Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·         To assist in the delivery of the integrated respiratory service for people with complex and highly

specialised needs in both hospital and community settings.

• To provide specialist respiratory advice and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals within the trust and community settings as required.

• To ensure continuity of a high standard of evidence based respiratory care, assessing health, health related and the needs of patients, their families and other carers by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care. This can include:

• • Managing a patient caseload
  • Ordering diagnostic tests
  • Admitting and discharging patients for specified conditions and within agreed protocols
  • Running clinics
  • Prescribing medicines and treatments

• To accept responsibility for the inpatient respiratory caseload, ensuring all parties have an accurate plan of care, which reflects the assessment undertaken and incorporates the issues and recommendations made ensuring clear documentation in the patient’s records and hand held records.

• To arrange follow-up for patients as appropriate and ensure all relevant information is available to enable patients to make an informed choice about their treatment.

• To deliver a seamless service through the development of enhanced multidisciplinary team (MDT) processes and communication to ensure continuity of care.

• To participate in the identification and development of clinical protocols and strategies to enhance both the continuity and standard of specialist respiratory care whilst ensuring equity of access in the service.

• To participate in the process of operational policies review annually in accordance with national standards.

• To have in-depth understanding of spirometry and FeNO and be confident in the diagnosis of COPD and asthma
• To develop in depth knowledge of medication, its actions and contra-indications and be able to discuss changes where necessary with GPs or other referrers.

• Advise, guide and teach junior staff and students in the assessment and management of respiratory patients and other aspects of clinical practice

• To ensure all care given in accordance with agreed protocols.

• To work with key staff members to maintain health professional-led assessment; providing detailed baseline patient assessment, education, and support to patients and their families.

• To liaise with ward staff to ensure appropriate and timely discharge/follow up arrangement in place for patients.

• To work in the community in patients’ own homes as required under the integrated respiratory service.

• To maintain a suitable mechanism for MDT referrals to the service

• To work with the MDT to develop, implement and evaluate integrated care pathways and systems of MDT documentation.

• To actively involve service users in providing feedback of their experience of the current service and suggestions for improvements.

• To participate in relevant meetings for Division, Trust or CCG level to represent the service perspective.