Go back Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Respiratory Physiotherapist
The closing date is 31 March 2026
Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and enthusiastic Band 6 Respiratory Physiotherapist to join our Pulmonary Rehabilitation team across East Kent. You will work alongside an experienced Band 7 Physiotherapist and Therapy Assistant Practitioners, supported by a dedicated administrative team, to deliver a high-quality, evidence-based service. Our Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme supports patients with chronic respiratory conditions to improve their functional ability, breathlessness management and overall quality of life through structured exercise, education and personalised self-management strategies.
Working within this service offers exceptional professional reward, with patients frequently sharing the positive impact of their rehabilitation experience, including comments such as: "The people were very friendly and helpful and got me to exercise every day instead of sitting in this chair. It has changed my life."
Main duties of the job
As a Band 6 Pulmonary Rehabilitation Physiotherapist, you will play a key role in planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating a high-quality Pulmonary Rehabilitation and respiratory outpatient service within your locality. You will work as an autonomous practitioner, using your specialist respiratory knowledge to assess and treat patients with chronic respiratory conditions in a community setting. You will support the Band 7 Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, contribute to service development and ensure the delivery of safe, effective and evidence-based care.
Your responsibilities will include leading group exercise and education sessions, completing holistic assessments, monitoring patient progress and adapting treatment plans accordingly. You will also support and guide junior staff, helping them coordinate their areas of responsibility and develop their clinical skills. The role requires excellent communication skills, confidence in independent decision-making and a commitment to empowering patients to manage their condition. HCPC registration and proven respiratory experience are essential, as is the ability to travel across the locality. Hours are flexible between 22.5 and 37.5 per week, with one WTE vacancy available. Informal visits are welcomed and can be arranged with Kate Savage on .
About us
Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we've got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent
We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences
We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn't visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission
The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won't involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We'll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both
See where you can go with KCHFTcareer pathways
Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via , quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.
We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.
At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.
Find out more about the community difference here.
Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.
Person SpecificationQualifications
- Evidence of on-going relevant Postgraduate Continued Professional Development (CPD) in field of Respiratory Care and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
- Registration with HCPC
- Full UK/EU driving licence
- Completion of Clinical Educator Course or equivalent
- Member of CSP
- Member of ACPRC or relevant SIG
- First Aid at Work
- Completion of ALERT(TM) Course
Experience
- Experience of working as part of an MDT
- Previous experience at Band 6 or evidence of meeting Band 5 KSF
- Clinical Experience of treating patients with Respiratory conditions.
- Evidence of completing relevant respiratory rotations at Band 5.
- Wide range of hospital experience in ICU, medical and surgical, care of the elderly, neurology and outpatients
- Previous contribution to clinical education / training/ support and supervision of less experienced staff / students
- Experience of working with the voluntary sector e.g. BLF
- Previous experience of leading or assisting in delivery of Pulmonary Rehabilitation classes
- Experience of working in a community setting
- Previous involvement in audit or research
- Experience of people management e.g. conducting appraisals
Knowledge
- Knowledge of safe working practices in all settings e.g. Lone working in the community.
- Good knowledge of respiratory conditions and the physiotherapy management of these
- Good knowledge of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Knowledge of Clinical Governance and Clinical Risk Assessment
- Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the NHS and its processes
- Knowledge of audit and evaluation methods to implement quality improvements
- Knowledge of key Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Respiratory and Oxygen Guidelines and Standards
- Knowledge of the voluntary sector role in supporting patients with respiratory pathology
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
£38,682 to £46,580 a yearpro rata per annum
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