Health & Fitness Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:

Clinical duties:

The post holder will support service user(s) to attend the gym to manage their fitness and physical health, following referral from the inpatient multidisciplinary team. The post holder as part of the wider physical health team will be able to support with:

• Safe and most effective use of equipment in the gym
• Exercise planning
• Corrective exercise
• Increasing self-efficacy and self-confidence in gym use
• Support for preparation of community gym use

The post holder will work with the Health and Fitness Practitioner, Dietitian, Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist to plan both open and close groups which will support the physical and mental wellbeing of the service users either on or off the ward.

Under the supervision of the Health and Fitness Practitioner, the post holder will devise 1:1 sessions following referral from the multidisciplinary team to meet specific/ targeted physical or mental health goals. Care plans will be devised with the care coordinator and/or referrer.

Under the supervision of the Health and Fitness Practitioner the post holder will plan and co-ordinate open/team sports, such as football/basketball/badminton. They will be responsible for managing the equipment and ensuring the safety of all who attend.

The post holder will work under the direct supervision of a dietitian to provide non clinical healthy diet support. This preventative approach will offer current UK healthy eating guidelines as information and practical support to develop and/or maintain a healthy diet. This work can be delivered 1:1 or in a weight loss group. The post holder will maintain accurate records and outcomes of this intervention under the supervision of a dietitian.

The post holder will be able to offer support/active lifestyle coaching to service users who may not be able to access the gym/sports hall or who may not be involved in specific therapies for physical fitness, through choice or restrictions and to assist them in maintaining their fitness.

The post holder may, with direct supervision from other Allied Health Professionals, contribute to the planning and delivery of preventative health and fitness workshops to promote a healthy lifestyle. These may be part of learning for recovery, or as stand-alone sessions.

The post holder will carry out delegated clinical activities independently and will also provide support and assistance to other staff carrying out interventions to ensure staffing levels and skill mix are met which reflect the clinical needs of the service user/patient group and the environment where the intervention is taking place.

The post holder may be required to prepare clinical areas, communicate plans with patients and staff and accompany staff as an escort off the wards and on community visits.

To be able to respond appropriately to situations where there may be a change in the situation for the service user/patient which may make the intervention no longer appropriate as planned. This may include making a judgement as to not carrying out the interventions, informing the delegating therapist of the clinical changes and supporting an evaluation of the plan or working flexibly to re-arrange own diary prioritizing work within the timescales set by the Allied Health Professional e.g. service user not available due to attending a clinical review or a deterioration in their condition.

To work within the identified risk management plans for service users, departmental environmental risk assessments and any local service and national policies and procedures relating to the management of risk to reduce the risk to self and others. This includes being aware of when a known situation changes and making the judgement to seek additional guidance.

To work within statutory and legal care requirements or any restrictions for patients e.g. Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA), Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding (DOLS) and those detained under the MHA (mental health Act) or receiving treatment under a CTO (Community Treatment Order) or any observation policies applied to the patient.

Communication:

Communicate information to service users and their carers in a format which is understandable i.e. using verbal and written information. Where there are barriers to communication this may involve following a set care plan or preparing information to be presented in a specific format.

To communicate with service users and their carers in a manner which supports their engagement in the delegated intervention plan, utilising motivational, empathetic and re-assurance skills as appropriate.

To seek to provide effective listening and communication where there may be communication barriers to understanding for the service user e.g. confusion, hearing deficit, speech problems, distress, anxiety or where the atmosphere may be highly emotive.

To be aware of own interpersonal behaviour and language skills in order to facilitate a therapeutic relationship aimed at enabling engagement from the service user including preventing escalating and supports de-escalation of challenging behaviour and clinical risk.

To be able to communicate plans and outcomes effectively with other team members and the wider MDT to support the delivery of care for the service user.

Documentation:

To support service user ongoing assessment, treatment/ intervention, the post holder will be required to provide accurate and timely written and verbal observations from the clinical interventions within a provided format which support the Allied Health Professional providing the direct clinical supervision to evaluate the overall AHP intervention plan for the service user.

To implement identified Allied Health Professional service and departmental documentation standards to support the delivery of the service users care.

Administration:

To use any identified IT systems ensuring accuracy at all times to produce documents, enter statistical data and practice effective email communications.

