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Job summary

Main area
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
Job ref
812-25-GM-PR-4
Employer
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Nevells Road Health Centre
Town
Letchworth Garden City
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
25/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust logo

Pulmonary Rehab Assistant Practitioner

Band 4

Job overview

The Pulmonary Rehab (PR) team is looking for a Pulmonary Rehab Assistant Practitioner to join its dynamic team, working alongside Physiotherapists and other members of the  team based at Nevells road health centre in Letchworth.  Although based at Nevells road health centre in Letchworth, the role will involve delivering pulmonary rehabilitation across East and North Hertfordshire.  

The Pulmonary Rehab team provide exercise and education classes to patients with respiratory problems delivered in a variety of venues, including health and leisure centres as well as in patient's homes.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will form a key part of the Pulmonary Rehab team.

The individual will need knowledge of exercise prescription and ideally will be currently working within the healthcare exercise sector; although this is not essential. The key skills required for this post are excellent communication across all age ranges, excellent organisational skills, motivational skills where barriers to exercise exist, flexibility and enthusiasm as well as the ability to work as part of a team.

Knowledge of long term health conditions including respiratory disorders would be beneficial to the role.

Please refer to the person specification for full details of qualifications and skills required.

The post will involve a wide variety of tasks including assessing patients to determine their suitability to exercise, running exercise classes for patients with respiratory problems in particular COPD.

The candidate will be required to work independently as well as alongside other staff members.

Specific training will be given for those candidates unfamiliar with the specifics of Pulmonary Rehab.

Use of System one, Excel spreadsheets and Word documents will be required; candidates must therefore be fully computer literate.

Working for our organisation

  •  A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
  • You’ll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff
  • We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities
  • Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust vision
  • We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds
  • We don’t want you to miss out so we’d like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now

You’ve made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we’re looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you

We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

PRINCIPAL  DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • To have an understanding of the disease process of COPD and other respiratory conditions and how it affects its sufferers.
  • To assist qualified Physiotherapists in the delivery of the pulmonary rehab service in a variety of settings (online and face to face).
  • To run exercise classes for patients with breathing problems independently, with the support of the Physiotherapist when required.
  • To assess patients with breathing problems independently and determine their suitability/safety for exercise with the support of the Physiotherapist as required.
  • To assist in the running of Pulmonary Rehab classes in community settings such as leisure centres without direct supervision from a qualified Physiotherapist.
  • To work independently with patients in leisure centre gyms and fitness studios whose case management is predictable.
  • To work within established guidelines.
  • To understand and be able to explain to patients and family members how Pulmonary Rehabilitation will help them cope with their chronic illness.
  • To assess patient’s responses to interventions and decide on appropriate action, adapting treatments if necessary.
  • To work independently in the community seeking support if required from qualified staff undertaking programmes and tasks as previously agreed and discussed by qualified staff.
  • To carry out exercise programmes with patients without direct supervision.
  • To plan, organise and prioritise their workload independently.
  • To report back to qualified staff on patient’s progress and report when physiotherapy reassessment is required.
  • To demonstrate an understanding of problem solving and contribute to the solutions with colleagues.
  • To make decisions on the timing of progression of the treatment programmes and when to discharge the patients in liaison with the physiotherapist if deemed to be required.
  • To communicate with the physiotherapists, and other members of the multi-professional team, regarding changes in the patient's condition or any other useful information.
  • To keep accurate and complete records consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
  • To provide advice and support and demonstrate activities to assistants and less experienced staff
  • To be aware at all times of the needs of patients during illness or disability and to promote and encourage independence and restoration of function.

 Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all its’ staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.

Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • Degree/Foundation Degree/Diploma in Health & Sports Science or similar; or NVQ 3 with significant experience of working as a Technical Instructor in Cardiac or Pulmonary Rehab with demonstration of related competencies
  • GCSE Maths & English grade C or above
Desirable criteria
  • Course in Healthcare or similar
  • Experience of working with elderly or disabled adults
  • NHS experience
  • Experience of the needs of people with a long term condition

Experience & Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience or knowledge of health & rehabilitation
Desirable criteria
  • Demonstration of theoretical knowledge and application in practice of those with a disability

Other

Essential criteria
  • Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardRace CodeVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyHSJ Best places to workCare quality commission - GoodDisability confident employerStep into healthNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Gillian MacDonald
Job title
Pulmonary Rehab Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07500 991112
Additional information

Name: Gillian MacDonald

Number: 07500 991112

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