NHSCloses in 9 days

Specialist Respiratory Occupational Therapist

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Ashford, TN25 4AZ

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Not specified

Closing date

13 September 2026

9 days left

Job description

Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated C...

  • Undertake assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care required for patients with complex, long term, high risk respiratory conditions
  • Provide necessary health education and advice resulting in fewer hospital admissions
  • Identify vulnerable/complex service users and support the provision of effective programmes of support that protect and promote patients' health and wellbeing. Intervening when a person's safety or welfare is at risk
  • Deliver symptom management programmes utilising a Cognitive Behaviour approach, both in a 1-1 and group setting focusing on fatigue, anxiety, breathlessness management and sleep hygiene
  • Undertake both equipment and environment assessments as clinically indicated.
  • Maintain your own specialist area of competence and ensure a supervision framework is in place for staff under your care and support in the development of competencies across staffing groups
  • Act as a source of specialist knowledge on respiratory conditions to primary and secondary care
  • Autonomously manage a caseload of respiratory patients requiring specialist services

Whilst this is a full-time role, we would consider 0.8 WTE (30 hrs) or above. If you are able to demonstrate a passion and commitment to this role but do not fully meet alldesirable criteria, we would consider a one-year development pathway from Band 6 to Band 7.

If you can bring fresh ideas and agenuine interest in helping people with respiratory disease to live well for longer, we'd love to hear from you.

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 viakentchft.recruitment@nhs.net, 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 differencehere.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values:Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.

We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.

Explore KCHFTcareer pathways

Qualifications, Training and Experience

Essential

  • Has a Level 6 Degree or equivalent qualification in relevant health related subject i.e. Occupational Therapy.
  • Has a Level 7 qualification in relevant area of practice or the willingness to undertake.
  • Has a highly developed specialist knowledge across a range of issues in relation to respiratory practice, leadership, research and education.
  • Has a basic qualification in CBT with experience of a CBT approach to self-management techniques for patients with complex respiratory conditions

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Has sound communication skills in order to understand and communicate both verbally and in writing. Including providing and receiving complex and sensitive information, utilising motivational and reassurance skills and empathy.
  • Able to work well under pressure and be able to organise your own work
  • Has highly developed specialist knowledge across a range of issues in relation to respiratory practice, leadership, research and education.

Desirable

  • Has an awareness of developments within the NHS would be an advantage as well as an understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance.

Working Environment

Essential

  • Has a full, valid UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) and the ability to travel independently.

How to apply

Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.

Provenance

Source

NHS Jobs

First seen

3 September 2026

Last checked

4 September 2026

Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.

About the employer

KCH
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

NHS organisation

This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.

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