To maintain equipment, review stock and requisition equipment and stationary throughthe departmental processes.

To carry out routine team administrative tasks.

Professional Ethics:

To meet the standard expected of an exercise professional in mental health, the post holder must demonstrate knowledge, understanding and any updates to relevant qualifications. When working under the direct supervision of an Allied Health Professional, the post holder must apply the standards in their day to day work and raise any concerns about the supervising Allied Health Professional with the physical health team operational lead or AHP Lead. The Trust has agreed behaviours as part of the Trust strategy. The post holder has a responsibility to demonstrate that they are living the Trust values in their daily work with service users, their carers, and other staff members delivering care within the clinical area.

Leadership and supervision:

The post holder may be required to support the induction of new staff. The post holder will engage in monthly managerial and clinical supervision to support the delivery of the role. The post holder is expected to utilize supervision to clarify, feedback and raise any concerns with their day to day duties.

Personal development/ Appraisal:

To actively contribute to a personal appraisal and development process by preparing for the personal development conversation, providing evidence of outcomes from previously set objectives and active involvement in setting new service and learning objectives. The post holder will be required to attend mandatory and statutory training, as well as training to develop both service and post holder.

Service Delivery/Development:

The post holder may be involved in commenting upon new procedures and activities within the department. These will be under the supervision and guidance of the AHPs or Physical health Team leader. There may be a requirement, with supervision, to contribute to the delivery of the Commissioning for Quality Innovation (CQUIN) Framework or quality initiatives within the department.

Physical Effort:

There is a frequent requirement for physical effort when demonstrating exercise or fitness during the shift, although this should be short term and not sustained.

Mental Effort:

There is a regular requirement for concentration where the work pattern is unpredictable.

Emotional Effort:

There is regular exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Sports Instructor/ Fitness qualification at Level 2 or willingness to complete training.
• English and Maths GCSE or equivalent
• Quality credit framework qualification at level 3 e.g NVQ or OCN which is transferable into the role.

Desirable

• BSc in sports science

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as part of a team and delivering a customer focused service.
• Understanding of the role of Allied Health professionals in delivering physical and mental health care in a secure setting.
• Relevant experience working within health, social care settings which provides transferable knowledge and skills
• Basic knowledge of some conditions relevant to the clinical area and the effects of illness on function
• Self-motivation for Continued Professional Development

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with Mental Health needs and managing their physical health/ fitness as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of being a service user or carer
• Understanding of the concept of rehabilitation/recovery within the secure / clinical area.
• Basic knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance
• Awareness of Health & Safety legislation & practices.

Skills

Essential

• Knowledge and skills around physical health promotion/ ability to offer lifestyle advice based on UK guidelines.
• Ability to deliver a suitable exercise/ fitness programme as part of a physical health care plan.
• Ability to participate in delivering group sport safely.
• Knowledge and awareness of issues relating to mental health, access to mental health services, and mental health promotion.
• Skills in literacy, written, verbal and an ability to effectively use electronic information and computer technology
• Skills in managing situations of high expressed emotions, and an ability to manage one's own emotional state
• Ability to work independently, being self-motivated and to be able to prioritise and effectively manage a range of competing needs and pressures.
• The ability to recognise own limitations and to effectively utilise supervision and support systems to ensure safe and effective delivery of services
• Ability to work independently with individuals and/or groups of patients
• Awareness of team dynamics and work effectively as part of a team.
• Planning and organisational skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Physical & emotional stamina to deal with sensitive and difficult situations

Desirable

• Ability to be part of planning and delivering a group

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Receptive to working with and under supervision
• Be willing to accommodate flexible working.
• Demonstrates empathy, compassion and patience
• Demonstrates an ability to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers.
• Demonstrates a keenness to make a positive contribution to improving the quality of life for people with mental health problems
• Demonstrates an ability to act calmly in emergencies and to respond in a professional manner in occasionally stressful and challenging situations Demonstrates ability to work under own initiative and as part of a team

Desirable

• Ability to liaise with representatives from other organisations and to communicate a positive image of self and of the service/organisation.
• Motivated to be solution focused with regard to meeting the competing needs and demands of the service.
• Evidence of having maintained a portfolio of learning as an element of continual professional development

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

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Hatherton Centre

St George's Hospital, Corporation Street

Stafford

ST16 3AG

Employer's website

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