Pulmonary Rehabilitation Community Assistant Practitioner

A Vacancy at East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Practitioner to join the Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Community Neurology Teams based in King's Lynn building skills and knowledge within respiratory and neurology exercise prescription.

Both services deliver specialist intervention including group education and exercise to people living with chronic respiratory disease and complex neurological conditions. Care is delivered face to face, via virtual platforms and telephone.

You will have the opportunity to work alongside a multi-disciplinary team assisting in delivering exercise and education classes to patients with respiratory and neurological disease in a variety of venues across Norfolk.

Training opportunities will be offered and encouraged. Please refer to the job description and person specification for further details.

Knowledge of long term health conditions including respiratory and neurological disorders would be beneficial to the role.

Community Neurology team exercise provision runs on Mondays.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

To contribute to the organisation and delivery of Pulmonary Rehabilitation (exercise, lifestyle, lung education) by a multi-disciplinary team for people who have a diagnosed long term lung condition including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Pulmonary Fibrosis. This will include assessing, planning, implementing and reviewing patients referred to the programme delegated by the registered clinicians in a variety of community settings (face to face and virtual).

To contribute to assessment, treatment and review for patients with long term Neurological conditions to achieve quality of life and independence where possible, in a number of settings e.g. patient home, gym.

Please see job description and person specification for full role and requirements.

We are proud to be the first standalone NHS community trust in the UK to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our focus is on continually improving the quality of care we offer to local people and on improving access to that care, helping people to move seamlessly from one service to another. Praising our “compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels”, the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.

The Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment. As part of this commitment we actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible, to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce to maintain and improve their wellbeing. The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.

We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.

Professional / Clinical responsibilities

1. Assist the registered healthcare professionals in the delivery of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Neurology programmes in a variety of settings (including virtual and face to face).

2. To undertake core clinical observations (BP, respiratory rate, heart rate, pulse oximetry, temperature)

3. To undertake delegated duties at venues within East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust or at leisure/community centres across Norfolk. This will include administering respiratory assessment tools (CAT score, BORG score, walk tests) and support with assessing patients to determine their suitability/safety to exercise alongside a registered healthcare professional.

4. Work within established national guidelines

5. To monitor patient’s responses to interventions and liaise with appropriate clinician to decide on appropriate action.

6. Provide a suitable individualised home exercise programme with the support of clinicians, following completion of the course of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Neurology exercise groups.

7. Carry out group work including education and health promotion, leading specific tasks where appropriate.

8. To be aware at all times of the needs of the patients during illness or disability whilst promoting, encouraging independence and restoration of function.

9. To communicate with the registered health professionals in the team regarding changes in the patient’s condition or any other useful/important information.

10. Communication skills of encouragement, motivation and explanation will be needed to maximise rehabilitation potential. Recognise barriers to communication within the client group identified and reasonable adjustments made to facilitate participation in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme.

11. To work alongside non-registered staff/volunteers.

12. To undertake administrative/clerical duties as required. This may include maintaining stock levels, registration of patients, filing, managing telephone calls and photocopying/printing.

13. Involvement in the local support groups for patients as required

14. The role will involve good working relationships with a wide range of system partners (such as GPs, Practice Nurses, Consultants and community colleagues).

Information management

15. Ensure comprehensive, accurate patient records are completed using SystmOne in line with the trusts policies.

16. To collect data and statistics as directed.

Education & Professional Development

17. Participate and actively seek clinical supervision and mentorship.

18. Attend mandatory training as required.

Service Development

19. Involvement in service review and evaluation as undertaken by the team and East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust.

20. Participation and contribution to achieving and maintaining national Pulmonary Rehabilitation accreditation.

21. Attend and contribute to team meetings including broader service development such as changes to the Pulmonary rehabilitation programme content.

22. Demonstrate problem-solving and contribute to the solution, working with team colleagues.

Risk & Governance Management

23. Completion of service audits this includes mandatory Trust audits and audits specific to Pulmonary Rehabilitation such as the National Respiratory Audit Programme (NRAP)

23. In conjunction with the clinical team take responsibility for the general care, cleaning, maintenance and safety of therapy equipment and work areas.

25. Promptly report any accidents/incidents/concerns to a relevant Health Care Professional and clinical lead by use of DATIX.

This advert closes on Tuesday 26 May 2026

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