Job summary
7 Hours per week supporting cardiac rehab class delivery

Tuesdays 3pm - 7pm and on Thursdays 230pm -530pm.

The post holder will be an integral member of the Cardiology Nurse Specialist Team based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. They will help to improve participant's heart conditions and in doing so promote optional functioning to reduce the likelihood of further heart events.

They will encourage participant's independence with exercise and health as outlined in BACPR Standards and Core Components for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation 2012.

The post holder must be able to manage a case load. They will assess, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate exercise programmes according to the needs of the individuals.

Main duties of the job

• Assess and analyse, incorporating risk stratification tests as recommended by BACPR for exercise tolerance enabling patients to exercise safely, taking complex presentations, and co-morbidities, psychological issues, exercise beliefs and barriers into account.
• Take and monitor patients' vital signs using knowledge of anatomical and physiological markers. Be able to interpret and clinically analyse these measures and modify treatment as indicated or advise appropriate member of the MDT if appropriate.
• To lead, implement and ensure the smooth delivery of group cardiac rehabilitation sessions in line with current BACPR guidelines.
• Respond to patients who may be suffering an acute coronary event or illness which requires urgent care. Be prepared to act quickly, advise the patient or refer to other members of the MDT as appropriate, working within the hospital policies and guidelines.
• Educate patients, carers and significant others of the physiological and general benefits of exercise, activity and healthy lifestyle. This will be to individuals and groups. You will be able to provide formal group presentations and education to a range of levels including patients and clinical ward staff.
• Participate fully in the multidisciplinary team and refer patients to other Cardiology team members as appropriate, as well as GPs, Leisure Centre Exercise Professionals and other external agencies.

About us
Diversity makes us interesting... Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We support flexible working wherever possible, with requests considered on an individual basis taking into account service requirements, operational needs and the requirements of the role.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Details
Date posted: 04 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year pro rata, per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 193-8395565UCGB4-CRECO

Job responsibilities

• Assess and analyse, incorporating risk stratification tests as recommended by BACPR for exercise tolerance enabling patients to exercise safely, taking complex presentations, and co-morbidities, psychological issues, exercise beliefs and barriers into account.
• Take and monitor patients vital signs using knowledge of anatomical and physiological markers. Be able to interpret and clinically analyse these measures and modify treatment as indicated or advise appropriate member of the MDT if appropriate.
• To lead, implement and ensure the smooth delivery of group cardiac rehabilitation sessions in line with current BACPR guidelines.
• Respond to patients who may be suffering an acute coronary event or illness which requires urgent care. Be prepared to act quickly, advise the patient or refer to other members of the MDT as appropriate, working within the hospital policies and guidelines.
• Educate patients, carers and significant others of the physiological and general benefits of exercise, activity and healthy lifestyle. This will be to individuals and groups. You will be able to provide formal group presentations and education to a range of levels including patients and clinical ward staff.
• Participate fully in the multidisciplinary team and refer patients to other Cardiology team members as appropriate, as well as GPs, Leisure Centre Exercise Professionals and other external agencies.
• Communicate highly complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and staff where there may be barriers to communication e.g. non-English speaking patients, use of interpreters, excess noise or lack of privacy. This may also include communications with parties those who have complex emotional, physical (including pain) and psychological conditions, hearing impairment, dysphasia, depression, memory loss and altered personality.
• Communicate through a variety of verbal and non-verbal techniques to encourage understanding and motivation towards healthy behaviour changes.
• Provide cover for other members of the Cardiac Rehabilitation team as and when required within own scope of practice. Be prepared to support the team in supervising students and voluntary workers.
• Deliver evidence-based care and keep abreast of relevant up to date guidelines and standards. Share learning with the CNS team and wider staff as appropriate.
• Be instrumental in helping to device and maintain an accurate and evaluative record keeping system for the Cardiac Rehabilitation caseload using the Electronic Patient Record system at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Be competent in the use of IT e.g. to access patient details, book appointments, send patient reports.
• Be responsible for the management and maintenance of equipment used for exercise and for instructing patients and other staff in the safe use of it. Ensure environmental risk assessments are up to date. Complete incident reporting as appropriate.
• To organise own mandatory training and supervision. Ensure own CPD is up to date through research, benchmarking, networking and attending relevant courses, tutorials and meetings. This will include attending the departmental clinical supervision and Clinical Governance.
• To participate in the development of the departments audit and evaluation projects including providing information for the National Audit for Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Person Specification
Application - Essential:

• qualification in exercise fitness e.g. BACPR Exercise Instructor Training qualification and with current Register of Exercise Professionals
• NVQ 3 in exercise/Health related discipline
• Basic Computer Course or equivalent experience

Application - Desirable:

• Registered as a BASES certified Exercise Practitioner or Accredited Sports and Exercise Scientist
• Relevant degree in physiotherapy with HPC registration

Education - Essential:

• Working with patient suffering with from a cardiac condition.
• Team Work
• Excellent Communication skills
• Cardiology Experience

Education - Desirable:

• Experience with older people medical conditions.
• Gym Experience
• Cardiac or Respiratory experience
• Patient Facing Exercise Classes

Communication skills - Essential:

• Good Communication skills

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, London Road, Reading, RG1 5AN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Lead Nurse for Acute Medicine, Anne Franklin, anne.franklin3@nhs.net, 01183228990

Diversity makes us interesting. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible.