Band 4 Exercise Specialist

Are you a fitness professional with an interest in working clinically? We have an interesting opening for a motivated personal trainer or gym instructor who is looking for their next challenge. We work with individuals who are living with severe mental illness and are seeking to recruit someone keen to improve the health and wellbeing of those under our services.

There is opportunity to grow and develop provision within inpatient services and potential to extend delivery into the local community. As part of a team, you will be responsible for offering individually tailored, high quality, and safe exercise.

Applicants will ideally have experience of working with people experiencing mental ill-health. The post holder will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to provide physical activity and exercise to a high-risk population. It is an excellent chance to develop skills and knowledge as an exercise professional, working in a clinical setting with those who may have both complex mental and physical health needs.

To be successful the post holder needs to be a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills and the passion and motivation to help people live healthier lifestyles. You will need to demonstrate an understanding and interest in mental health, be fitness qualified to Level 3, and have a minimum of 2 years' experience working in the fitness industry.

Please note that we are not recruiting a Physiotherapist for this role.

To be an exercise specialist, with diverse responsibilities, and key professional in improving and promoting the physical health and wellbeing of those with mental health conditions, under the care of AWP.

To assess pre-exercise readiness and design, deliver, monitor, adapt and tailor safe exercise programmes to individual service users.

To work as a member of the multi-professional team to provide physical activity, exercise and health promotion within a hospital and community environment to those with complex physical, psychological and mental health needs.

To actively educate, facilitate and motivate service users with wide ranging mental health problems to adopt regular physical activity and an active lifestyle, employing appropriate motivational strategies to achieve this as well as educating staff and service users about the benefits of physical activity on health and wellbeing.

To provide bespoke health and fitness advice and training to adult inpatients with a range of mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities, using onsite fitness facilities, outdoor areas and suitable opportunities in the community. Service users remain the responsibility of an appropriate registered clinician.

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Clinical:

To liaise with medical and nursing staff to identify service users requiring a fitness programme, and identifying any potential red flags which might need further investigation.

To carry out pre-exercise readiness screening and appropriate physical assessment, to include management of risk and identifying contraindications to physical activity and exercise.

To design, implement, monitor and adapt physical activity and exercise programmes, on an individual and group basis, as appropriate.

Observing and monitoring progress and making adjustments to interventions.

To provide information and practical advice, within scope of own competency, to service users, carers and staff.

To promote, participate and create resources for health promotions and campaigns.

To demonstrate safe moving and handling of gym, and other equipment.

Work independently within the hospital and community environment, with support available for reference and support.

To be responsible for identifying issues regarding the safeguarding of others who may be at risk, and reporting all such concerns in accordance with Trust safeguarding procedures.

To be responsible for ongoing risk assessment around clinical practice and personal safety, and reporting and escalating concerns in line with Trust policy.

To be responsible for carrying own caseload and working without direct supervision, with advice readily available.

To support the development of, contribute towards and implement intervention plans, policies and procedures within range of own competency and scope of practice.

To conduct pre-exercise screens and physical assessments within the parameters of own competency and scope of practice, and referring to more experienced or suitably qualified staff for guidance and support.

To observe the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act and to be aware of risks to patients and self, taking all precautionary safety measures required.

Under the guidance of a physiotherapist, carry out specific rehab programmes for a condition or injury. To assess the safety and appropriateness of physical activity for service users through carrying out a pre-exercise health questionnaire; review of medical notes/physical observations; review of the risk summary of service users and understanding any restrictions in place under the Mental Health Act, as well as being aware of contraindications and precautions for exercise.

Personal:

To comply with the terms of the contract of employment and the Trust's statement of values and beliefs.

To maintain registration with the appropriate professional body, where applicable, and comply with the relevant code of conduct and standards of professional practice.

To fully participate in management, clinical and professional supervision sessions relevant to the role, as required by the Trust.

To fully participate in annual review and appraisal reviews.

To maintain up to date knowledge and competency in the skills required to perform safely and effectively in the role. To undertake relevant training (including statutory and mandatory training) and be responsible for personal development in line with Trust requirements.

To have a willingness and ability to travel around locality to help facilitate clients to make contact and access with community facilities.

To have very well established motivational skills to engage those with severe and enduring mental health issues.

Demonstrate a broad range of physical activities using safe and appropriate techniques.

To be able to build therapeutic relationships with those acutely mentally unwell, using well developed communication skills and overcoming barriers to communication such as cognitive ability, altered perception and language.

To provide support to service users at times of extreme emotional distress; this may involve being aware of traumatic histories and events.

Administration:

To undertake administrative tasks in relation to own work and as requested.

To maintain accurate and comprehensive service user records using RIO, in accordance with Trust and Professional record keeping standards. Recording patient's activity and statistical data using information technology.

To maintain strict confidentiality and respect the individual rights of clients at all times.

To be able to plan own workload with independent diary management, including managing both inpatient and community commitments.

To carry administrative functions associated with the role.

To process new referrals.

To maintain accurate caseload lists.

To discharge service users at the end of a period of care.

For more details please see Job Description attached.