Respiratory Physiotherapist in Plymouth

An exciting opportunity through investment has arisen for a Band 6 Physiotherapist to join our Respiratory Team here at Livewell Southwest. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a specialist interest in Respiratory care. We are a specialist team made up of Physiotherapists, Nurses and Support workers delivering Pulmonary Rehabilitation and respiratory care to patients living in their own homes. We have close links with primary and secondary care working closely with colleagues to deliver high quality care for our patients.

Key ongoing developments are the expansion of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service, and developing partnership working with virtual wards to help prevent hospital admissions for the Respiratory population we serve. This is an exciting time for the successful individual to support in the shaping and development of the service. You will benefit from working in a small supportive team with the opportunity to develop leadership and service improvement skills.

Main duties of the job:

• Undertake a leading role in the planning, coordination, delivery and evaluation of high-quality assessment at Pulmonary rehabilitation, implementing treatment and long-term management of patients with chronic respiratory conditions within their homes.
• Conduct comprehensive respiratory assessments of patients requiring airway clearance, breathlessness management or those with worsening symptoms of long term condition.
• Identify and implement appropriate use of treatment modalities to support patients and their families to manage exacerbations and avoid hospital admissions, supporting self-management.
• Act as a resource of specialist expertise for patients and the wider MDT within Livewell Southwest, Primary and Secondary Care partners.
• Be involved in the planning, co-ordination and delivery of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation across the Livewell footprint including demonstration of exercise classes and provision of educational talks.
• Be familiar with OPEP devices, Salbutamol PGD, Ambulatory Oxygen provision via part B prescribing, recognition of need for referral to Oxygen clinic, auscultation, interpretation of x-rays, understanding of Spirometry interpretation and prescription of exercises.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service. Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

About us:

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs. As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values: kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives. We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the service user is aware of the role and philosophy of Respiratory Physiotherapy and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
• Keeping up to date with mental capacity legislation, assessing mental capacity and imparting sufficient information to the service user in order to gain valid informed consent.
• Acting in a service user's best interest at all times, factoring in their known views, beliefs, values, and instructions expressed.
• Participating in complex MDT functions and supporting individuals with decision making around the application of the Mental Capacity Act.
• Undertaking comprehensive assessments of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills.
• Demonstrating a high level of understanding of conditions relevant to the diagnostic area.
• Carrying out baseline medical observations and sharing this information with other health and social care professionals.
• Maintaining competence in the use of Basic Patient Handling techniques and equipment.
• Understanding and complying with the safeguarding process.
• Coordinating, planning, recording, reviewing, reporting and discussing goal setting and treatment programme progress.
• Providing education and advice to service users, carers and/or family members regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual, and physical deficits.
• Facilitating the return of people currently in an inpatient setting who wish to return home.
• Referring to and liaising with follow up services to ensure continuity of care.

Person Specification:

Experience:

• Experience of waiting list management and ability to triage and prioritise referrals and clinical caseload.
• Post-graduate clinical experience working in the profession.
• Experience of working in inpatient, outpatient and community settings.
• Understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications for services.
• Experience of patient group work.

Specific Skills:

• Specialised skills in clinical assessment, intervention and evaluation.
• Service development and quality improvement skills.
• Ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with patients, colleagues and other partners.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Good time management and organisational skills.

Qualifications:

• Degree or equivalent in physiotherapy.
• HCPC Registration.
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio.
• Can demonstrate substantial relevant experience within the NHS.
• Membership of relevant Special Interest Group.

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