Physical Activity and Leisure Co-ordinator

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; Preston; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Physical Activity and Leisure Co-ordinator to support the delivery of activity, exercise and leisure programmes for service users at Guild Lodge, Whittingham near Preston.

You will work with Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Nursing staff, planning and facilitating varied activities aligned to rehabilitation goals and individual interests.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 4 or equivalent diploma/degree, e.g. Sports Science, or working towards.
• GCSE/level 5 or above in English and Maths or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of physical activity, exercise, health promotion and leisure interventions.
• Collaborate with Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nursing Staff and the MDT.
• Plan, coordinate and facilitate a varied programme reflecting service users' interests and recovery goals.
• Assess activity needs and monitor progress as part of recovery-focused care planning.

Skills

Group exercise facilitation

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Progress monitoring

Education

NVQ level 4 or equivalent diploma/degree e.g. Sports Science

GCSE/level 5 English & Maths or equivalent

Job description

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Physical Activity and Leisure Co-ordinator

The closing date is 10 November 2026

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants must have an existing right to work in the UK and be able to maintain that right for the duration of employment without sponsorship from the Trust.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly and dynamic team based at Guild Lodge, an established Secure Inpatient hospital, at Whittingham near Preston. We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to be part of our Allied Health Professional (AHP) team. You will be supporting the physical health, wellbeing, and recovery of service users through the delivery of meaningful physical activity, exercise, health promotion, and leisure programmes.

We have a range of excellent and bespoke facilities and opportunities for services users - which includes a large Therapeutic Resources Centre, Sports Hall, outdoor pitch and gymnasium. We also have links within the community and are close to the countryside.

We always support and encourage our staff through personal development and appraisal and value the importance of regular supervision. This is an excellent chance to join a fantastic, motivated team!We recommend a visit - and if you require further information or an informal discussion regarding the post please contact Hannah Johnson, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist for further details email on: [e-mail]

Main duties of the job

Physical activity and exercise play a vital role in improving physical health, enhancing mental wellbeing and supporting recovery. Participation in meaningful physical activity can improve fitness, reduce the impact of long-term health conditions, increase confidence and self-esteem, promote social inclusion, and support individuals to achieve their personal goals and aspirations.

Working directly with service users, the post holder will support the delivery of physical activity, exercise, health promotion and leisure interventions that contribute to improved physical and mental wellbeing. Through individual and group-based approaches, the post holder will encourage and motivate service users to adopt healthier lifestyles, increase their levels of physical activity, and engage in meaningful and purposeful occupation.

The post holder will work collaboratively with Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nursing Staff and the wider multidisciplinary team to support the assessment of service users' physical activity needs, identify strengths and goals, deliver interventions, monitor progress and contribute to recovery-focused care planning.

Working within agreed frameworks and using specialised knowledge of physical activity, health promotion and wellbeing, the post holder will plan, coordinate and facilitate a varied programme of physical activity, recreation and leisure opportunities that reflect service users' interests, abilities and recovery goals.

About us

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ level 4 or equivalent diploma/degree e.g. Sports Science or working towards this qualification
• GCSE/level 5 or above in English and Maths or equivalent.

Knowledge

• Ability to demonstrate understanding of: Allied Health Professionals;The client group which the post holder with work eg. Mental health difficulties; The benefit and value of physical activity
• Ability to network with other agencies

Experience

• Previous experience of working with people who experience mental health difficulties with an understanding of the roles of other professions within the multi-disciplinary team
• Experience facilitating a group exercise class
• Experience of working without direct supervision, including monitoring and reviewing the person's progress

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

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust