Respiratory Nurse Practitioner | University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

he Liverpool Community Respiratory Teamhosts the Acute Respiratory Infections Virtual Ward, delivering hospital admission avoidance and early supported discharge for patients with COPD exacerbations, bronchiectasis, community-acquired pneumonia, and viral lower respiratory tract infections. We also provide nurse-led respiratory optimisation in homes and clinics, following NICE and local guidelines. Medical leadership is supported by a Respiratory Consultant and two Advanced Clinical Practitioners, alongside a multidisciplinary team including a team leader, Band 6 and 7 specialist nurses, physiotherapists, an assistant practitioner, and admin staff.

This role involves assessing patients in two local hospitals for safe early discharge and delivering hospital-level care ponsibilities include home visits to monitor health and treatment during exacerbations, holistic assessments, and optimisation of respiratory management. Strong communication skills and the ability to make autonomous clinical decisions at pace are essential. A commitment to audit, research, and understanding national and local respiratory priorities is required.

The service operates 8am-8pm, seven days a week, across multiple community locations, so flexibility and mobility are vital. This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative team improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital pressures. Clinical decision-making is required for this post. Therefore sound theoretical and practical knowledge relating to this speciality is required from a practitioner who strives to maintain clinical excellence.

Practice autonomously and demonstrate evidence based clinical decision making, within the hospital setting and patients home. Provide clinical respiratory expertise and knowledge to others when managing continuing and highly complex situations. Assess patient conditions and consider a range of options when delivering continuing and highly complex care, drawing on external specialist services as required. Undertake chronic disease management reviews of the housebound patient/client, where appropriate.

Provide support in managing patients/clients with chronic diseases. Following holistic assessment of need, develop individualised care plans to fulfil those needs, with the involvement of patients and carers. Refer on to partner organisations. Implement and evaluate care delivery for patients/clients with identified needs. Ensure that all clinical activity provided by the team directly reflects the core objectives of health promotion, supported self-care, disease specific management, management of long term conditions and end of life Ensure all assessments and referrals are documented to the standards set by the NMC.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital. We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

• Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis

  Conduct full patient assessments (history, physical exams, spirometry, blood gases), analyse diagnostic tests (pathology, imaging) and determine suitable care settings (clinic, home, virtual).

• Care Planning & Delivery

  Develop and implement personalised care plans (medication review, oxygen therapy, inhaler training), manage exacerbations in the community (COPD, pneumonia), and support early discharge schemes.

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation & Self-management Support

  Refer to pulmonary rehabilitation programmes; provide education on disease self-management, inhaler technique, smoking cessation, and prevention strategies.

• Virtual Ward & Telehealth Care

  Participate in virtual models or ARI early supported discharge service, conducting remote patient monitoring and telephone triage.

• Education, Training & MDT Collaboration

  Provide specialist advice to colleagues, train nursing and therapy staff, contribute to local guidelines, clinical audits, and quality improvement initiatives.

• Clinical Governance & Quality Assurance

  Maintain comprehensive patient records, participate in national audits, monitor KPIs, and engage in service evaluation and research.

• End-of-Life Care & Advanced Care Planning

  Collaborate with palliative care teams to deliver advance care planning and symptom management in advanced respiratory disease.

• Clinical Expertise

  In-depth understanding of respiratory pathophysiology, pharmacology, diagnostic interpretation (e.g. spirometry, arterial blood gases, chest imaging).

• Decision-Making & Autonomy

  Ability to independently assess, triage, and manage complex cases in non-acute settings.

• Communication & Education

  Strong communication with patients, carers, and MDT; proficient in conveying medical information clearly and supporting behavioural change.

• Interprofessional Collaboration

  Works…