Band 7 Highly Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist

Job summary

Highly Specialist Physiotherapist - Respiratory (Medical) Physiotherapy Team Lead

University Hospital Lewisham

We are seeking a dynamic and talented senior Respiratory Physiotherapist to work and lead the medical respiratory physiotherapy service at University Hospital Lewisham. The post holder will be supervised by the Clinical Specialist Critical Care (cross-site) Physiotherapist, and Inpatient Lead Physiotherapist, and work alongside the physiotherapy lead for critical care and surgery. They will work as part of a large respiratory physiotherapy team as well as working as part of the wider trust respiratory physiotherapy service.

This exciting opportunity includes leading the Lewisham adult Cystic Fibrosis physiotherapy service, working closely with the CF MDT in the outpatient and inpatient settings. Additionally, this post holder will lead the acute NIV service including supporting our Assisted Ventilation Unit.

This exciting opportunity will allow the successful candidate to gain experience and develop advanced clinical and leadership skills. In this role, you would have the opportunity to experience the diversity of working across the London Borough of Lewisham.

The caseload will comprise of a mixture of medical and respiratory inpatients, including those with an altered airway, in addition to the Cystic Fibrosis and NIV caseloads. Therapies are considered an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team at Lewisham and Greenwich Trust and enjoy close MDT working.

Main duties of the job

We support staff to attend courses and further education to allow progression in your clinical specialty, as well as senior leadership skills. This is supported both with access to paid study leave and course funding. All senior therapists are encouraged to take an active role in trust wide quality improvement, audit and service development.

The physiotherapy department within Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is highly regarded as an inclusive and supportive team. If you are a motivated Physiotherapist looking to progress as a Highly Specialist Medical Respiratory Physiotherapist do not miss this opportunity to work within a dynamic, friendly and innovative department with all the benefits of being a large London Trust.

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY

About us

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is a community focused provider of local and acute care, providing high quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. With a turnover of around £700 million, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham and a range of community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup.

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
5. Making equalities mainstream

Date posted: 11 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum plus HCAS pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number: 197-UT6464-A

Job locations: University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 6LH

Job Responsibilities

1. To lead a respiratory physiotherapy service of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients in the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The caseload will comprise of a mixture of mainly in-patient and some outpatient clients. The postholder will be supported in the team management and clinically by the 8a clinical specialist physiotherapist.
2. To lead the adult physiotherapy cystic fibrosis service and work alongside the MDT including attendance at weekly clinics, MDT and annual review appointments.
3. To lead the assisted ventilation unit (NIV unit) and support medical patients across all inpatient areas in the trust.
4. The post is based on the Queen Elizabeth site but may at times be asked to work on other sites in order to maintain service levels.
5. 7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust and the postholder will be required to participate in weekend and on-call working.

Job Summary

1. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
2. To perform highly specialist physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions; to provide a provisional diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.
3. To take responsibility for own caseload, being responsible for a defined area of the service, providing support to more junior members of your team.
4. To lead the team and participate in evidence based audit/research activity to further the teams clinical practice within each rotation.
5. To supervise specialised rotational and rotational physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants, physiotherapy practitioner and physiotherapy students in the clinical setting.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Degree/diploma in Physiotherapy
• Post graduate training in Respiratory Physiotherapy
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• HCPC registration

Desirable

• Relevant MSC
• Member of ACPRC
• Research experience

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in respiratory Physiotherapy at Band 6 level
• Effective teaching skills
• Evidence supported by portfolio

Desirable

• Involvement of audit
• Able to teach using simulation suite

Knowledge

Essential

• Possession of in-depth knowledge of respiratory physiotherapy and service developments
• Commitment to the development of physiotherapy and education within the clinical setting
• Competence in setting up and teaching set up of NIV to other physiotherapists
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, both verbally and written
• Computer literacy
• Approachable to all colleagues and members of the public
• Able to work in a diplomatic and professional manner
• Awareness of Government agenda especially in relation to acute care
• Knowledge of the modernisation agenda
• Ability to work as a team leader

Desirable

• Experience of working in a variety of clinical and educational settings

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name: Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address: University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 6LH

Employer's website: https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/