Band 4 Exercise Specialist - Bristol

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health services trust in Bristol is seeking a motivated Exercise Specialist to work within its Secure Services team. The role involves enhancing the physical fitness and well-being of service users with varying levels of ability in medium and low secure units. You will design and deliver exercise programmes and health promotion activities, ensuring engagement and motivation while prioritizing safety. This unique position offers a chance to apply your expertise in a vital area of mental health recovery.

Qualifications

• Experience in working with diverse levels of motivation and ability.
• Ability to design and implement physical activity programmes.
• Understanding of mental health considerations in exercise.

Responsibilities

• Conduct pre-exercise readiness screening and assessments.
• Design, implement, and adapt exercise programmes.
• Promote health initiatives and create resources.
• Ensure safety in handling gym equipment.
• Assess safety and appropriateness of physical activity for service users.
• Support with rehabilitation programmes under physiotherapist guidance.

Skills

Experience in exercise prescription

Ability to engage individuals creatively

Organisational skills

Knowledge of health promotion

Job description

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 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, and you will need to be able to enthuse and engage individuals in different and creative ways.

Main duties of the job

• To carry out pre‑exercise readiness screening and appropriate physical assessment, including 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 promote, participate and create resources for health promotions and campaigns.
• To demonstrate safe moving and handling of gym, and other equipment.
• 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.
• 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.