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To record accurate and legible clinical observations in a timely manner.
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To develop and maintain skills in order to practice at highly specialist level e.g. chest clearance.
- To provide expert treatment using highly developed manual skills.
- To provide supervision, training, advice and guidance to healthcare CRT staff.
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To manage an identifiable caseload of patients effectively and efficiently-personally undertaking the most highly complex cases or assisting, guiding and supervising less experienced staff in their management and care.
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To provide expert clinical knowledge in relation to patients with complex needs and comorbidities and support Consultant led MDT coordination and care delivery.
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May initiate medication prescribing, administration and management in line with Patient Group Directive’s or Non-Medical Prescribing as required for specialist role and in line with prescribing competence
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Work collaboratively with medical consultants, GPs and multidisciplinary team to maintain and develop scope of practice/ knowledge and develop pathways within specialist field to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service for individual patients and the service as a whole.
Education
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To act as an expert resource to educate, coach and develop physiotherapy staff, students, and other healthcare professionals to enable professional development, best practice and maximise service capability. .
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To be actively involved in the development, delivery and facilitation of formal and informal in-service training to include less experienced staff members of the respiratory team.
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To pro-actively seek ways to develop and support patient self-management and education.
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To be responsible for own CPD through experiential learning, self-directed learning and courses and maintain a CPD portfolio.
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Actively promote the CRT as an example of best practice
- Participating in the learning needs analysis, education and induction of new staff and less experienced staff members.
Audit/Evaluation/Research
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To identify, develop and deliver appropriate audit of clinical practice, activity and effectiveness of interventions and in particular to evaluate efficacy of new service. This includes the dissemination and presentation of research findings at appropriate forums and conferences.
- To keep abreast of evidenced based practice in the clinical field by the use of relevant reading, attendance at in-service training, external courses and database services.
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To contribute to the future development of the CRT.
- To initiate and contribute to research in specialist field which will directly contribute to patient management and also the improvement and development of the service.
- Interpret newly generated research findings in specialist field determining how to implement through application of advanced knowledge and skills, disseminating findings internally to influence best practice.
Service Development
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To plan and support specific areas of service development and redesign work within specialist area including influencing clinical change and patient management in order to enhance the patient journey.
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Contribute to the development of local procedures and protocols ensuring compliance with national legislation and local policies.
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To promote a culture of continuous improvement within the service, identifying opportunities for service development.
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Modelling and facilitating an effective team culture that promotes psychological safety, civility and team learning.
Management
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To provide effective day to day clinical management of the community respiratory team this includes allocation of work to junior staff in the absence of the Team Lead.
- Delegate appropriate caseload and tasks and supervise less experienced staff including support staff to maximise efficiency and achieve desired quality of care.
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Take responsibility for local staff management problem solving e.g. timekeeping and staff performance issues where necessary.
- To liaise directly and work collaboratively with key healthcare colleagues across Glasgow who have responsibility for community respiratory service development, e.g. secondary care physician, smoking cessation nurses, pulmonary rehabilitation service and GPs in order to ensure equity, efficacy and development of the service.
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To identify, support and contribute to service and policy development and innovation by providing knowledge, skills and advice from own area of expertise.
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To contribute to the HSCP targets for reduction of emergency admissions due to COPD and the HSCP framework for long term conditions, as well as being responsible for delivery of agreed personal performance targets.
- Promote the development of a flexible and skilled interdisciplinary workforce and support an inclusive, learning and psychologically safe team culture.
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Participate in the effective management of resources including stores supplies, pharmacy supplies and maintenance of equipment.
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Identify any gaps and pressures in service and discuss and implement remedial action with the Team Leader and/or Service Manager.
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Participate in the recruitment process where appropriate.
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Participate in and undertake Personal Development and Performance Review to promote personal and service developments.
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Undertake and provide clinical supervision and facilitate reflective practice and learning from experience within the team
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Be aware of budgetary constraints but not a budget holder.
Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:
- Degree or diploma leading to Physiotherapy Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.
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Current HCPC registration.
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Significant post graduate experience including experience working at a senior level within respiratory/COPD field.
- Achieved or working towards non-medical prescribing qualification.
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Achieved advanced assessment and decision making at Masters level or evidence of advanced specialist decision making skills within experience or professional development.
- Evidence of application of acquired skills related to speciality.
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Driver with full Driving license is desirable
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Knowledge of current best practice in chosen specialty.
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Documented evidence of commitment to CPD.
- Advanced communication skills.
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Ability to work independently.
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Supervisory experience.
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Awareness of learning needs.
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It would be desirable to have an interest in working towards: Advanced Assessment and Non-Medical Prescribing
What we offer:
We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.
As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:
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A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
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Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
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Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
- Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
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Enhanced pay for working public holidays
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NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
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Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion, please contact:
Kirsten Farrell/Marianne Milligan, Team Leads - [email protected] / [email protected] - 0141 800 0790
Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates
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From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part-time working hours will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.
By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.
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