Sports and Exercise Technician

NHS; England; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A local mental health organization is seeking a Sports and Exercise Technician to join their well-established physiotherapy team at St Martin Hospital. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in sports and fitness, with at least 2 years of experience and the ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team. This role involves promoting healthy lifestyles and providing support to service users in an acute mental health inpatient setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience of working within a fitness setting.
• Experience of coaching/leading sports activities with people of differing abilities.
• Experience of assessing and advising on healthy lifestyle issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide and promote sport and exercise to service users in an acute mental health inpatient setting.
• Educate and motivate service users to adopt healthier lifestyles.
• Work and plan alongside other members of the immediate team.

Skills

Experience of working as a gym instructor

Group work skills

Good written skills

Flexibility to change and innovation

Education

BTEC extended diploma/Level 3 National Diploma in Sports and Fitness or Equivalent Experience

Job description

Summary

Open only to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.

An opportunity has arisen to recruit a Sports and Exercise Technician who has a keen interest and enthusiasm in Sports and Exercise within the well‑established Physiotherapy team. We seek an individual with a wide knowledge of health and wellbeing related to sports and exercise.

St Martin Hospital is an acute inpatient mental health hospital that provides care to adults with mental health conditions.

Sports and Exercise Technicians are recognised as essential, core and supportive members of the multi‑disciplinary team. You will be part of the sport tech team within the physiotherapy service.

We are looking for an individual who is motivated to take part in service development projects. We offer regular supervision, Personal Development Plans, in‑service training and support for continual professional development activities.

Main Duties

• Provide and promote sport and exercise to service users in an acute mental health inpatient setting, through individual sessions and group settings.
• Educate and motivate service users to adopt healthier lifestyles and provide a range of health promotion activities, including the importance of regular exercise, healthy eating, weight management and smoking cessation.
• Work and plan alongside other members of the immediate team and wider MDT, communicating effectively about service users and service changes/developments.

Person Specification

Essential

• BTEC extended diploma/ Level 3 National Diploma in Sports and Fitness/ Personal Training or Equivalent Experience
• At least 2 years’ experience of working within a fitness setting
• Experience of working as a gym instructor, with groups and individuals, screening, assessing and designing exercise programmes
• Experience of coaching/leading sports activities with people of differing abilities
• Good written skills
• Basic IT skills
• Group work skills
• Flexibility to change and innovation

Desirable

• Sports and Exercise related training and/or development
• Experience of working in a mental health setting
• Experience of assessing and advising on healthy lifestyle issues
• Ability to teach a variety of sports
• Experience of working with service users with physical health conditions
• Understanding of mental health conditions
• Ability to reflect on own practice

Details

Band: 4

Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Date posted: 03 November 2025

Reference number: 380-AC0754

Job location: St Martin Hospital, Canterbury, Littlebourne Road, Canterbury, CT1 1TD

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Employer Details

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
St Martin Hospital, Canterbury
Littlebourne Road
Canterbury
CT1 1TD
Website: https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk