Fitness Instructor

NHS; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a Fitness Instructor to provide exercise programs for individuals in acute mental health wards. The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of fitness experience, Level 3 Gym/Fitness qualifications, and strong communication skills. You will work independently to deliver tailored fitness sessions, ensuring both physical and mental wellbeing of service users. This part-time, permanent position offers a salary between £27,485 and £30,162 per annum.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience working in a fitness setting.
• Developed coping strategies to manage emotional work aspects.
• Training in moving and handling skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exercise programs independently on acute mental health wards.
• Evaluate service users' mental health and physical capabilities.
• Keep comprehensive clinical and non-clinical documentation.

Skills

Verbal communication skills

Non-verbal communication skills

Motivation skills

Prioritization skills

Education

Gym/Fitness instructor qualifications to Level 3

Evidence of formal education

Job description

Job Summary

We have an exciting opportunity to increase our Fitness Instructor workforce with the opening of a new adult acute ward. This role would work alongside our existing Fitness Instructors to provide a service to challenging and vulnerable service users with complex mental health problems on inpatient mental health wards which may include: adult acute, PICU, rehabilitation, low secure forensic, and older adults.

Main duties of the job

• To undertake assessment of service users (within departmental guidelines) regarding their suitability to participate in exercise sessions.
• To plan, teach, implement, and review individual and group exercise programmes, and sports sessions to promote/improve physical and mental wellbeing in both gym and community settings.
• To complete service user records and other required documentation.
• To maintain, repair and ensure correct and safe functioning of all gymnasium/sports equipment, including organising outside repairs and warranties, and planning for new equipment.

About Us

We are passionate about providing the very best care to the people we support, and we're looking for amazing people who share this passion to join us. We are proud of the difference we make to people's lives each and every day and if that's something that you'd like to be part of we'd love to have you with us.

Details

• Date posted: 15 December 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 4
• Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part-time
• Reference number: 457-25-7666864
• Job locations: Michael Carlisle, 75 Osbourne Road, Sheffield, S11 9BF

Job Description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

• To deliver exercise/fitness programmes and sports sessions independently of a qualified physiotherapist to individuals or groups within inpatient wards and review these programmes.
• To promote physical and mental well-being by running exercise groups autonomously in an environment that requires skills of adaptability and initiative, working with an often unpredictable and challenging service user group.
• To undertake day to day assessment of service users mental health and physical levels of function and capacity to undertake activities in liaison with other therapy staff and ward staff and modify exercise programmes appropriately.
• To recognise when service users have achieved their goals and to review and redesign programmes in consultation with the service user.
• To have expert verbal and non‑verbal communication skills of motivation, explanation and reassurance to gain cooperation of service users in undertaking fitness sessions.
• To keep abreast of services/facilities available in the community to refer service users on or signpost on discharge.
• To induct ward staff and other therapy staff into the safe use of gym equipment in line with local operating procedures and processes.
• To be an active member of the in‑service training programme by the attendance and delivery of training sessions.
• To maintain job related competencies through lifelong learning, continual professional development (CPD) and attendance on relevant external courses and incorporate evidence‑based practice.
• To participate in annual Performance Development Review (PDR) and produce work related objectives.
• To demonstrate an understanding of Clinical Governance, and equal opportunities polices, Risk Management and apply to work situations.
• To participate in research trials and audit as service requires.
• To provide therapeutic interventions in working conditions which are frequently hazardous e.g. verbally and physically aggressive persons and exposure to body fluids.
• To undertake moving and handling of gym equipment and other objects (e.g. furniture, to create space for group work) utilising moderate physical effort within clinical and non‑clinical settings.

Organisational

• To be responsible for the management and prioritisation of own workload.
• To participate in induction and training of therapy assistants and other inpatient staff.
• To promote the understanding of the role of fitness and exercise to therapy students and other health and social care staff.
• To contribute to discussions on service and policy development and provide comments on proposals.
• To monitor and order stock and maintain equipment.
• To organise and plan appropriate venues for the provision of group activities taking into account service users physical and mental capabilities.
• To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up‑to‑date clinical and non‑clinical documentation in line with legal and team/service requirements.
• To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the team/service.
• To be responsible for Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including your prompt recording and reporting of accidents and incidents to senior staff and ensuring that equipment use is safe.
• To contribute to the completion of risk assessments.
• To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.
• To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the Chief/Director of AHP/Therapy Services after negotiation and adequate training.

Scope and Range

• To work independently of qualified physiotherapy staff in acute mental health inpatient settings, to deliver exercise and fitness programmes.
• Freedom to independently set and vary programmes and conduct assessments within agreed competencies/protocols.

Person Specification

Essential - Knowledge and Skills

• Competent in applying the theory of fitness and practice to assess, implement and assist in fitness/gym programmes.
• Good verbal and non‑verbal communicator with the ability to motivate people.
• Understanding and practice of confidentiality.
• Developed coping strategies to deal with the emotional nature of the work.
• Prioritisation skills to independently manage own workload.
• Training in moving and handling skills.

Desirable

• Computer literate.

Essential - Training and Qualifications

• Evidence of formal education with achievement of core literacy and numeracy skills.
• Gym/Fitness instructor qualifications to Level 3.
• Demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning via personal development file.

Desirable - Training and Qualifications

• Certified First Aid qualification.
• Qualifications in delivering a variety of fitness sessions.

Essential - Experience

• At least 2 years' experience of working within a fitness setting.
• Able to demonstrate prioritisation skills and the ability to manage own workload independently.
• Experience of liaising with other agencies, services, and professional colleagues.
• To have worked as part of a team.

Desirable - Experience

• To have worked in the hospital/community setting.
• To have worked with people with mental health conditions, including dementia.

Essential - Other

• Car driver with daily access to a car (dependent on post location).

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.

Employer details

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Michael Carlisle, 75 Osbourne Road, Sheffield, S11 9BF

Website: https://www.sheffieldpartnership.nhs.uk/