The Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) Services provides rehabilitation and management for people who have COPD as a primary diagnosis and other respiratory conditions in a 6-week exercise and education programme run face to face. The service provides specialist, coordinated advice and treatment to maximise independence, limit disease progression, and reduce hospital admissions related to their COPD. The rehabilitation support worker assists physiotherapists in providing treatment to patients.

You will be responsible for carrying out rehabilitation programs with patients, as devised by the physiotherapist, to maximise patients’ exercise, confidence in managing their COPD condition, and independence in daily living. PR classes run twice a week with the view of expanding to 4 times a week. Currently, only one venue in Newham is used; however, the service plans to offer classes at various sites across the Borough, to ensure maximum convenience for patients. You will also assist in the assessment of patients by completing exercise tolerance testing and outcome measure completion independently.

Main duties of the job

1. Undertake training and demonstrate competence to carry out relevant elements of care and be responsible for one’s own time management.

2. Independently complete observations, exercise tolerance and strength testing and related outcome measures

3. You will follow rehabilitation plans, but also be able to amend the exercises accordingly should the patient need to and seek advice from the physiotherapist when needed.

4. To lead on some educational topics within the classes such as breathing techniques, social wellness and relaxation.

5. Complete National Respiratory Audit Programme (NRAP) data entry for the PR service

6. Provide planned programmes of rehabilitation to clients to promote self-management, with supervision from qualified therapists.

7. Contribute to goal setting and discharge planning, liaising with other health/social/voluntary professionals, discussing issues with other team members, and training family & carers in specific techniques as required

8. To complete discharge reports independently and make onward referrals if necessary.

9. To actively participate in team and departmental in-service training. Work alongside a qualified therapist in the induction of new staff

10. To carry out other duties deemed necessary by the Clinical Specialists/Lead Therapists in discussion with the post holder to ensure adequate provision of service

11. To engage in the accreditation process for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, which is the goal of the service to become accredited.