Assistant Practitioner

Do you have an interest in Respiratory care? DO you want to work in a forward thinking innovative community service? Then this job could be for you
We are an integrated respiratory service supporting people with chronic respiratory disease to the population of Knowsley. The wider service provides a community diagnostic service, multi-professional lead consultant clinics, admission avoidance, oxygen services, pulmonary rehabilitation, palliative service, smoking cessation and psychology services.
The post holder will support in the running of pulmonary rehabilitation classes, including delivery of the exercise components and education sessions. The post holder will also support 1:1 home exercise programmes with people who are not able to come to the classes and progress exercise as appropriate. The post holder will also be involved in ambulatory oxygen therapy safety checks.
As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.
We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.
We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.
Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and our encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms.
JOB SUMMARY
The assistant practitioner will function at a higher competency level than that of other rehabilitation support staff. The assistant practitioner will assist the pulmonary rehabilitation staff in the delivery of the Knowsley pulmonary rehabilitation service. The assistant practitioner will be required to review and treat patients without direct supervision as delegated by a physiotherapist / exercise physiology staff, within department guidelines and protocols. The assistant practitioner will be responsible for the provision of the house bound PR programme and will assist the delivery of pulmonary rehab groups and community walks.
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Provide care for respiratory patients referred for pulmonary rehabilitation under the direction of a physiotherapist. Care includes delivery of individual exercise prescriptions, progressing activity and the safe running of groups and community walks.
2. To work with physiotherapists, exercise physiology staff and the wider KCRS nursing staff in the provision of therapy management for more complex patients.
3. To supervise the use of ambulatory oxygen therapy in exercise sessions and highlight issues to the physiotherapy staff.
4. To provide specific treatment plans and to modify and progress treatment within the scope of competencies.
5. To communicate effectively with patients and families/carers, motivating and persuading concordance with exercise regimes and physiotherapy treatments.
6. To teach patients, families/carers and staff to continue treatments independently as directed.
7. To communicate to the physiotherapist any changes in a patient’s condition.
8. To teach and modify exercise techniques and ensure safe use of exercise equipement
9. Undertake administrative tasks i.e. photocopying, filing
10. Assist with department data input and audit.