Specialist Post-COVID Recovery Practitioner
West London NHS Trust is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Occupational Therapist to join our Community Cardiorespiratory & Post-COVID Service in Hounslow. This unique Band 7 role offers the opportunity to deliver specialist, person‑centred rehabilitation for adults with long‑term respiratory and cardiac conditions, as well as individuals living with Long COVID, across community, home, clinic, and virtual settings.
You will be working within a well‑established and supportive multidisciplinary team (MDT) comprising respiratory physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, rehabilitation assistants, consultants, psychologists, and dietitians. The team fosters a collaborative learning environment with strong clinical leadership, providing structured supervision, peer support and excellent opportunities for career development, including leadership progression, specialist skill development, and ongoing professional education.
We welcome applications from candidates interested in a secondment opportunity for up to 12 months, subject to agreement from their current line manager. This provides an excellent opportunity for professional development, skill enhancement and experience within a specialist community cardiorespiratory service.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will provide expert assessment, functional rehabilitation and holistic support to enable patients to maximise independence, participation in daily life and overall quality of life. You will work both autonomously and collaboratively within the MDT to support self‑management, prevent avoidable hospital admissions and promote meaningful engagement in daily activities, including vocational and social participation.
Key responsibilities include delivering Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation programmes, post‑COVID assessment and rehabilitation, functional and vocational interventions and environmental adaptations. You will assess and manage the impact of breathlessness, fatigue, anxiety, cognitive changes and physical limitations on daily functioning. You will also provide education, advice and interventions to support routines, habit formation and long–term lifestyle management.
The role requires active participation in service development, audit and quality improvement initiatives, as well as the supervision and mentorship of junior staff, rehabilitation assistants and students. The post‑holder will also contribute to research and training activities, ensuring evidence‑based practice in line with NICE, BTS and ACPICR guidance.
We are looking for a registered Occupational Therapist (HCPC) with post‑registration experience in community or acute care settings and a strong understanding of evidence‑based practice and MDT working.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
* Registered Occupational Therapist (HCPC)
* Practice Educator / Student Supervisor training or willingness to complete
* Evidence of ongoing CPD relevant to cardiorespiratory, post‑COVID and rehabilitation practice
* Advanced modules in Respiratory, Cardiac or Post‑COVID rehabilitation
Clinical Skills & Abilities
* Advanced holistic assessment and person‑centred rehabilitation for adults with long‑term cardiac, respiratory and post‑COVID conditions
* Skilled in functional assessment, activity analysis, goal setting and use of validated PROMs
* Ability to deliver rehabilitation in community, clinic, home and virtual settings
* Experience in teaching, mentoring and supporting colleagues and students
* Experience working with patients in palliative care or advanced disease pathways
* Experience with vocational rehabilitation and return‑to‑work planning
* Awareness of tracheostomy care relevant to functional rehabilitation
* Knowledge of oxygen therapy pathways within OT scope
Experience
* Post‑registration OT experience in community or acute care settings
* Previous experience in the NHS is essential
* Demonstrates autonomous clinical decision‑making with complex patients
* Skilled in MDT working and cross‑agency collaboration
* Leadership or line management experience
* Participation in service development, audit, quality improvement or research projects
* Experience working with patients with long‑term cardiac or respiratory conditions
Knowledge
* Strong understanding of evidence‑based guidelines, OT functional rehabilitation and psychosocial considerations
* Knowledge of occupational performance and activity analysis for patients with long‑term conditions
* Understanding of fatigue, breathlessness, cognitive and emotional impacts of long‑term and post‑COVID conditions
* Understanding of post‑COVID rehabilitation pathways and best practice
* Awareness of medicines management relevant to OT
Leadership & Management
* Ability to manage caseloads, prioritise workload and maintain high‑quality documentation
* Experience providing supervision, reflective practice, audit and outcome measurement
* Ability to deliver training and facilitate group sessions
* Experience in recruitment, appraisal, staff development, service planning or pathway redesign
* Project leadership or service improvement involvement
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.
£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)
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