Engagement, Activity and Physical Therapies Practitioner

Job summary

hours per week.

Are you a qualified sports professional who is looking for a new and developing role working with males with mental health challenges?

Are you motivated, creative and passionate about supporting individuals to make positive changes to their physical health and wellbeing? If so we would like to hear from you.

Lee Mill Low Secure Unit is a 12-bed male inpatient ward setin the small village of Lee Mill just outside of Plymouth. We provide specialist mental health care formen who have often been involved in the legal system due to their mental healthneeds. The staff at Lee Mill arepassionate about providing the highest level of patient centred care to anoften challenging and disadvantaged patient group.

You will support the service users to access exercise and physical health initiatives, which will be tailored to individual need and ability with the aim of improving their physical health and fitness, and supporting positive transitions into the community.

As a valued member of the team, you will receiveregular supervision and support from psychological services along withcontinuing professional development training including essential training forstaff working within secure services.

Due to the nature of the role, all staff are required toattend a physical interventions training session to ensure we can meet theneeds of our patients and remain effective in maintaining the safety andwellbeing of all. This post covers a 24/7 shift pattern.

Main duties of the job

Working as part of themulti-disciplinary team on the ward, the post-holder will:

1.Use their specialist knowledge and skills of sports and exerciseto plan and provide a flexible, client-centred programme of exercise/sportsactivities and other appropriate interventions for patients on the Lee MillUnit.

2.Contribute to the individualised assessment and treatment ofpatients on the Lee Mill Unit under the supervision of the Occupationaltherapist. This will involve setting realistic and achievable goals withpatients as well as providing feedback for clinical meetings.

3.Be responsible for their own caseload of patients within theirsphere of knowledge and skill, seeking advice and guidance when necessary.

4.Be responsible for maintaining the sports and exercise resourceson the wards, including ordering of equipment, and ensuring safe use.

Beresponsible for developing and embedding the role of engagement, activity, andphysical therapies (EAP) practitioner onto the ward.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise providing integrated health & social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon, as well as some specialist services for people living in parts of Devon & Cornwall. With teams in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, health & wellbeing hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we always value being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. Transforming services to make them sustainable, ensuring that we value, support & empower each other.

We are committed to involving the people we care for, families & carers in everything that we do, working towards co-production where we can. Helping us to deliver the right care for people, in the right place & at the right time. By putting people at the centre of what we do, we ensure to support people to lead, healthy independent lives & be the very best at helping people to live well.

Valuing our employees making an investment in their development a priority. We offer:

Protected CPD time for registered staff

Various development pathways and ongoing regular training packages for all staff

Leadership & mentoring programmes

Access & funding for training including Care Certificate, Assistant Practitioners Course & Scholarship Into Nurse Training

A Robust Preceptorship

A bespoke induction programme

Existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme can continue their membership when they join the organisation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication and Relationship Skills

To develop therapeutic relationships with individuals ensuring patient choice, development and independence, adapting approach to consider any potential communication difficulties.

To respect the individuality, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to a service that is sensitive to these needs.

To provide information to patients, carers, families, staff and other agencies about the value of exercise in good physical and mental health and wellbeing in the most appropriate format.

To create and maintain partnerships with leisure and recreational providers within the local and wider community

Analytical and Judgement Skills

To make evidence-based assessment of the interests, activities and ability of each patient at Lee Mill and work with occupational therapist and team to plan and implement activities which promote recovery.

Evaluate patient conditions and adapt treatment and exercise plan as necessary

To explore and introduce a broad range of activities outside of the mental health service to promote social inclusions and to negotiate activities within individuals and groups.

To maintain and develop an exercise/ activity timetable demonstrating both 1:1 and group sessions with patients

To promote healthy lifestyle by engaging in group activities walking group, swimming

Health Promotion

To promote health education on a 1:1 and group basis smoking cessation, sleep hygiene, diabetes management etc.

To assess patients suitability to participate in sports and exercise activities on the wards.

To provide a range of exercise-based activities for patients on the ward, responding to individual patients needs including gross and fine motor skills, dexterity, dressing, mobilisation ability and strength building.

Be responsible for their own small caseload of patients, providing interventions that fall within their knowledge and skills base, seeking advice and guidance when required.

To develop a variety of sports, fitness health and wellbeing activities using facilities provided in the in-patient unit and local community.

Social inclusion and transition.

To support patients to achieve the highest level of independence possible, in line with their physical condition.

To independently carry out individual or group work, which has been planned with the occupational therapist.

To report to the ward multi-disciplinary team on the progress of patients and any significant change in their condition or circumstances that would indicate need for change in their planned care.

To deal sensitively with patients who may present with challenging behaviour, caused by pain, distress or limited mobility

To support the ward team in the management of potential and actual aggression when requiredLee Mill teamPMVA

Financial and Physical Resources

To comply with Health and Safety policiesPoliciesHealth and Safety

To be responsible for the day-to-day running of the fitness room and fitness equipment

Infection Control

To identify risks in the working environment and be responsible for the safe and competent use of fitness equipmentLee Mill UnitHealth and Safety

To report any untoward incidents and take immediate appropriate action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients, carers, relatives and staffLee Mill Service Users

Responsibility for administration

To maintain high quality, contemporaneous patient records, in accordance with professional and Trust standards and guidelines for record-keeping.

To maintain compliance with Trust and statutory responsibility for confidentiality

To conduct and participate in audits as requiredAuditingService improvement and governance

Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

To identify and propose amendments to the social, recreational and therapeutic activity programme on the ward

To identify resources required to carry out this work role

Contribute to the development of this emerging role and help to embed this onto the ward.

Other Responsibilities

To actively undertake CPD and develop own portfolio of life-long learning.Individual

To participate in the Trusts annual appraisal process as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development objectives

Human Resources

To assist with staff and student orientation and induction, by demonstrating their own duties

Supporting patients with warm ups, physical therapy, walking, swimming, other activities as required.

Mental Effort

Sustained concentration, communication with individuals experiencing a range of mental health difficulties in an effort to motivate and sustain engagement.

Emotional Effort

Working with a range of patients with different challenges and potential challenging behaviours.

Ability to manage conflict, anger and aggression

Working conditions

Occasional conflict, violence and aggression

Person Specification

Specific Skills

Essential

Running group sessions Ability to adapt communication style to meet the needs of varying groups of people An understanding of a holistic approach to mental health care Ability to maintain accurate, contemporaneous records of sessions delivered Good listening and observation skills Organisational skills Presentation skills Team worker

Knowledge

Essential

Awareness of mental health conditions

Qualifications

Essential

Recognised qualification in sports and fitness instruction at Level 3 Diploma minimum, including assessment of a persons ability to exercise

Desirable

Diploma in anatomy, physiology and massage, or willingness to train Member of the Register of Exercise Professionals

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people to facilitate functional skills, re-gain independence and promote health and wellbeing

Desirable

Experience of working with people who have a mental illness Experience of working in a hospital setting, with a multi-disciplinary team

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people to facilitate functional skills, re-gain independence and promote health and wellbeing

Desirable

Experience of working with people who have a mental illness Experience of working in a hospital setting, with a multi-disciplinary team

Additional requirements

Essential

Good levels of computer literacy Enthusiasm about role of exercise in wellbeing Awareness and acceptance of cultural diversity Ability to travel independently where required Ability to work across 7 days

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