An exciting job opportunity has arisen in our Community COPD and Home Oxygen Service and we are looking for a physiotherapist to join our team on a fixed-term contract. This role would suit a person with some respiratory experience from previous acute, sub-acute or community areas however this is not essential as we will be able to provide some training and support. We will consider applications from recent graduates who will have received their UK HCPC registration by September 2026.
As part of the NHS Long Term Plan there is a focus on Health Inequalities and increasing access to Pulmonary Rehabilitation. We are excited to be working with colleagues across North Central London on a five-year project that will address gaps in the provision of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and improve accessibility. This post has become available to support the delivery of PR in the Borough of Camden. You would be joining an innovative team where we have recently presented a thematic poster at the European Respiratory Society’s Congress on the outcomes of a ‘Remote PR Service’ developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This post is funded until the end of March 2027. There may be a possibility that additional funding will be secured and the post extended.
The main role will be supporting the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Lead in delivering a high-quality Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service and championing the Health Inequality Project work. There are opportunities for service development as we continue to deliver a remote program alongside a face-to-face service and consider further digital options to improve access. The team is actively collaborating with patients to develop and improve routes into and out of the program. We will be working towards accreditation of the service through the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services Accreditation Scheme.
The team works flexibly and there is an expectation (and opportunity) that all pathways may need to be covered with the appropriate support and training (e.g. domiciliary visits for COPD management,). It would be beneficial if you have some knowledge base of respiratory patients, including the assessment and treatment of people with COPD including breathlessness management and secretion clearance. You should also be digitally enabled to support and develop the current service
The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, will be able to work autonomously and as part of a team. Supervision will be provided from an experienced physiotherapist and other team members including respiratory consultants.
The team is based at The Peckwater Centre and operates 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
The main role will be supporting the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Lead in delivering a high-quality Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service and championing the Health Inequality Project work. There are opportunities for service development as we continue to deliver a remote program alongside a face-to-face service and consider further digital options to improve access. The team is actively collaborating with patients to develop and improve routes into and out of the program. We will be working towards accreditation of the service through the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services Accreditation Scheme.
The team works flexibly and there is an expectation (and opportunity) that all pathways may need to be covered with the appropriate support and training (e.g. domiciliary visits for COPD management,). It would be beneficial if you have some knowledge base of respiratory patients, including the assessment and treatment of people with COPD including breathlessness management and secretion clearance. You should also be digitally enabled to support and develop the current service
The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, will be able to work autonomously and as part of a team. Supervision will be provided from an experienced physiotherapist and other team members including respiratory consultants.
Please see Job Description for further detail
You will be expected to be a competent physiotherapist who is able to adapt to any of the clinical pathways in the COPD and Home Oxygen Service with the appropriate training and support. Your main duties will be within the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service supporting the PR Lead to provide a high quality program and work towards accreditation.
You will be part of an community team where your proven ability to make high level clinical decisions will aid patient self-management. This will include liaising with patient’s medical and therapy teams, making onward referrals to other community teams and liaising with the patients GP or other health care professional to support and promote independence in self-management and prevent unnecessary exacerbations and hospital admissions.
You will provide physiotherapy assessments, interventions and goal based rehabilitation. You will be expected to work autonomously and as part of a larger team in order to deliver a comprehensive self-management plan which at times may mean co-ordinating interventions, signposting patients and taking a keyworker role .
You will use evidence based principles/current best practice to guide your practice and ensure that all members of your team such as rehabilitation assistants complete their delegated work..
Your exceptional caseload management and communication skills will enable you to prioritise patient care. You will also work closely with the wider multi-disciplinary team including Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, Rehabilitation Assistants, Behaviour Change Specialist and any other health care professionals or voluntary sector agencies to support the patient’s needs. You will take responsibility for your own CPD.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
CLINICAL
To be professionally and legally accountable for all work undertaken. To work within the standards and guidelines of the team, the Trust, the CSP Code of Professional Values and Behaviour and the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
To undertake specialist physiotherapy assessment of clients with diverse needs through subjective questioning, objective assessment and other written material available.
To prioritise factors involved in the clients presenting condition through clinical reasoning based on knowledge of current professional opinion, clients prognosis and other physical, social emotional and mental health issues.
To set goals for treatment with clients and/or their carer and ensure that care is client centred and agreed by the client and/or their carer.
To set and maintain a high standard of clinical practice which is evidence based where possible, using standardised assessment and outcome measures, where appropriate
To independently triage/screen complex multi-disciplinary referrals from a variety of sources. This screening requires individual responsible action when at times no other professional is currently involved. This screening will establish priority, determine needs and initiate a plan of intervention.
You will be expected to assess a patient's safety to enter into the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program and be able to deliver the exercise and education components with supervision and guidance as necessary from senior staff.
To successfully monitor, evaluate and review physiotherapy treatment/interventions within a multi-disciplinary framework and modify as necessary, taking a key worker role as indicated
To use knowledge of other multi-disciplinary roles and external agencies to ensure effective referral management and achieve best client care.
To have the ability, knowledge and skills required for moving and handling people in community environments.
To ensure client and service records are recorded and maintained on IT databases and that client documentation is according to trust and local policies.
To prescribe, delegate and monitor the work of rehabilitation assistants and counter sign documentation as required.
To educate and teach the relevant carers/health workers to participate in on-going rehabilitation care programmes for clients, as appropriate.
To actively be involved in the development of new specialist clinical services within the Team, with support and guidance from senior therapy staff.
To manage clinical risk in own caseload and ensure that rehabilitation assistants and students comply e.g. manual handling risk assessment and local policy regarding lone working.
EDUCATION
1. To maintain and update a Continuing Professional Development Portfolio (CPD).
To utilise opportunities to develop skills and knowledge, apply critical appraisal and keep up to date with current practice in the field and attend accredited courses.
To participate in the in-service training, post registration training, lectures and education programmes to other therapists, other disciplines and to visitors to the department.
To participate in education programmes for client groups.
To actively participate in health promotion and health education initiatives within the locality and in the community directorate.
To comply with all mandatory training: fire, violence awareness, CPR, manual handling, child protection and safeguarding of vulnerable adults.
MANAGEMENT
To ensure that accurate and evaluative records of patient care and statistics are maintained in accordance with the service policy.
To evaluate your practice by assisting in clinical audit and completing outcome measures with support of senior therapists when required
To maintain and develop specific departmental duties as designated by the lead therapist.
To participate in the individual performance review system.
To provide informal day to day support to rehabilitation assistants/students.
To be responsible for the safe use of all equipment.
To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to the team leader immediately.
To comply with Trust policies and procedures, and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To participate in the collection of statistics and audit programmes as required by the service.
To participate in the induction of new staff members.
To attend, actively participate in and as required initiate and lead multi-disciplinary meetings and case conferences.
To attend physiotherapy staff meetings and other relevant meetings.
To use time management skills, to respond to demands from clients and staff on daily basis.
To undertake any other duties that may be allocated.
To work at other sites in the trust of required.
RESEARCH
To participate in the evaluation of physiotherapy practice/ the rehabilitation service.
2. To keep abreast of relevant clinical developments and research in the field of rehabilitation.
To participate in clinical governance activities and participate in audit to evaluate practice and implement evidence based changes.
Please see attached Job Description for further detail.
