Assistant Practitioner Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

CLINICAL 

Patient Care  

• To work with minimal or no direct supervision of a qualified practitioner. 
• To assist with pulmonary rehabilitation assessments by providing the patients with Quality of Life self-assessment tools and evaluating/interpreting the scores 
• To undertake Shuttle Walk test, or other exercise tolerance testing, in line with national protocol and document findings 
• To assess the patients’ ability to use an inhaler effectively and correct technique as needed. 
• To assist with the care of patients including receiving them, transporting to treatment area, assisting them in preparation for their treatment programme and promote a friendly atmosphere within the gym or the video classes.
• To provide treatment to patients following a pre-prescribed treatment plan utilising a variety of basic physiotherapy techniques such as assisting a patient with specific exercises 
• To be able to recognise change in the condition of a patient, decide whether to treat and watch and document the patient response/reaction to any treatment undertaken including monitoring of heart rate and oxygen levels. 
• To assist the healthcare professional with group treatments/exercise classes or independently supervise routine classes (face to face, telephone or video) and adjust exercises according to patients’ health status on that day. 
• To follow up patients’ at home ensuring the prescribed exercise programme is executed effectively and safe. It is prerequisite that competencies and risk assessments have been completed prior to undertaking this task) 
• To support peer support groups. 
• To collect data from patients for recognised outcome measures and document for the physiotherapist to interpret. 
• To organise own delegated work tasks and activities being flexible to the needs of the service as indicated by the physiotherapist. 

Communication 

• To independently explain purpose and content of pulmonary rehabilitation to referred patients, guide/persuade them to attend and answer a variety of related questions using tact and sensitivity. (The patient group will vary in severity of disease) 
• To deal with enquiries appropriately on the telephone and face to face with patients, relatives, health care professionals and others e.g. company representatives, relaying messages accurately where necessary 
• To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient’s condition and treatment progress. 
• To be able to motivate and persuade patients through effective communication skills, utilising verbal and non-verbal skills. Communication will be tailored to the patients’/carers’ level of comprehension or cognition e.g using interpreters 
• To liaise with health care professionals and physiotherapists on a day-to-day basis in clinical area of work, with regard to patient care. 
• To organise education timetable with multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals (Trust and Community) and facilitate the smooth running of the sessions. 
• To independently lead education sessions for patients (following training), answering varied but related questions and provide appropriate written information e.g. taxi card, smoking cessation 
• To liaise with managers, other administrative and support staff as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the department. 
• To maintain confidentiality of patient information at all times in line with Trust and departmental policies 

Analytical and Judgement Skills 

• Carries out delegated assessment of patients and their condition and monitors the patient’s response to intervention.  
• Undertake delegated risk assessments providing accurate feedback to the team as necessary e.g. in relation to lone working.  
• Be willing to recognise own weaknesses as well as clinical and organisational gaps and recognise the need for further advice, guidance and support as appropriate.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION 

Information Management 

• To process new pulmonary rehabilitation referrals, by checking patient information on EPR and PIMS and recording appropriate information including demographics and respiratory function tests 
• To independently maintain appropriate levels of patients starting PR so class is safe and appointments flow efficiently 
• To independently organise dates for assessments by phoning the patient and following up by letter and keep under review, those patients with delayed start 
• To process new out-patient respiratory physiotherapy referrals including phoning patient to explain purpose of appointment, agreeing time and booking onto PIMS. 
• To manage King’s out-patient appointments in physiotherapist’s diary and manage PR Co-ordinator’s diary with regard to patient appointments 
• To maintain accurate and timely patient notes and activity records in accordance with departmental policy and to ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of these records.   
• To input data onto Excel spreadsheet to facilitate evaluation process and for future research 
• To follow-up patients who did not attend PR by telephone or letter to ascertain reason and provide new appointment or alternative programme. 
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Human resources 

• To undertake non-clinical induction of assistants, students and volunteers as required. 
• To be an active team member by supporting other members, offering assistance, being flexible and approachable particularly during changing service demands and staffing levels.   

Physical resources 

• To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of all equipment used, to report defects in equipment in a timely manner to the Clinical Lead in the area and locate missing items. 
• To prepare the gymnasium/studio class for PR session by ensuring safe and tidy environment, before and afterwards. 
• To understand the function and use of departmental equipment e.g. exercise bicycles, treadmill and be able to use safely jointly with physiotherapy staff or independently with own patients. 
• To undertake routine light cleaning/tidying tasks of clinical equipment e.g. saturation monitor 
• To undertake administrative tasks particularly related to photocopying, record keeping, filing, errands and making appointments  
• To be responsible for stock control within clinical areas ensuring consistent supply and request new orders from the departmental secretary, including using catalogues for new equipment. 
• To ensure adequate refreshment supplies are available at each site. 
• Collect, unpack and store new supplies 
• To monitor levels, condition and date of contents in resuscitation trolley or first aid box, in relevant areas, on a regular basis and ensure new supplies are requested as required. 

Service Development 

• Tofollow physiotherapy department and Trust policies 
• To participate in PR service evaluation and development by proposing changes in current practice and comment on changes to departmental policies. 
• To assist with the promotion of the service 
• To be flexible as service needs may change according to demand and commissioning  

Data and Evaluation

• Maintain appropriate confidential records and data systems.
• Ensure patient records and service data is accurate and up to date. .
• Use data to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions,
• To use monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, making recommendations to inform project development.

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH 

• To participate in the King’s College Hospital Employee Performance Appraisal system and to fulfil its requirements 
• To undertake in-service training to improve patient care and for personal development and organise programme on a rotational basis. 
• To be responsible for personal CPD, and ensure that CPD is reflective in clinical and non-clinical practice. 
• To participate in the department’s ongoing audit programme as required. 
• To complete lone worker training and be allocated a device 

GENERAL 

• To be aware at all times of the limitations of own knowledge, skills and job responsibility, referring to qualified physiotherapist as necessary 
• To promote the corporate image of the department and trust at all times by being courteous and helpful to all patients, staff and visitors 
• Attend respiratory team meetings contributing personal opinion and knowledge, taking on a responsibility to support the functioning of the department. 
• The job holder has a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post
• To be aware of own Health and Safety responsibilities including contributing to the infection control and cleanliness of the hospital by ensuring cleanliness of own equipment, undertaking mandatory training, abiding by the hand washing policy and other policies related to Barrier nursing.
• To report all complaints and accidents, immediately to a member of physiotherapy staff. 
• Pulmonary Rehab Assistants Practitioners are not qualified therefore they work under the direction of qualified physiotherapists  

Review of this Job Description

• This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organisation. To be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties may change over time and this description may be subject to review after discussion with post holder.