Community Tracheostomy and Complex Airway Specialist Practitioner

Community Tracheostomy and Complex Airway Specialist Practitioner Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as one of the founding clinicians within our newly established Community Tracheostomy and Complex Airway Team. This innovative service has been developed to provide specialist support for adults living with tracheostomies and complex airway needs across Sheffield. Working across community and acute interfaces, the team will support safe discharge from hospital, provide ongoing clinical oversight in the community, reduce avoidable admissions, improve patient outcomes, and build confidence and capability amongst patients, carers, and healthcare professionals. We welcome applications from candidates seeking either full-time working (37.5 hours per week) or part-time working at 30 hours per week. Flexible working requests will be considered in line with service requirements.

Main Duties

• Provide advanced specialist assessment, treatment, monitoring, and review for adults living with tracheostomies and complex airway needs.
• Support safe and coordinated discharge from acute services into community settings.
• Deliver expert clinical advice and support to community teams, primary care, care homes, independent providers, patients, and carers.
• Lead on education, competency development, and workforce training relating to tracheostomy and airway management.
• Act as a specialist resource for patients requiring tracheostomy tube changes, airway reviews, and management of airway-related complications.
• Contribute to service development, clinical governance, audit, and quality improvement activities.
• Work collaboratively with ENT, Critical Care, Respiratory, Community Nursing, Rehabilitation Services, Primary Care, and Urgent Community Response teams.
• Support the development of pathways, policies, standard operating procedures, and clinical governance arrangements for the new service.

About Us

You will be working for an organization that values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its employees. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (NMC) or Registered Physiotherapist (HCPC).
• Degree or equivalent professional qualification.
• Evidence of relevant postgraduate study.
• Evidence of specialist training in tracheostomy care.
• Teaching and assessment qualification or willingness to undertake.
• Desirable: Master’s level study or equivalent, Independent Prescribing qualification, Leadership or management qualification, Advanced Clinical Assessment qualification.

Experience

• Significant post-registration experience at Band 6 or above.
• Experience caring for patients with tracheostomies and complex airway needs.
• Experience working in critical care, respiratory, ENT, or neurorehabilitation.
• Experience of discharge planning and multidisciplinary working.
• Evidence of service development and quality improvement.
• Experience undertaking tracheostomy tube changes.
• Audit and research experience.
• Desirable: Experience working in community services, community-based tracheostomy services, and project management.

Skills

• Advanced knowledge of tracheostomy management.
• Knowledge of NTSP guidance and best practice.
• Understanding of respiratory physiology and secretion management.
• Understanding of safeguarding, governance, and risk management.
• Knowledge of community healthcare systems and integrated care pathways.
• Advanced clinical assessment skills.
• Desirable: Knowledge of long-term ventilation pathways and community equipment commissioning arrangements.

Personal Qualities

• Able to document and record accurately in line with national standards.
• Familiar with and able to operate necessary IT software packages (e.g., MS Word, Excel, email).
• High level of initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and team working skills.
• Car owner/driver.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a Disclosure submission to check for any previous criminal convictions. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Degree Requirement: Bachelor’s

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