Lifestyle and Activity Coach

NHS; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading health service provider is seeking a part-time Lifestyle and Activity Coach to support patients with long-term pain and ME/CFS. The role involves engaging individuals in healthy lifestyle choices, promoting exercise, and providing essential health education. Candidates should be compassionate, self-motivated, and have experience in rehabilitation settings. This position offers personal development opportunities and flexible working hours across three days each week.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Access to education and training opportunities

NHS Pension Scheme

Flexible work-life balance

Access to staff events and conferences

Qualifications

• Experience in physical rehabilitation / leisure centre setting is beneficial.
• Knowledge of IT systems and patient record management.
• Experience delivering low-level exercise like chair yoga or Pilates.

Responsibilities

• Engage with patients to support lifestyle changes and provide health education.
• Maintain accurate electronic patient records and ensure confidentiality.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team for patient care optimally.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Motivation

Listening

Education

Relevant health or fitness qualification

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Nottinghamshire Pain and ME/ CFS team. You will be engaging with and supporting patients with long term pain, ME /CFS in making healthy lifestyle choices in respect to their physical and mental health. The Lifestyle and Activity Coach will have a broad spectrum of knowledge and act as a central resource for service users and staff throughout Mid Nottinghamshire.

ABOUT THE CANDIDATE

This role would suit someone who is patient, calm and compassionate for those with long term health conditions. There is a need to be self-motivated, disciplined and resilient, with the support of a great team and provided with a tailored induction programme and support for ongoing development.

Were looking for someone to fill the role three days per week, including Thursdays for team meeting attendance. Some flexibility in working hours across those three days, please outline your ideal working pattern as part of your application.

Main duties of the job

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To engage effectively with patients receiving care from the Pain Management ME/CFS Service.

Listening to and interpreting complex health information into understandable terms about health improvement.

To support patients to recognise and make appropriate change to their current lifestyle. To identify how their way of life might affect their pain and emotional wellbeing.

To provide health education to patients and promote a healthy lifestyle to encourage behavioural change.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Experience working within physical rehabilitation / leisure centre would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of IT systems would be helpful

About us

PICS is the employer for this role. We collaborate with patients and partners to design and deliver clinically robust health and social care solution through Community Services, Out of Hospital Services, GP Practices, and Primary Care Networks. Find out more about us: http://picsnhs.org.uk/.

Benefits of working for PICS

We offer a comprehensive package which includes:

NHS Pension 2015 Scheme (subject to eligibility)

• Alternative government-based scheme (subject to eligibility)
• Generous annual leave entitlement which references NHS Agenda for Change and recognises previous NHS service, starting 35 days pro rata (inc bank holidays)
• Competitive leave entitlement that includes maternity, paternity and adoption leave, study leave allowance, and sickness provisions
• Access to education and training opportunities, depending on your role (CPPE Pharmacy, NHS England Roadmap for First Contact Practitioners, apprenticeship schemes, support professional development)
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team with support from a wide variety of professionals
• A flexible approach to a work-life balance
• Cycle to work scheme (subject to eligibility)
• Access to Blue Light Card scheme
• All staff events and conferences
• Free parking across many sites
• Personalised induction into the company and job role

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To maintain a high level of confidentiality in all aspects of work including patient records and conversations.

To maintain accurate electronic patient records and activities, complete data sheets and explore trends and formulate strategies with line manager.

To take immediate action, in line with existing policies and procedures, when faced with a high-risk situation. (i.e., suicidal behaviour)

Act as a resource for colleagues and maintain an up-to-date data base of self-help, voluntary and funded schemes across Nottinghamshire.

Liaise with other members of the MDT to maximise patient care, timely and appropriate referral back to clinicians for review.

Movement & activity support:

Support behavioural change to incorporate daily exercise opportunity, improve confidence to exercise.

Support identifying first steps to becoming more active; home based options as well as onward referral to other exercise schemes e.g., exercise referral as appropriate. Initial steps often include low level exercise such as chair yoga.

Support patients to incorporate pacing and recovery, as well as a healthier lifestyle alongside exercise, limiting sedentary postures, lifestyles.

Working within group programmes and individually.

Exercise experience; including experience of developing and maintaining motivation for sustained behaviour change.

Awareness of the evidence base for persistent pain management.

Understanding of the impact of other health conditions on exercise tolerance / exercise advice e.g. cardiac conditions, diabetes, hypertension, ME/CFS, MS, RA

Experience of delivering low level exercise eg chair yoga, pilates, tai chi

Mood / Wellbeing in relation to pain management

Support patients to recognise areas of appropriate change to their current lifestyle. To identify how their way of life might affect their pain and emotional wellbeing and provide health education to promote this.

Support lifestyle change to improve wellbeing e.g., relaxation practise, enjoyable activity, pacing, healthy eating, sleep routine, outdoor time.

Signposting / onward referral as indicated to other services -smoking cessation, alcohol services, weight management.

Listening and interpreting complex health information into understandable terminology regarding health improvement.

Demonstrate care and understanding to patients life journey as well as their health issues.

Understanding of core facets of a healthy lifestyle; supporting behaviour change; NHS initiatives to help move to healthy lifestyle e.g., Make Every Contact Count

Experience of working with people with long term health conditions

To be respectful and non-judgemental of patients lifestyles, and to be able to encourage them in choices and actions that are acceptable and achievable to them, while being aware of cultural considerations in regard to patients lifestyles e.g. diet / exercise participation.

To be aware of, and sensitive to, barriers to adopting lifestyle change such as affordability, accessibility, and life circumstances.

Awareness of relevant local community agencies / services that patients can be sign posted to

Social activity

Supporting first steps to return to hobbies, social activities that add to a patients quality of life.

Goal setting / goal progression alongside patient

Demonstrate engaging with patients, maximising their motivation to incorporate opportunity towards their goals.

Experience of value-based goal setting.

Group programmes:

Supporting delivery of Group Programmes in community centre venues or online via zoom platform, alongside a clinical specialist or another Lifestyle and Activity Coach.

Leading talks within group sessions, leading low level exercise component, and providing guidance. Leading relaxation practise, supporting value-based goal setting in small groups.

Ability to present PowerPoint presentations in community venue setting or online.

Deliver consistent messages in line with clinical guidelines for persistent pain under guidance of teams clinical specialists.

Timely completion of electronic patient notes

Transport of session equipment

Offer individual appointments to patients referred by the clinical team where lifestyle support is needed; consideration for onward referral to other schemes eg exercise referral, weight management, social prescribers; also to explore patients commitment to behaviour change, engage with self-management support offered by service; work-up to patient attending a programme

Respond to waiting list / waiting list planning alongside clinical lead

Timely completion of electronic patient notes

Adapt communication style depending on patients needs: eg. neurodiversity, anxiety, depression, literacy ability

Deliver consistent messages in line with clinical guidelines for persistent pain under guidance of clinical team.

Education and Training

Maintain a personal development plan and an annual programme of learning and development using a personal portfolio which ensures best practice

Participate in individual performance review on an annual basis

Keep up to date with policies, procedures and protocols relating to the patient group / organisation and relevant practice

To assess personal development with supervisor

Attend further training as identified with the line manager

Administrative and Information technology

IT skilled. Record patient activity and interventions in timely manner, whilst acting on this information as necessary

Knowledge of S1 an advantage

Clinical Governance

Identify risk issues that impact on the patients health or social needs

Take appropriate action to the significance of the risk and consistent with protection procedures, applying protection procedures, following lone worker procedure

Demonstrate effective team working inclusive of all relevant professionals

Report all accidents / incidents, and all ill health, failings in equipment and / or environment to line managers.

Contribute towards audit and data collection as required

Once assessed as competent will be accountable for their own practice within their sphere of responsibility when identified and agreed with the Manager and the organisation in which the post holder works

Other duties and responsibilities

Encourage and build trusting relationships and encourage participation and involvement in a variety of initiatives with communities and professionals.

Be an active member of the Team, demonstrating own work to new members and working with other individuals engaged in health improvement to promote healthy living.

Attend and participate in staff induction, training, MDT meetings, development reviews and personal development planning as requested.

Identify, assess and manage risks.

Actively promote equal opportunities, challenge oppressive behaviour and ensure service provided is equitable.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Please provide details of your CPD, using examples where necessary.

Knowledge and skills

• Please provide detailed information of how you feel that your knowledge and skills are suitable for this role; please provide examples to support your application referring to the job description and person specification for guidance.

Experience

• Please provide detailed information of how you feel that your experience is suitable for this role; please provide examples to support your application referring to the job description and person specification for guidance.

Personal Qualities

• Please provide details for why you would be a great fit for this role and why you have decided to apply.

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 name

Primary Integrated Community Services

Address

Primary Integrated Community Services

Unit H3, Nottingham Business Park, Mellors Way

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

E0220-25-0006PAIN

Job locations

Primary Integrated Community Services

Unit H3, Nottingham Business Park, Mellors Way