Pulmonary Rehabilitation Community Assistant Practitioner

at  Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

This is an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Practitioner to join the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team based in King’s Lynn building skills and knowledge within chronic respiratory disease management and exercise. This new Service joins the established yet growing service in progress of working towards national accreditation for Pulmonary Rehabilitation .
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation team is a specialist service providing group education and exercise to people living with chronic respiratory disease. Care is delivered face to face, via virtual platforms and telephone.
You will have the opportunity to work alongside a multi-disciplinary team of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapist, Nurses and Technical Instructor assisting in delivering exercise and education classes to patients with respiratory disease in a variety of venues across Norfolk.
Training opportunities within respiratory care and exercise training will be offered and encouraged. Please refer to the job description and person specification for further details.
Knowledge of long term health conditions including respiratory disorders would be beneficial to the role. Specific training will be given to those unfamiliar with the specifics of Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
The Service will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
To contribute to the organisation and delivery of Pulmonary Rehabilitation (exercise, lifestyle, lung education) by a multi-disciplinary team for people who have a diagnosed long term lung condition including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Pulmonary Fibrosis. This will include assessing, planning, implementing and reviewing patients referred to the programme delegated by the registered clinicians in a variety of community settings (face to face and virtual).
NCH&C is proud to be the first standalone NHS community trust in the UK to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our focus is on continually improving the quality of care we offer to local people and on improving access to that care, helping people to move seamlessly from one service to another. Praising NCH&C’s “compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels”, the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.
Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment. As part of this commitment we actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible, to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce to maintain and improve their wellbeing. The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Professional / Clinical responsibilities
Assist the registered healthcare professionals in the delivery of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme in a variety of settings (including virtual and face to face).
To undertake core clinical observations (BP, respiratory rate, heart rate, pulse oximetry, temperature)
To understand respiratory conditions and how this affects people referred into Pulmonary Rehabilitation service.
To undertake delegated duties at venues within Norfolk Community Health and Care or at leisure/community centres across Norfolk. This will include administering respiratory assessment tools (CAT score, BORG score, walk tests) and assessing patients independently determining their suitability/safety to exercise with the support of a registered healthcare professional as required.
Work within established national guidelines
Manage caseload of non-complex respiratory patients without direct supervision but under the guidance of qualified staff in the performance of specific tasks for an individual or group of patients with lung disease, as part of their treatment.
To assess patient’s responses to interventions and decide on appropriate action, adapting treatments if necessary.
Devise a suitable individualised home exercise programme following completion of the course to maintain benefits longer term.
Carry out group work including education and health promotion, leading specific tasks where appropriate.
To implement treatment plans for complex patients as delegated by by registered clinician team member.
Assessing, issuing, and teaching patients with walking aids and ensuring they are used correctly. Provide patients with basic gait re-education and advice
To be aware at all times of the needs of the patients during illness or disability whilst promoting, encouraging independence and restoration of function.
To communicate with the registered health professionals in the team regarding changes in the patient’s condition or any other useful/important information.
Communication skills of encouragement, motivation and explanation with be needed to maximise rehabilitation potential and discussing how the programme may benefit patients. Barriers to communication within the client group identified and reasonable adjustments made to facilitate participation in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme.
To undertake administrative/clerical duties as required. This may include maintaining stock levels, registration of patients, filing, managing telephone calls and photocopying.
Communicate assessment and treatment outcomes from the programme to patients or clinicians as required. This will include letters/reports/questionnaires.
Support to the local Breathe Easy group as required and attendance at monthly meetings. This may include arranging guest speakers.
The role will involve good working relationships with a wide range of system partners (such as GPs, Practice Nurses, Consultants and community colleagues).
Information management
Ensure comprehensive, accurate patient records are completed using Systm 1 in line with the trusts policies.
To collect data and statistics as directed.
Education & Professional Development
Participate and actively seek clinical supervision and mentorship.
To be involved with the training, development, and supervision of other unregistered staff/students as appropriate.
Attend mandatory training as required.
Service Development
Involvement in service review and evaluation as undertaken by the team and Norfolk Community Health and Care
Participation and contribution to achieving and maintaining national Pulmonary Rehabilitation accreditation.
Attend and contribute to team meetings including broader service development such as changes to the Pulmonary rehabilitation programme content.
Demonstrate problem-solving and contribute to the solution, working with team colleagues.
Risk & Governance Management
Completion of service audits this includes mandatory trust audits and audits specific to Pulmonary Rehabilitation such as the National Respiratory Audit Programme (NRAP)
In conjunction with the clinical team take responsibility for the general care, cleaning, maintenance and safety of therapy equipment and work areas.
Promptly report any accidents/incidents/concerns to a relevant Health Care Professional and clinical lead by use of DATIX.
Trust Values
Trust Behaviour Framework
All post holders are required to adhere to the Trust’s Behaviour Framework in the undertaking of their duties.
Research & Development
May be required to undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work; may occasionally participate in R&D, clinical trials or equipment testing.
Safeguarding Clause
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Rigorous recruitment checks are carried out and where applicable to the role successful applicants will be required to undertake criminal records check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Infection Control
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust staff are responsible for protecting themselves and others against infection risks. All staff regardless of whether clinical or not are expected to comply with current infection control policies and procedures and to report any problems with regard to this to their managers. All staff undertaking patient care activities must attend infection control training and updates as required by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.
Health and Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), to ensure the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.
To ensure that the Trust’s Health and Safety Policies are understood and observed and that procedures are followed.
To ensure the appropriate use of equipment and facilities and the environment is maintained in good order.
To take the necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of themselves, patients, staff and visitors, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To undertake appropriate Health and Safety training to support safe working practice including, where appropriate, its management.
General
All staff are required to respect confidentiality of all matters that they learn as a result of the employment with the Trust, including matters relating to other members of the staff and members of the public/patients.
Maintain appropriate patient and clinical records in line with the Trusts policies and procedures, and in line with the agreed service specification.
The post holder will be expected to participate in an annual appraisal of their work where the job description will be reviewed, and objectives set. In line with the annual personal development plan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfil their role.
Ensure that all patients, clients and colleagues are treated at all times in an equitable manner, respecting diversity and showing an understanding of diversity in the workplace.
The post holder must carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the Trust’s Equality and Diversity Policies, Procedures and Schemes and must ensure that equality is promoted at all times.
NCHC is committed to supporting our voluntary workforce and all apprentices, and all staff are expected to welcome and support volunteers and apprentices in their teams.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder. The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties as may be required for the effective performance of the post

Please refer the Job description for details