Assistant Practitioner - Community Respiratory Service

Job summary

The integrated community respiratory team provide a number of services - COPD, Home oxygen, Pulmonary rehabilitation and respiratory physio.

We are a team of nurses, physios and skills assistant staff. We cover all of NE Essex so access to a car and a driving licence is essential.

We provide clinic based, class based and home based care, with the aim of supporting people to have quality of life and be able to self manage their conditions.

We are seeking an assistant practitioner to support the service, particularly with our Pulmonary rehabilitation service. This will involve supporting assessments, running of the class, end assessments, and equipment management.

You will also be trained to support patients with set up of MyCOPD, and to visit them to educate on techniques such as breathlessness management, chest clearance, inhaler technique and the issue and return/decontamination of loan nebulisers.

Proposed Interview date: 3rd November 2026

Main duties of the job

Work within the integrated community respiratory team, contributing to delivery of the integrated care plan.

Deliver programmes of nursing and therapeutic activities tailored to individuals and groups within a framework laid down by the registered clinicians

Support patients with advice, information, persuasion and direction to community resources to encourage self-management and ongoing independence

Provide support carers.

About us

One of the largest Trusts in East Anglia, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) provide hospital and community health services to people living across a wide geographical area. We deliver care from two main hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, six community hospitals and in patients' own homes. You will be joining a team of almost 12,000 amazing colleagues providing care to approximately a million people.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (if applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services. We offer a range of flexible working opportunities.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which do not work or cause time delays for our staff and patients.

To support our employees to achieve their career aspirations you may be eligible to obtain a qualification via an apprenticeship. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a skills review to facilitate this. For full details please see the attached Apprenticeship Handbook.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

Find out about living and working with us - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Job responsibilities

For full details of the duties & responsibilities of this role please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Experience

Essential

• oExperience in caring for adults/children in a relevant setting
• oDemonstrable competence in field of activity

Qualifications

Essential

• oLiteracy and numeracy skills
• oKnowledge and skills acquired through a combination of formal, short courses, in house training and experience to NVQ Level 2 or 3 or equivalent

Desirable

• oOther Relevant training

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of activities or interventions relevant to field of activity
• Understanding of elements of care such as personal care, nutrition, food hygiene, non-verbal communication and some specific techniques
• Knowledge of legislation and health & safety applying to role
• Understanding of national drivers and guidance relevant to the care group
• Understanding of the impact of client conditions

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Self motivated
• Car owner /driver/access to vehicle as travel to other sites required
• Demonstrates awareness of sensitivity to the needs of the individual & families
• Positive attitude
• A commitment to further personal development
• Flexible approach