Wellbeing and Physiotherapy Practitioner

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Oxford is seeking a dedicated individual to support patients with serious mental illness in their physical health rehabilitation. The role involves collaborating with a range of professionals and creating personalized exercise programmes to enhance patients' quality of life. Candidates should possess a Level 3 fitness qualification and have a passion for helping others. This full-time position offers excellent benefits including career progression and generous leave policies.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

NHS Discount

Competitive pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Staff networking and support groups

Qualifications

• Experience working alongside multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong communication skills for motivating clients.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside therapists to enhance physical health.
• Create and adapt exercise programmes for patients.
• Facilitate access to physical health activities.

Skills

Effective liaison with teams and agencies

Ability to motivate individuals with mental health challenges

Excellent time-management skills

Level 3 fitness or exercise qualification

Job description

People diagnosed with an SMI (Serious Mental Illness) have significantly worse health outcomes and life expectancies. We have created a new full‑time opportunity which combines supporting patients on the mental health wards to move more, move well, move for fun and implement other lifestyle changes to improve their physical health and address this inequality.

You will work alongside physiotherapists, physical health leads, dietitians, occupational therapists, nurses, activity coordinators and peer support workers to increase access to exercise, movement and physical rehabilitation. You will also be carrying out physical health interventions prescribed by the physiotherapy team.

The main aim of this role is to focus on physical health rehabilitation, engagement, and enablement to optimise service users' ability to live independently and enjoy a good quality of life.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside physiotherapists, physical health leads, dietitians, occupational therapists, nurses, activity coordinators and peer support workers to increase access to exercise, movement and physical rehabilitation.
• Carry out physical health interventions prescribed by the physiotherapy team.
• Facilitate access to the small onsite gym.
• Create and adapt exercise programmes.
• Support engagement in community‑based physical health activities.
• Support activities and groups around healthy eating.
• Support service users with physiotherapy programmes.
• Support the team with physical health monitoring.

Qualifications and Skills

• Effective and efficient liaison with other teams and agencies.
• The ability to motivate people with mental health challenges.
• Excellent time‑management skills.
• Level 3 fitness or exercise qualification.

Key Conditions and Information

• All new starters have a thorough induction process, both local and Trust‑wide, which aims to create a positive, supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
• Appointment to this post is subject to the Trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study.
• We are advocates of flexible working and many of our roles offer a range of employment options to help you balance your work and personal life.
• Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and are an Equal Opportunities employer with a number of internal networking groups to support our employees.
• We actively support anti‑racism, equality, diversity and inclusion, and encourage applications from those currently under‑represented, including people with disabilities, men from all socio‑economic backgrounds, people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Oxford is a world‑renowned centre of excellence for research; Oxford Health works closely with the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Primary Care, and hosts the NIHR Clinical Research Facility at the Warneford site.

Benefits

• Excellent opportunities for career progression.
• Access to tailored individual and Trust‑wide learning and development.
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service.
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Lease car scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Mental Health First Aiders.
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply).
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team.

About Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We are a responsive and innovative Foundation Trust that places our values of Caring, Safe and Excellent at the heart of everything we do. We take great pride in our staff and believe that investing in you is key to us achieving our vision of outstanding care delivered by outstanding people.

Research and Development

Oxford Health works closely with the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Primary Care, and hosts the NIHR Clinical Research Facility at the Warneford site. The Trust also supports the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) which carries out applied research that directly impacts patient health and wellbeing.