Band 4 Exercise Specialist - Secure Services, Bristol

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

The closing date is 07 May 2025

Job summary

We have two positions available within our Secure Services Exercise Specialist Team. 1 x Full time post and 1 x 30 hours per week post.

We are looking for a motivated and flexible Exercise Specialist who will work as part of our Secure Services Exercise Specialist team, working with our medium and low secure units in Bristol. This is a unique setting, where you will address and improve the physical fitness and general health and well-being of service users in these in-patient mental health units.

You will be a highly motivated, organised individual with experience and expertise in exercise prescription and supervision. This is an excellent opportunity to be able to put your knowledge and skills into practice to work with groups and individuals to plan, organise and deliver physical fitness, exercise and health promotion activities. One of the key challenges of this role is working with varying levels of motivation and ability, will need to be able to enthuse and engage individuals in different and creative ways.

Main duties of the job

You will work as a part of the multi-disciplinary team, working closely with occupational therapy colleagues in particular. You will also link with other exercise staff across the Trust regarding professional and developmental issues.

On joining the service, you will receive a comprehensive, structured induction package, and the chance to work in a unique and innovative environment, as well as the support you need, with regular supervision and appropriate training.

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 and be qualified to Level 3 in personal training or exercise referral

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 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.

Date posted

23 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

342-SEC043-0425

Job locations

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road

Bristol

BS16 1ED

Job description

Job responsibilities

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.

See Job Description for full details

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

See Job Description for full details

Person Specification

Essential

Level 3 in Personal Training or Exercise Referral
Level 2 in Fitness Instruction
GCSE Maths and English (grade C and above) or equivalent
Experience working with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities engaging in physical activity based activities

Desirable

Experience delivering physical activities in various settings
Experience of working with people in a heath or social care environment
Understanding of mental health problems, and an awareness of potential associated risks
Effective written and verbal communication skills across a wide audience
Experience working in a multi-professional team

Person Specification

Essential

Level 3 in Personal Training or Exercise Referral
Level 2 in Fitness Instruction
GCSE Maths and English (grade C and above) or equivalent
Experience working with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities engaging in physical activity based activities

Desirable

Experience delivering physical activities in various settings
Experience of working with people in a heath or social care environment
Understanding of mental health problems, and an awareness of potential associated risks
Effective written and verbal communication skills across a wide audience
Experience working in a multi-professional team

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.