Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Take a key role in running the Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme across the geographical area and support the Team Lead with the Accreditation process.

• Undertake advanced assessment and treatment of clients as part of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme via telephone, video, and face-to-face consultations. Use clinical reasoning skills to determine appropriate treatment options, maintaining records as an autonomous practitioner.

• Support the Team Lead with policy development and implementation of policy changes within the specialty, affecting the wider Respiratory Therapy Service and the Trust beyond Physiotherapy.

• Actively ensure the Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme runs smoothly and efficiently, optimizing rota flexibility to meet expected national standards.

• Support training programmes to prepare qualified and non-qualified therapy staff, multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members, and carers to deliver optimal respiratory care across North and Mid Bedfordshire.

• Conduct comprehensive respiratory assessments both virtually and face to face, including complex cases, using investigative and analytical skills to formulate individualized management and treatment plans with a wide range of treatment options.

• Ensure a high standard of clinical care for all respiratory patients across organisations.

• Manage a specialised caseload, taking professional responsibility and accountability for all aspects of patient care.

• Contribute to improving patient care standards by implementing evidence-based respiratory therapy programmes and evaluating their effectiveness.

• Provide advice, teaching, and instruction to relatives, carers, colleagues, and other professionals to promote understanding of respiratory therapy goals and ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

• Communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximize rehabilitation potential and ensure understanding of their condition and treatment. Use skills in persuasion, motivation, explanation, and informed consent with diverse patient groups.

• Assess patient understanding of treatment, obtain consent, and work within the legal framework for patients who lack capacity.

• Manage clinical risk for your caseload.

• Maintain accurate, comprehensive patient records in line with professional and local standards.

• Represent the therapy service and/or patients at MDT meetings to ensure coordinated multi-disciplinary care, integrate respiratory therapy into treatment plans, and discuss patient progress and discharge planning.

• Work as a lone practitioner in community and domiciliary settings, using telephone support and buddy systems as appropriate.

• Supervise junior and student therapists in clinical development and record keeping.

• Ensure the safe and competent use of all patient appliances and equipment, providing written and verbal instructions to staff and patients.

• Seek advice and support from specialist physiotherapists for complex clinical situations to enhance clinical reasoning and skills.

• Maintain own continuing professional development (CPD), stay updated with specialist field advancements, incorporate best practices into work, and share knowledge with colleagues.

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with physiotherapy and MDT colleagues across health, social care, and voluntary sectors to deliver coordinated multidisciplinary palliative care.

• Provide support, guidance, and training to therapists, assistant practitioners, technical instructors, and administrative staff within the respiratory therapy team; contribute to their performance assessments and appraisals alongside the Team Lead.

• Assist with training for MDT members, delivering formal and informal sessions to medical, nursing, allied health professionals, and students.

• Demonstrate sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management, applying principles to your work and encouraging others to do the same.

• Communicate assessment and treatment results verbally and through reports and letters to appropriate disciplines.

• Communicate effectively at all levels with patients (virtually and face to face) and all involved in their care, including those with complex speech and language difficulties.

• Attend organised training sessions and complete all relevant competencies within agreed timeframes.

• Collect appropriate statistical data in line with departmental procedures.

• Deputise for the Team Lead when required.

• Identify opportunities to improve the respiratory therapy service and Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme collaboratively with senior staff, aiming to deliver the best patient care within available resources.

• Prioritise your workload, balancing patient care and professional demands in line with departmental and regional objectives, with support from the Team Lead as needed.

• Participate in data collection for service monitoring, audit, and research projects, both within the multidisciplinary team and department.

• Perform any other duties deemed appropriate by the Team Lead, Community Professional Lead Physiotherapist, or Head of Therapies following consultation.

• Participate in the Trust’s weekend and Bank Holiday service rota and be available for flexible working arrangements.