Respiratory Nurse Specialist-Surrey Downs H&C

Respiratory Nurse Specialist - Surrey Downs H&C

The closing date is 01 March 2026

This is an exciting opportunity for a Respiratory Specialist Nurse to work as part of a well-established community multidisciplinary respiratory specialist team consisting of respiratory nurse specialists, highly specialist respiratory physiotherapists and a Respiratory Assistant Practitioner. We are looking for a nurse who is passionate about providing high quality respiratory care for patients with a respiratory condition, including COPD, Asthma and Bronchiectasis. The postholder will demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of long term respiratory management.

The Respiratory MDT's key aims are:

• To deliver evidence-based care for patients with COPD in the Surrey Downs area
• Develop integrated respiratory service pathways through audit and evaluation, and
• Promote health through patient empowerment, health education and self-management skills

Main duties of the job

Referred to the service to enable prompt assessment, diagnosis and treatment according to agreed policies, protocols and guidelines.

Request and perform appropriate diagnostic and/or therapeutic interventions in order to provide a holistic assessment of the patient within agreed policies and guidelines.

Be responsible for prescribing such treatments as are deemed clinically appropriate, in line with local guidelines, the Nurse Prescribing Formulary and Trust protocols for Non-Medical Prescribing.

Lead in the professional development needs of junior team members within the service.

Be proactive in offering health promotion and participate in health promotion activities, including health needs assessment for the caseload and local population.

To manage complaints according to Trust policy and within professional guidance. Research and Development to contribute to the development of evidence-based practice using audit and other tools including user and stakeholder feedback.

About us

Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.

Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:

• The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area
• Epsom and St Helier's University Hospitals NHS Trust

Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us.

It's on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed - we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.

In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.

Job responsibilities

Nursing Caseload

To work independently as a respiratory nurse specialist practicing holistic evidence-based, guideline management strategies.

To prioritise workload and manage own patient caseload, including planning and evaluating care provided.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all work undertaken.

To ensure that, as a lone worker in the community, appropriate risk assessments are undertaken to ensure safety at all times.

To practice advanced standards of clinical assessment through history taking and physical examinations as an autonomous practitioner using highly specialised skills with advanced clinical reasoning; analyse findings, recognise and diagnose exacerbations of respiratory conditions and differentiate from other diagnoses (eg heart failure) and appropriately seeking advice from within the team or in patient Respiratory Consultant.

To interpret clinical assessment findings, using medical assessment tools such as spirometry; blood tests, etc.

On the basis of assessment findings make recommendations to the patient and other health care professionals on the best course of intervention, and initiate appropriate treatment plan as indicated. This may be through use of independent nurse prescribing, and initiation of standby medication or via direct discussion with GPs.

To promote self management of respiratory conditions, through disease specific education, Health promotion, including stop smoking (with appropriate referral to the specialist Stop Smoking Team), nutrition (with referral to the specialist dietetics and speech and language therapy teams), psychological interventions (with appropriate referral to integrated psychology service) and exercise. (To participate in community pulmonary rehabilitation provision where required).would like this as a separate mention to encourage cross supportive working

To triage and review patients referred to the service and AECOPD pathway using agreed protocols and procedures.

To carry out follow up assessments and treatment in patients homes, liaising with other team members as required. Collaborate with community based professionals such as GPs, district nurses and home carers to promote continuity of care for patients.

Collaboratively identify patients goals in relation to their respiratory condition and facilitate meeting these through education and support, empowering them to manage their long term condition effectively, seeking advice and support when required.

To act as a resource to all professionals involved in the care of respiratory patients.

To be responsible for keeping contemporaneous up to date patient records by ensuring all relevant information is documented on EMIS nursing progress notes and write specific reports as required.

To initiate and implement changes in clinical practice which improve standards of care and health outcomes for patients.

In conjunction with other professionals, develop standards of practice against, which quality of care may be measured.

To identify and address clinical issues and incidents within the community in order to improve the quality of care.

To identify and resolve patient related or service problems and prioritise demanding and conflicting needs.

Manage own nursing caseload.

To act as a change agent and innovator, planning, instigating and evaluating change through robust cycles of audit.

To lead in the development and maintenance of collaborative relationships, partnerships and networks aimed at influencing and improving health outcomes for respiratory patients.

To lead in the development of COPD services to improve practice and health outcomes are underpinned by local and national guidance, patient and carer needs and utilisation of multidisciplinary skills to formulate and test new developments.

To contribute to measuring the effectiveness and productivity of respiratory/COPD disease management provided through the collection and correlation of data for the team annual reports.

To develop and implement evidence based clinical practice within the team.

To be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of equipment used in the respiratory service reporting all equipment defects in order for them to be repaired or replaced.

To work collaboratively with members of the respiratory team and other clinical specialities, i.e. ILTs, GP practice, palliative care team, in order to provide seamless, high quality care in the borough.

Person Specification Qualifications

• oNMC Registered General Nurse.
• oRelevant First Level Degree/ Mentorship/ Teaching experience/ qualification
• oUniversity accredited respiratory course/ Specialist practitioner qualification such as COPD, Asthma or Spirometry qualifications
• oPhysical assessment course or willing to undertake
• oNon-Medical Prescriber

Experience

• oExperience of managing complex care for respiratory disease patients
• oUse of clinical pathways/ protocols for the management of respiratory disease patients
• oDemonstrate knowledge of the national standards and guidelines within BTS and NICE guidance
• oMultidisciplinary team work
• oExperience in leading change management

Skills

• oHolistic Assessment skills oEffective clinical skills oClinical reasoning skills
• oAbility to promote self-care of patients
• oAbility to demonstrate and use initiative
• oAbility to work under pressure, balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• oUnderstand current trends in nursing and health
• oExtended Nursing Skills or working towards

Other

• Car owner/driver insured for business use

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.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

£50,008 to £56,908 a year Pro Rata Per Annum inc Fringe HCAS