Oxford Health NHS Trust

Wellbeing and Physiotherapy Practitioner

The closing date is 22 December 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for a role where you can help our service users enjoy a good quality of life?

Do you have a level 3 qualification in fitness?

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.

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

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.

This is a unique opportunity for a professional, ideally someone with a physical health rehabilitation or fitness background, who has experience or wants to work with individuals with mental health problems. The individual must understand the impact of physical functioning on mental health rehabilitation, enablement and recovery.

Main duties of the job

You will support the ward-based multi-disciplinary team (MDT) by working closely with service users to achieve their physical health goals by;

Facilitating access to the small onsite gym
Creating and adapting exercise programmes
Supporting engagement in community-based physical health activities
Supporting activities and groups around healthy eating
Supporting service users with physiotherapy programmes.
Supporting the team with physical health monitoring

You must demonstrate;

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.

You will be part of the ward-based MDT. You will have clinical supervision from a qualified physiotherapist and a physical health lead nurse, join in service training and meet regularly with other physiotherapy TI's and fitness instructors from a range of mental health services.

About us

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

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

Date posted

09 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

267-OA7394091

Job locations

Warneford Hospital

Warneford Lane

Oxford

OX3 7JX

Job description

Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

Level 3 qualifications in fitness

Desirable

Evidence of use of academic qualifications in a job role.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

Experience of work within the health, social / voluntary care or educational sector
Evidence of work within a multidisciplinary environment
Aptitude to follow the directions of other members of the MDT and remain within scope of practice.
Good supervisory, organisational and time management skills with ability to plan / prioritise work and to direct patients, carers, and colleagues.
Ability to screen patients following set protocols for physiotherapy assessment and general fitness
Ability to assess fitness for multigym and group activity
Ability to motivate in a variety of ways

Desirable

Work experience in mental health adult and /or forensic mental health.

Skills

Essential

To actively facilitate and use own initiative to progress physiotherapy programmes, e.g., individual / group activities.
A commitment to personal development and lifelong learning.
Ability to write up / maintain patient / service records
Ability to create teaching material to promote a healthy lifestyle

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

Level 3 qualifications in fitness

Desirable

Evidence of use of academic qualifications in a job role.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

Experience of work within the health, social / voluntary care or educational sector
Evidence of work within a multidisciplinary environment
Aptitude to follow the directions of other members of the MDT and remain within scope of practice.
Good supervisory, organisational and time management skills with ability to plan / prioritise work and to direct patients, carers, and colleagues.
Ability to screen patients following set protocols for physiotherapy assessment and general fitness
Ability to assess fitness for multigym and group activity
Ability to motivate in a variety of ways

Desirable

Work experience in mental health adult and /or forensic mental health.

Skills

Essential

To actively facilitate and use own initiative to progress physiotherapy programmes, e.g., individual / group activities.
A commitment to personal development and lifelong learning.
Ability to write up / maintain patient / service records
Ability to create teaching material to promote a healthy lifestyle

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

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Warneford Hospital

Warneford Lane

Oxford

OX3 7JX

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Warneford Hospital

Warneford Lane

Oxford

OX3 7JX

Employer's website

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