Physiotherapy Assistant or Assistant Practitioner

NELFT NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Billericay; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community healthcare provider in Billericay seeks a qualified professional for the Integrated Respiratory Team. This role involves promoting self-management in respiratory patients, conducting assessments, and delivering rehabilitation while working within a flexible schedule. Candidates should preferably have respiratory qualifications and a strong commitment to patient education. The organization supports continuous professional development and promotes a work-life balance with various employee benefits and a supportive environment.

Benefits

High Cost Area Supplement

Flexibility in working hours

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Must possess certain respiratory qualifications and courses.
• Experience with community respiratory services is essential.
• Ability to conduct assessments and deliver rehabilitation.

Responsibilities

• Promote effective self-management and support for respiratory patients.
• Assist in education and holistic support for COPD patients.
• Perform assessments and manage a stable oxygen case load.
• Conduct quality diagnostic services like Spirometry.

Skills

Respiratory management

Patient education

Assessment skills

Communication

Education

Respiratory qualifications

Job description

A vacant post within the Integrated Respiratory Team has arisen in North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) in the area of South West Essex. The Integrated Respiratory Team are an integrated service with Nursing staff, Specialist Physiotherapists, Assistant Practitioners, Senior Physiotherapy Assistants and Administration staff.

The team cover many aspects of community respiratory care, services include Respiratory Case management, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Home Oxygen Service, Respiratory Virtual Ward and Breathlessness and Diagnostics service (Spirometry and FeNo).

Responsibilities

• Promoting effective self‑management of patients following initial assessments.
• Contribute to patient education and wider holistic support network.
• Support COPD patients and other suitably identified respiratory conditions with assessment with clear lines of escalation to senior staff.
• Support with Oxygen home safety and management of stable oxygen case load with escalation of CBG results.
• The post holder will be able to perform appropriate level of assessment and delivery of Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
• The post holder will be expected to support the delivery of the Respiratory Virtual Ward (RVW) which supports Admission Avoidance and Early Supported Discharge pathways while being supervised by a senior member of staff.
• To support Breathlessness and Diagnostics service by performing quality FeNo and ARTP accredited Spirometry. This service is evolving and additional suitable pathways and reviews may be made.
• To support with all aspects of service delivery and ongoing review of pathways and transformation of Respiratory services as competency and ability allow.
• Support and deliver the Trusts Values.

Working Hours & Flexibility

The post is Monday - Friday 9‑5pm and Saturday - Sunday 9‑5pm, this will be on a 4 week or suitable rota basis once all training and competency is signed off and has a level of flexibility.

Location

The post requires that you work flexibly across South West Essex and be able to travel to clinic locations across patch and also home visiting. The area covered is Thurrock and Basildon, Brentwood, Wickford and Billericay within the MSE.

Qualifications & Training

Certain respiratory qualifications and courses are mandatory but this can be supported if the successful candidate does not have these currently but qualifies at interview. The service and Trust actively support CPD.

Payroll & Supplement

High Cost Area Supplement - Fringe: This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £1,303 and a maximum payment of £2,198 per annum, pro rata for part time).

Benefits

• A long‑standing and award‑winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
• A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our efforts to support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a 'Top 10 Family Friendly Employer' from the Working Families Charity.
• Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
• Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.
• As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.

Values

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Additional Information

Certificates of Sponsorship: Although NELFT is a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points‑based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High‑Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI: Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application. Please note we reserve the right to close this application early if we receive a high number of applicants.

Supporting our Armed Forces: We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Gold Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme. We have supportive policies, guaranteed interview schemes for veterans, reservists and military spouses and give additional leave to our Reservists so that they can attend their annual camp.

Joining #TeamNELFT means you'll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We're CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video.

We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nX8CImoDX8