Respiratory Physiotherapist

Elysium Healthcare Limited; Hertford Heath; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 33 days

Professional development

Ely-Vate platform

Wellbeing support

Blue Light Card

Life Assurance

Earned wage access

24/7 GP service

Enhanced Maternity Package

Pension

Job summary

Elysium Healthcare Limited is seeking a Respiratory Physiotherapist at Jacobs Neurological Centre to deliver expert respiratory care for adults with tracheostomies and long‑term ventilation needs in a specialist nursing home setting.

You will provide advanced interventions, monitor outcomes, and lead safe practice in line with HCPC/CSP guidance, while supporting staff development and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve resident health and quality of life.

Qualifications

• Qualified physiotherapist with HCPC registration and at least 1 year post-qualification experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage tracheostomies, ventilation support, and airway clearance.
• Experience in acute or specialist respiratory care within complex patient pathways.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive respiratory assessments and tailor care plans.
• Lead tracheostomy care, including cuff management, weaning readiness, and decannulation planning.
• optimise ventilator settings and support weaning in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Deliver manual techniques, suctioning, MHI, cough assist, and positioning strategies.
• Lead audits, governance, and staff training to maintain high safety standards.

Skills

Respiratory management

Tracheostomy care

Ventilator management

Weaning support

Auscultation

Secretion management

Emergency response

MDT communication

Education

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapist

HCPC registered

1+ year physiotherapist experience

Job description

Introduction

Are you a specialist physiotherapist with a passion for respiratory care and complex clinical needs? Join Jacobs Neurological Centre as a Respiratory Physiotherapist to deliver expert, evidence-based care within a specialist nursing home environment. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference to adults with tracheostomies, long-term ventilation needs, and complex respiratory conditions, supporting improved health outcomes and quality of life.

In this role, you will provide advanced respiratory physiotherapy interventions, focusing on optimising respiratory function, preventing avoidable deterioration, and promoting person-centred care. You will ensure all interventions meet the highest safety standards, including infection control, equipment checks, and emergency preparedness, while adhering to HCPC and CSP guidelines.

A key part of your role will involve monitoring and evaluating clinical outcomes such as secretion management, ventilator use, chest infections, and hospital admissions, using this insight to inform and enhance care delivery.

As the respiratory clinical lead within the service, you will provide leadership and guidance to the wider team, supporting best practice and contributing to governance processes. You will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure consistent, high-quality care, while identifying and managing risks associated with airway management, ventilation, and respiratory decline. Clear and effective communication will be essential in ensuring continuity of care across the service.

You will also play an important role in staff development, delivering training and support to colleagues to maintain high standards of respiratory care. Ensuring compliance with CQC requirements, national tracheostomy safety standards, and local policies will be central to your work, alongside a commitment to dignity, comfort, and autonomy for every resident.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments including chest auscultation, secretion load evaluation, cough effectiveness, ventilator dependency, and airway patency.
• Provide advanced tracheostomy care including weaning readiness assessment, cuff management, decannulation planning, and emergency response with external support from the Royal Brompton respiratory outreach services.
• Optimise ventilator settings in collaboration with the Royal Brompton and other specialist respiratory centres, monitor tolerance, and support weaning where appropriate.
• Deliver interventions such as manual techniques, suctioning, ACBT, MHI, cough assist, and positioning strategies.
• Develop personalised respiratory care plans for residents with acquired brain injuries, neuromuscular disease, spinal injury, chronic lung disease, or other chronic conditions.
• Work closely with nursing, medical, speech therapy, and care teams to ensure coordinated, holistic care.
• Provide clear, compassionate education to residents and families about respiratory conditions, equipment, and care plans.
• Maintain accurate, timely clinical records, risk assessments, and incident reports in line with regulatory standards.
• Lead or contribute to audits, service development, and implementation of best practice guidelines.
• Develop an open, coaching culture and model professional behaviours.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement through peer support, appraisals, and shared learning.

Requirements

• Demonstrable experience in managing tracheostomies, including suctioning, cuff management, emergency response, and decannulation pathways.
• Experience supporting patients on invasive and/or non-invasive ventilation, including ventilator troubleshooting and weaning.
• Competent in respiratory management including manual techniques, suctioning, MHI, cough assist, and positioning for secretion management.
• Ability to recognise and respond rapidly to respiratory emergencies.
• Strong ability to assess breath sounds, secretion load, ventilator dependency, and airway patency.
• Advanced decision-making skills in complex and high-risk respiratory cases.
• Able to communicate clearly with residents, families, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Registered Physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• BSc (Hons) Physiotherapist or equivalent recognised qualification.
• Experience/exposure to tracheostomy and ventilation support.
• Minimum of 1 year's experience as a Physiotherapist.

What You'll Get

• Competitive Annual Salary
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus your birthday off and the option to buy additional annual leave, in our annual selection window.
• Career development and training to help you achieve your professional goals.
• Access to our Rewards and Benefits platform Ely-Vate, your one-stop destination for everyday savings, exclusive benefits, and wellbeing hub.
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Access to Blue Light Card, which provides a range of exclusive offers and discounts.
• Life Assurance, for added peace of mind.
• Stream, instant access to earned wages when you need it, plus access to save directly from your wages, alongside financial wellbeing support.
• 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion, to ensure you are the best you can be.
• Enhanced Maternity Package, so you can truly enjoy this special time.
• Pension contribution, to help secure your future.

About Us

Elysium Health care has over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 80 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities and Autism, Children and Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally.

Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person's individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users.

All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure.