Exercise and Physical Activity Assistant Practitioner

Transformationunitgm; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust is looking for an Exercise and Physical Activity Assistant Practitioner to join their Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Team. The role involves delivering tailored activity programs for children up to age 16, supporting health improvement initiatives, and working across various settings including homes and schools.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Pension schemes

Health and wellbeing programmes

Exclusive discounts

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in healthcare or community settings.
• Experience delivering exercise or therapy programs tailored to needs.
• Knowledge of exercise principles suitable for different age groups.

Responsibilities

• Implement physical activity interventions tailored to individual needs.
• Monitor progress and adjust programs for long-term health outcomes.
• Advocate for healthy living and physical activity within the community.

Skills

Working with children

Physical activity promotion

Communication adaptation

Education

3 A-Levels and 5 GCSEs including Maths and English

Level 3 GP referral

PACC training

Job description

Employer Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Town Sheffield Salary £27,485 - £30,162 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/06/2025 23:59

Exercise and Physical Activity Assistant Practitioner

NHS AfC: Band 4

Job overview

Permanent | Full-time

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Team. As the only children’s hospital to pilot the Active Hospital project, we’re proud to embed physical activity into clinical care as part of our wider Healthy Behaviour Strategy.

We are looking for someone to work across oncology, obesity, respiratory and rheumatology pathways, supporting children and young people across inpatient, outpatient and community settings.

In this varied and rewarding role, you will deliver tailored physical activity and exercise programmes for children and young people up to age 16. You will support registered therapists and nurses in providing compassionate and outstanding care, while promoting healthy behaviours and connecting families to local and national healthy living projects. You will work across a variety of environments, including homes, schools, community venues, and hospital sites.

We’re looking for someone who is:

Passionate about improving the lives of children and young people through physical activity.

Experienced in working with children in healthcare, community or physical activity settings.

Confident in developing and delivering individualised exercise programmes.

Main duties of the job

You will report to the Principal Physiotherapist, and your responsibilities will include:

Safely implement physical activity interventions tailored to individual needs.

Monitor progress and adjust programmes to support long-term health outcomes.

Advocate for healthy living and physical activity within the community.

Working for our organisation

At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children’s Health.

We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.

We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England — and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire — in the latest NHS Staff Survey.

Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence — to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.

As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.

We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts — helping you thrive at work and beyond.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.

Please note that Sheffield Children's uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.

Diversity Statement

At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.

Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at [e-mail]. Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.

#LI-Onsite

Person specification

Qualifications/Training

• 3 A-Levels and 5 GCSEs including Maths and English (4-9 or A-C) or equivalent including Functional Skills level 2 or a level 5 apprenticeship, such as the Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship
• Level 3 GP referral
• PACC training

Experience

• Experience of working with children and young people, ideally in healthcare, physical activity, or community settings
• Experience delivering exercise or therapy programs, tailored to individual needs
• Experience of working with a multidisciplinary team collaboration to achieve shared goals
• Involvement in health promotion or healthy living initiatives is beneficial
• Experience of weight management services

Knowledge and skills

• Knowledge of exercise principles and how they may differ across age groups
• Ability to design, implement, and monitor individualized exercise and physical activity programs
• Ability to adapt communication and approach for different audiences (e.g., children, families, professionals)
• Effective time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and multitask
• Clinical risk assessment and decision-making capabilities within established guidelines
• Competence in operating, teaching, and ensuring the safety of exercise equipment
• Problem-solving skills for responding to changing conditions or needs
• IT skills to manage documentation, record-keeping, and reporting
• Knowledge of equipment and adaptations relevant to the role
• Understands the principals of evidence-based practice

Personal Attributes

• Enthusiastic about promoting physical activity and inspiring engagement in healthy living
• Collaborative and team-oriented, while also being self-motivated to manage personal workload
• Proactive and innovative, constantly seeking opportunities to enhance services and outcomes
• Access to own transport / Full Driving Licence

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Debbie Rowley Job title Advanced Physiotherapist, AHP Workforce Lead Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0114 2260646