Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Sports Instructor

The closing date is 03 December 2025

Job summary

In line with the Equality Act 2010 there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement to appoint a Male to this post on the grounds of

*Decency or privacy

*The provision of personal services

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Sports Instructor to deliver sports/ physical activity. This will include group sessions and individual sessions.

Interventions will include supporting patients with increasing their physical activity using the onsite gym and sports hall and community resources.

You will have a Level 2 fitness or gym instructor qualification. qualifications in sport/exercise coaching plus GCSE/ GCE or equivalent in Maths and English. Having knowledge of a range of sporting activities.

You will be a team player and have skills in motivating others and experience in working with individuals with mental health needs.

You will need to have good communication and negotiation skills, some experience of group and individual planning and delivery and be able to work independently and be highly adaptable.

Main duties of the job

To provide gym access, sports hall and deliver a range of physical activity and sports to the patients.

To lead on the provision of physical activity and safe access to the gym under the direction of the ward Occupational Therapists.

To develop opportunity for pathways from the hospital setting into mainstream physical activity and sporting opportunity.

To educate and supervise unqualified staff in supervising the use of the hospital gym equipment and gym programmes devised by the sports instructor.

To be a team member contributing to the overall activity and treatment programme delivered to service users.

To develop, deliver and evaluate the physical activity that is offered.

To deliver and support attendance to community based interventions with patients

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire,Leicestershire,Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Details

Date posted

19 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum (pro rata for part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

186-1366-25-MH

Job locations

Highbury Hospital (Nottingham) & Sherwood Oaks Hospital (Mansfield)

Highbury Road

Nottingham

NG6 9DR


Job description

Job responsibilities

To plan and deliver a needs led sports, fitness and wellbeing programme for patients using a range of assessments and treatment approaches based on best available evidence. This will include sessions in the gym and sports hall either for individuals or groups.

To provide safe and quality access to the the onsite gym and sports hall for patients.

To contribute and support clinical physical assessment in collaboration with Occupational Therapist and devise plans on physical activity/sports programme for the individuals/ groups.

To build therapeutic rapport and develop individual's skill and confidence.

To develop and deliver social inclusion activities.

To understand the individual's need and associated risk to enable escorted duties and participation in physical activity and community engagement.

To be responsible for the provision of gym access and physical activity and have responsibility for the appropriate use of the gyms and sports hall.

To develop, deliver and evaluate physical activity and gym accessibility for individual's that is socially inclusive and meets their needs.

To work in collaboration with all professionals within the service and the Trust.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To plan and deliver a needs led sports, fitness and wellbeing programme for patients using a range of assessments and treatment approaches based on best available evidence. This will include sessions in the gym and sports hall either for individuals or groups.

To provide safe and quality access to the the onsite gym and sports hall for patients.

To contribute and support clinical physical assessment in collaboration with Occupational Therapist and devise plans on physical activity/sports programme for the individuals/ groups.

To build therapeutic rapport and develop individual's skill and confidence.

To develop and deliver social inclusion activities.

To understand the individual's need and associated risk to enable escorted duties and participation in physical activity and community engagement.

To be responsible for the provision of gym access and physical activity and have responsibility for the appropriate use of the gyms and sports hall.

To develop, deliver and evaluate physical activity and gym accessibility for individual's that is socially inclusive and meets their needs.

To work in collaboration with all professionals within the service and the Trust.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Gym instructor Level 2 or equivalent qualifications in sports/exercise
  • GCSE/GCE or equivalent in English and Maths

Desirable

  • Level 3 gym instructor qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with individuals with mental health needs
  • Experience and understanding of working in team setting, liaising with colleagues, other agencies, and services
  • Experience of communicating with a range of other agencies within healthcare setting
  • experience of motivating individuals
  • Experience of planning and facilitating a variety of 1:1 and or group interventions

Desirable

  • Experience of working within Occupational therapy teams
  • Experience of working within mental health or the forensic setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstrates an awareness of mental health services
  • Demonstrates an understanding of cultural and diversity needs of individuals
  • Has an awareness of health and safety issues within the work place
  • Has a basic understanding of the purpose and the role of Occupational therapy within mental health care
  • Knowledge of a range of sport/ gym/ physical activities
  • Knowledge in developing networks with other sporting agencies
  • Understanding of current physical health initiatives

Desirable

  • Understanding of forensic low secure services

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to motivate others with varying interest in physical activity
  • IT skills relevant to post
  • Ability to communicate to a range of people on a range of matters, in a range of forms
  • Ability to organise and deliver group and individual sessions
  • Ability to identify risk and to take responsiblity for self and others in ensuring legislation, policies, and procedures are followed in the work place
  • Ability to actively participate in development of the service
  • Has an identified interest / area of expertise within physical activity e.g. walking , swimming, Pilates, tai -chi

Physical requirements

Essential

  • Ability to engage in physical exercise in a range of environments , gym, sports hall, community
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Gym instructor Level 2 or equivalent qualifications in sports/exercise
  • GCSE/GCE or equivalent in English and Maths

Desirable

  • Level 3 gym instructor qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with individuals with mental health needs
  • Experience and understanding of working in team setting, liaising with colleagues, other agencies, and services
  • Experience of communicating with a range of other agencies within healthcare setting
  • experience of motivating individuals
  • Experience of planning and facilitating a variety of 1:1 and or group interventions

Desirable

  • Experience of working within Occupational therapy teams
  • Experience of working within mental health or the forensic setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstrates an awareness of mental health services
  • Demonstrates an understanding of cultural and diversity needs of individuals
  • Has an awareness of health and safety issues within the work place
  • Has a basic understanding of the purpose and the role of Occupational therapy within mental health care
  • Knowledge of a range of sport/ gym/ physical activities
  • Knowledge in developing networks with other sporting agencies
  • Understanding of current physical health initiatives

Desirable

  • Understanding of forensic low secure services

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to motivate others with varying interest in physical activity
  • IT skills relevant to post
  • Ability to communicate to a range of people on a range of matters, in a range of forms
  • Ability to organise and deliver group and individual sessions
  • Ability to identify risk and to take responsiblity for self and others in ensuring legislation, policies, and procedures are followed in the work place
  • Ability to actively participate in development of the service
  • Has an identified interest / area of expertise within physical activity e.g. walking , swimming, Pilates, tai -chi

Physical requirements

Essential

  • Ability to engage in physical exercise in a range of environments , gym, sports hall, community

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

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Highbury Hospital (Nottingham) & Sherwood Oaks Hospital (Mansfield)

Highbury Road

Nottingham

NG6 9DR


Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Highbury Hospital (Nottingham) & Sherwood Oaks Hospital (Mansfield)

Highbury Road

Nottingham

NG6 9DR


Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head Occupational Therapist

Rita Timire

ritha.timire@nottshc.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

19 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum (pro rata for part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

186-1366-25-MH

Job locations

Highbury Hospital (Nottingham) & Sherwood Oaks Hospital (Mansfield)

Highbury Road

Nottingham

NG6 9DR


Supporting documents

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