Job Description
1. JOB DETAILS
Job title: Respiratory Therapy Assistant
Accountable to: Locality General Manager
Location: Kendal
2. JOB SUMMARY
All staff are expected to work to the Trust Values:
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We act with kindness - We never forget we are here for our patients.
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We are ambitious - We never stop improving.
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We are fair - We strive to bring about social equity.
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We show spirit - We are energetic, resourceful and determined
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Be a key member of the highly specialised multi-disciplinary Community
Respiratory Team, working collaboratively with other team members across the
South Lakes Health Community.
To assist the team in the assessment, treatment, evaluation, future planning and
monitoring of patient needs, providing direct health and social care, treatment
and therapy to promote independent living for patients with all levels of severity of
respiratory disease.
To assist the Community Respiratory Team with day to day administrative work
To be responsible for the administrative duties relating to the organising, running
and patient communication aspects of the pulmonary rehabilitation programme.
Undertake a variety of skills and tasks, for example: facilitating patients with their
pulmonary rehabilitation physical exercises, relaxation, and promoting disease
education which may include health promotion &, smoking cessation advice and
support.
Where relevant, providing day-to-day management of a group of patients in their
own homes.
To take responsibility for own actions, provide regular feedback to the team and
complete patient records to assist with care planning.
To maintain knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes necessary to deliver an
evidenced based service that is responsive to the changing needs of the locality
population and the service.
3. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT
The Community Respiratory Team, in partnership with other disciplines, agencies,
patients and carers, provides a high quality acute and rehabilitative respiratory
intermediate care service that enhances the patient experience within a governance
framework. This Respiratory Team also triages respiratory related referrals to
secondary care, assessing and advising on the management of these patients as
well as facilitating the attainment of high respiratory clinical standards within the
general practice team.
4. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Locality General
Manager
Clinical Services
Manager
Clinical Lead for
Respiratory service
Respiratory
Nurse Specialists
Specialist Respiratory
Occupational
Therapist
Respiratory
Nurse
Specialists
Team
Secretary
Specialist
Respiratory
Physiotherapist
Respiratory
Therapy
Assistant
5. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Community respiratory service and other staff / services within the organisation
Patients and their representatives
6. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST
Accountability / Freedom to act
Be directly responsible to the clinical specialists of the Community Respiratory
Team; the Physiotherapy staff will often be the first point of contact however all the
Community Respiratory Team clinicians will have responsibility to indirectly
supervise.
Work within the national standards and professional codes of conduct for Therapy
Assistants and work under clinical supervision within a range of community settings
and patients’ homes.
CLINICAL PRACTICE
Work within your own competency to support from clinicians in a range of settings in
the community, at times without direct supervision and managing own standards of
practice.
Take responsibility for the organisation of, and to assist the respiratory
physiotherapy staff in the running of the pulmonary rehabilitation programmes,
providing continuity for patients during the whole programme.
Regularly monitor and reassess patients’ progress and report back any changes to
the clinical case holder, recognising when patients have reached the desired goals
or have additional needs requiring reassessment by the qualified respiratory staff.
Under their guidance and supervision, assist the clinical specialists in developing,
organising, coordinating and delivering an evidenced based pulmonary rehabilitation
programme. To support staff to when required with patients activities of daily living
(ADL), group education sessions, and other elements of the service that seek to
promote rehabilitation and the independence of patients with respiratory disease.
Work in an encouraging, motivating and enabling way, to facilitate the independence
of patients with respiratory disease according to agreed rehabilitation plans.
During the exercise programmes assist the clinician in motivating patients and
encourage participation in activities.
To assist the Community Respiratory Team with assessments, individual treatments
and health promotion activities in various community settings including patients’
homes.
In accordance with trusts infection control policy be responsible for the maintenance
of equipment hygiene
Actively promote awareness of the importance of exercise and participation in
physical activities. Promote healthy lifestyles, especially smoking cessation; and be
willing to undertake training to be a stop smoking advisor.
Remind patients to take their prescribed medication within Cumbria PCT practice
guidelines and guidance from respiratory team clinicians.
Maintain a high level of personal skill, practical knowledge, qualifications and clinical
competence to enable safe working practice.
Maintain accurate and legible patient records and use the IT systems to enter data
as required by the Community Respiratory Service and Cumbria PCT.
To develop effective working relationships and ensure effective communication with
patients, carers, the MDT, other staff and outside agencies, maintaining
confidentiality at all times and resulting in effective, co-ordinated care for clients.
Contribute to management supervision.
Assist in the development of protocols and risk assessments.
Participate in the development and expansion of the Community Respiratory
Service.
EDUCATOR:
Discuss with patients issues relevant to their health and social care needs based on
health promotion and good social care practice.
Assist in the development and delivery of training packages to a range of staff in the
wider health and social care community.
RESEARCH / AUDIT ROLE:
To incorporate nationally agreed standards and guidelines into clinical practice.
To participate in clinical audit of the service on a regular basis so that patient care is
continuously reviewed and improved and ensuring that documentation and record
keeping is comprehensively maintained.
PROFESSIONAL ROLE:
In order to help maintain and develop knowledge and skills, to participate in an
annual KSF professional development review which includes discussion around own
professional development plan. To take responsibility for ones own continuing
professional development according to the agreed professional development plan.
Maintain a development portfolio.
Following attendance at study days / conferences, to consolidate own learning and
to share this with other members of the Community Respiratory Team by providing
feedback at Team meetings.
Incorporate new and established evidence into practice as instructed by a clinical
specialist member of the Community Respiratory Team.
Access relevant professional clinical supervision to maintain own clinical practice.
Provide support and advice to other staff based within the community acting within
own clinical competency.
Assist in the supervision of any students on placement.
Contribute to the induction of all new staff.
Share responsibility for cost effective use of budgetary resources.
Ensure a safe environment for patients, relatives and staff, whilst maintaining a
working knowledge of the appropriate health and safety policies. Also report all
hazards to senior clinicians and Community Respiratory Service Manager and take
remedial action where appropriate.
To ensure that all complaints, untoward incidents, accidents and areas of clinical risk
are identified and reported in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
To be aware of and work within the policies of Cumbria PCT and to carry out such
duties as may be required and that are consistent with the responsibility of this
banding.
The main policies that relate to this post are:
Equal opportunities and Diversity Awareness
Fire
Smoking
Health and Safety / Risk Assessment
Manual handling
Security and Personal Safety
CPR
Data protection
Vulnerable persons / Adult Protection
To promote equal opportunities for staff and clients in accordance with Cumbria PCT
policies to ensure that no person receives less favourable treatment than another on
the grounds of age, sex, marital status, race, religion, colour, creed, nationality,
ethnic or sexual orientation.
COMMUNICATION
Maintain accurate and timely case notes to trust and professional standards.
Provide and receive written and verbal information regarding a patients’ condition
and abilities.
Use skills to ensure patients and carers understand the intervention or plan and gain
informed consent. This may include patients who will have difficulties in
understanding or communicating, e.g. patients who may be deaf, blind, or be unable
to accept diagnosis or presenting condition.
Be able to communicate sensitive information where agreement and cooperation is
required e.g. discussion and advice to medical staff, other health professionals and
social services regarding the management of patients within the service.
Ensure effective communication with patients, carers, other members of the
Community Respiratory Team, other primary care staff and outside agencies,
maintaining confidentiality at all times.
Attend and contribute to all relevant meetings.
FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES
Identify the need for new and replacement stock and advise the MDT and
Community Respiratory Service Manager.
Be responsible for the safe use of equipment by self and others.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Demonstrate and teach own skills to Health Care Assistants working in the
community, where appropriate.
Participate in PDR.
Ensure all serious and untoward incidents and major risks are notified through the
appropriate reporting mechanisms.
Ensure systems which support appropriate response to untoward incidents and risk
are followed within the programme.
INFORMATION RESOURCES
Provide information to other disciplines and organisations, as required. Liaising with
clinical and non clinical staff across Cumbria PCT
Assist with the development of service information, assessment tools and packages.
Maintain own appropriate statistical returns, including computerised data.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL EFFORT REQUIRED
Driving for short to medium distances daily.
Potential exposure to adverse weather conditions in rural areas.
Use of a keyboard and VDU screen, daily.
Transfer of medium to heavy loads e.g. Oxygen cylinders, Pulmonary Rehabilitation
and other equipment and supplies, daily.
Comply with the Trusts Manual Handling policy and exhibit high levels of manual
handling skills when carrying out assessments and treatments, with moderate effort
throughout the day. This will involve mobilising bariatric patients.
High physical effort required working on the pulmonary rehabilitation programme and
in the community demonstrating exercises and motivating throughout each day.
Some physical co ordination and dexterity required.
Delivering treatments to patients using persuasion, empathy and well developed non
verbal skills to overcome barriers to understanding, or behaviours relating to
depression/ anxiety/ disabilities.
On occasions, dealing with highly distressed patients and carers.
Maintaining flexibility of working patterns to accommodate changing presentations of
patients.
Exposure to bodily fluid on a daily basis .i.e. sputum, saliva, vomit, faeces and urine.
Potential risk of exposure to substances, organisms, or parasites, that may damage
health.
To be able to operate as a lone worker in the community setting.
7. WORK SETTING AND REVIEW
8. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The post holder is expected to
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adhere to Trust policies and procedures and relevant legislation including the
requirements of the any professional bodies
attend mandatory training as identified by the Trust
adhere to Trust infection prevention policies, procedures, audits in line with the
Health Act 2006, to actively reduce Health Care Associated Infections
9. CONFIDENTIALITY
The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients’ staff
and Trust business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Caldicott
principles.
10. HEALTH AND SAFETY
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health
& Safety at work Act (1974), to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried
out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.
11. RISK MANAGEMENT
All staff have a responsibility to report all clinical and non-clinical accidents, incidents
or near-misses promptly and when requested to co-operate with any investigations
undertaken.
12. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
All employees of the Trust have responsibility to:
 Act in ways that support equality and value diversity.
 Treat everyone with whom they come into contact with dignity and respect.
 Act in ways that are in accordance with Trust’s Single Equality Scheme,
Equality and Diversity policy, and Dignity in the Workplace policy.
13. SAFEGUARDING
All employees have a duty for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and adults at risk. Staff must be familiar with the trusts Safeguarding Policy and the
process for raising concerns about the welfare of anyone with whom they have
contact. Staff must also ensure they receive the appropriate level of safeguarding
children and adult training depending on their role in the Trust.
Staff are expected to access supervision and support from their line managers
and/or the locality based safeguarding team when managing complex cases where
applicable to their role.
14. INFORMATION GOVERNANCE
The post holder must keep up to date with the requirements of information
governance; undertake mandatory training and follow Trust policies and procedures
to ensure that trust information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently and
effectively.
It is important that the post holder processes personal identifiable information only in
accordance with the Trust Data Protection Act notification to the Information
Commissioner. The post holder must check with the Data Protection Officer before
creating new systems to process person identifiable information to ensure that this is
carried out within the scope of the Data Protection Act 1998 notification.
The post holder must manage the records they create or hold during the course of
their employment with the Trust in an appropriate way, making the records available
for sharing in a controlled manner subject to statutory requirements and agreed
security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines e.g. Data Protection
Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Caldicott Guidelines NHS Confidentiality
Code of Conduct 2003, and professional codes of conduct on confidentiality.
The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about service user
staff and organisational business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998
and Caldicott principles.
It is likely that the post holder will be in contact at some time with a form of
information system, and therefore are responsible for implementing and maintaining
data quality. The post holder, when making entries into records, must ensure that
these are legible and attributable and that the record keeping is contemporaneous.
It is essential that information recorded within records either on paper, in an
electronic format or both paper and electronic is accurate, complete and relevant.
15. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
Post holder’s signature
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Date
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Line Manager’s signature ………………………………………..
Date
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST TITLE: Respiratory Therapy Assistant
Factor
Qualifications
Essential
Have undertaken a recognised
health related- exercise
qualification (to NVQ level 3 or
equivalent), or willingness to
undertake health-related exercise
training.
Desirable
O Level / GCSE English & Maths /
Administrative / secretarial related
qualification (or equivalent)
Have undertaken training relating
to respiratory or chronic disease
management, or shows a
willingness and competency to
undertake respiratory disease
training required to support this
role.
Evidence of current continuing
professional development.
Care Certificate or the willingness
and ability to undertake
(applicable for all non-registered
support workers that provide health
care)
Knowledge/Experienc
e
Demonstrable experience of
working in a health care or
customer service setting that has
required the use of good
communication and people skills
Experience of administrative
responsibilities
Experience of working in a team
environment
Experience of working in a role
where a degree of organisation,
autonomy and responsibility has
been required
Experience of working
with people in
rehabilitation / enabling
setting.
Proven experience as a
band 2 or 3 Support
Worker, Therapy
Assistant, Technical
Instructor or equivalent.
Knowledge of audit
processes.
Experience of using leadership
qualities in a positive and
successful way.
Knowledge / Understanding of
physical, social and psychological
difficulties people with chronic
health problems may experience.
Skills and Aptitudes
Excellent written, verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
Excellent Interpersonal skills.
Ability to use own initiative and
work independently, whilst working
within a competency framework
and team environment.
An understanding of and
commitment to equal opportunities
issues both within the workplace
and the community in general.
Ability to develop and implement
initiatives and changes,
contributing to service development
in liaison with the team.
Ability to organise own workload
and work to deadlines.
Good administrative skills and
competent use of Microsoft suit.
Car driver – current UK driving
licence and access to own vehicle.
Personal
Circumstances
We are seeking a compassionate /
empathetic / understanding
individual who demonstrates a
positive, kind and supportive
attitude towards this client group
and their carers.
Basic knowledge of
common respiratory /
chronic health
conditions.
The successful candidate would be
committed to long term
development within this post of
therapy assistant working within
our respiratory service, and
demonstrate an enthusiasm for this
post.
Conscientious, honest and reliable,
demonstrating a flexible and
mature attitude.
Motivated to develop their
knowledge and skills related to the
post of respiratory therapy
assistant, and willing to undertake
additional responsibilities and
training as opportunity arises or
service development requires.
Motivated to contribute towards
and support the development of the
respiratory service and pulmonary
rehabilitation programme.
A commitment to the provision of
anti-discriminatory and antioppressive practice.
A commitment to safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of vulnerable
adults.
Demonstrate the ability to manage
and prioritise own workload.
Other requirements
To have the ability to complete
tasks that may involve bending,
kneeling or frequent repetitive
activities often in confined
restricted places.
Act in ways that support equality
and value diversity
To be able to travel to different
parts of South Cumbria
independent of public transport
PERSON SPECIFICATION AGREEMENT
Post holder
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Date
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Line Manager
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Date
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