Band 4 Exercise Specialist

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a fitness professional who cares about the health and wellbeing of individuals under the mental health services.

It is an opportunity to grow and develop our exercise provision within our inpatient and community services. As part of a team, you will be responsible for offering individually tailored, high quality, safe exercise and general health advice.

The successful candidate will be working with adult service users across Green Lane Hospital, Devizes and Fountain Way, Salisbury, promoting and encouraging physical activity and well-being. Full or part-time opportunities will be considered across one or both sites.

Applicants will need to have experience of working in Mental Health, ideally including motivation to exercise or maintenance/promotion of independence, Gym Instructor Level 3 or equivalent. It will be essential to have experience of working with special populations in engaging in physical activities.

Previous experience as a Physiotherapy Assistant would be desirable.

A full driving license is required.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work within a small team of physiotherapists and exercise professionals 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 with those within mental health services.

To be successful, the post holder needs to be a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills, and the passion and motivation to make a change. They will need to demonstrate an understanding and interest in mental health, be fitness qualified to level 3, and have achieved a minimum of 2 years experience working in the fitness industry.

About us

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 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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

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 carry out pre-exercise readiness screening and appropriate physical assessment, to include management of risk and identifying contraindications to physical activity and 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 provide information and practical advice, within scope of own competency, to service users, carers and promote, participate and create resources for health promotions and campaigns.

To demonstrate safe moving and handling of gym, and other independently within the hospital and community environment, with support available for reference and 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 be responsible for ongoing risk assessment around clinical practice and personal safety, and reporting and escalating concerns in line with Trust be responsible for carrying own caseload and working without direct supervision, with advice readily support the development of, contribute towards and implement intervention plans, policies and procedures within range of own competency and scope of 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 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 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 Trusts statement of values and maintain registration with the appropriate professional body, where applicable, and comply with the relevant code of conduct and standards of professional fully participate in management, clinical and professional supervision sessions relevant to the role, as required by the fully participate in annual review and appraisal 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 have a willingness and ability to travel around locality to help facilitate clients to make contact and access with community 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 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 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 maintain accurate and comprehensive service user records using RIO, in accordance with Trust and Professional record keeping standards. Recording patients activity and statistical data using information maintain strict confidentiality and respect the individual rights of clients at all be able to plan own workload with independent diary management, including managing both inpatient and community carry administrative functions associated with the process new maintain accurate caseload discharge service users at the end of a period of care.

Training and Development: To participate in the induction of new staff and support students, as well as those less experienced, in the clinical participate in inter-disciplinary training, keeping professionally up to date and ensuring own professional ensure attendance at mandatory training and have a continuing professional development plan in line with the Trust appraisal be aware of, and work to all relevant Trust policies and procedures, including infection control, lone working, AWOL and GDPR

Person Specification

Essential and desirable

Essential

GCSE Maths and English (Grade C or equivalent), or a willingness to complete in a given time frame L2 Fitness Instruction L3 Personal Training or exercise referral Care certificate, or willingness to complete in 6 months REPS Registration, or willingness to register in an agreed timescale Minimum 2 years experience in the fitness industry Ability to travel independently in accordance to Trust policies and service need Competent IT skills including word, excel, email and electronic notes. An understanding of mental health problems, and an awareness of potential associated risks and how to safeguard self and others against these risks

Desirable

L3 Exercise referral L4 Fitness qualification Recognised coaching qualifications NVQ in health and social care, or equivalent Experience working with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities engaging in physical activity based activities Experience of working with people in a heath or social care environment

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