Pulmonary Rehab Assistant Practitioner

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 online and well as in patient's homes.

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

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.

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