Nutrition and Physical Activity Advisor

Job description

Job responsibilities

In line with NICE guidance, you will be responsible and accountable for the delivery of a high quality, evidence based Physical Activity, and prescribed exercise service for adults aged 18 and over to achieve thepatients goals for weight loss, physical activity improvements along with strengths and balance improvement.

You will understand challenges and barriers that adults face with relation to their health (both physical and mental) wellbeing. You will engage with and build a good rapport with adults from varying communities across Lincolnshire.

You will deliver our existing programmes of weight management as well as supporting the development of new nutrition and exercise programmes that meet the needs of our clients.

To do this you will facilitate and empower patients to change behaviour and adopt positive lifestyle changes by providing health education and evidence-based advice regarding increasing habitual physical activity, helping patients to address barriers to change. To conduct on-going specialist physical activity support for those accessing the service including patient reviews and on-going case management, through 1-2-1 support where required, or support delivery of group sessions, for those who require this level of intervention.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and delivering motivational change which is client centered. You will have experience in delivering specialist exercise programmes and a background in nutrition, exercise, public health, community health or adult and/or family weight management and be an excellent team player and have a willingness to learn and develop.

At ABL Health we dont believe in diets but promote long term sustainable change which focuses on evidence-based principles of healthy living.

You will have the opportunity to attend monthly clinical supervision sessions and training sessions to upskill and develop whilst in the role. You will be supported by a team of specialist clinicians throughout and provided with relevant training to help you succeed in the role.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Deliver ABL Healths adult weight management programme including nutrition, behaviour change and exercise delivery to groups and through one-to-ones, in the community and through digital methods such as zoom/phone appointments.
• Produce individual and detailed exercise programmes, considering special adaptations required to accommodate an overweight, obese and physically inactive patient for appropriate physical activity / exercise prescription.

• Ability to translate physical activity and exercise information into a format that is appropriate and understandable for patients to support compliance with increased levels of physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour, for habitual behaviour change.

• Lead on the delivery of multi-disciplinary assessments (My storys) working closely with ABLs GP and Psychotherapist to determine an appropriate, person-centred care plan.

• Deliver programmes with a client centred approach using skills of positive psychology and motivational interviewing.

• Sound knowledge of prescribing exercise and advising on physical activity to special populations specifically obesity or underweight, as well as at population / community level.

• Knowledge of specific physical activity and exercise requirements for delivering appropriate weight management programmes for adults over 18 years of age.

• Knowledge of weight management, nutrition, and physical activity in relation to health improvement in aid of been able to adapt physical activity and nutritional information to support clients who require support with exercise and lifestyle advise for specialist health inequalities.

• Knowledge of psychological and behaviour change theoretical techniques in relation to supporting people to make positive lifestyle changes and the NICE guidance relating to the treatment of obesity for physical activity and nutrition.

• Monitor clients progress through regular consultation and with the use of Microsoft excel, identifying specific treatment for those not on track to achieve their goals.

• Assess and support eligible clients in your caseload to receive a referral to tier 4 for bariatric surgery, always remaining up to date with NICE guidance.

• Keep detailed files, recording data accurately, ensuring all forms and other documentation is completed correctly.

• Have a thorough understanding of ABL Health policies and procedures and complete mandatory training and any additional training needed as part of the job role.

• Support the development of client resources including case studies.

• To attend and actively participate in team and wider company meetings, such as MDT and clinical supervision.

• Maintain regular CPD in line with the AFN regulations, working towards full registration when appropriate.

• Undertake and complete all mandatory and additional skills training as required.

• Contribute to ongoing service development needs.

• Build community links and partnership working to encourage new referrals into the service and maintain close working relationships with other community services. Present service and referral pathway information at stakeholder meetings as directed by the project lead.

• Be able to organise own workload in order of priority and deadline dates, daily administration tasks and other work-related activities.

• To work within the framework of clinical governance to maintain and improve patient care, quality and efficiency and demonstrate personal and professional development in line with ethos of lifelong learning.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in accredited Nutrition course (RfN, AfN membership) and/or Sport Science / Physical Activity.
• REPs Level 3 Registration (REPS Level 4 desirable) and/or Member of CIMSPA at Practitioner level.
• Registration with CIMSPA (this can be obtained within 6 months of employment).

Job Specific Requirements

Essential

• The ability to travel independently across the organisational footprint.
• Work flexibly and adapt to suit service need including evening.
• Must be willing to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
• Highly motivated self-starter with resilience, determination and the ability to see jobs through to completion.
• Evidence of a personal commitment to continuing professional development and to maintaining an up-to-date professional knowledge supporting the development of business within the company.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build rapport quickly with people.
• Excellent administration, record keeping and data collection skills.
• IT literate, preferably with experience using Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Pro-active approach and ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Sound knowledge of prescribing exercise and advising on physical activity to special populations specifically obesity (including pre/post pregnancy) as well as at population / community level.
• Sound knowledge of the complex care of the obese and morbidly obese patient.
• Knowledge of specific physical activity and exercise requirements for delivering appropriate weight management programmes for adults.
• Knowledge of NICE guidance relating to the treatment of obesity.
• Ability to manage stressful situations and cope in a fast-paced work environment.
• An understanding of environmental and social factors effecting obesity.

Desirable

• Knowledge of safeguarding.
• Experience of contributing to the supervision of staff/ volunteers/ students.
• Experience of developing public health educational materials.
• An understanding of different social media platforms An understanding of how social media can support positive behaviour change.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of delivering to groups and one-to-one specialist weight management interventions to adults.
• Experience of planning and delivering appropriate health interventions specific to individual requirements.
• Experience working with hard-to-reach groups and tackling health inequalities.
• Experience of working with adults in a one-to-one and group environment, to support positive lifestyle change.
• Experience of delivering and prescribing exercise to those with co-morbidities and / or complex needs.
• Experience of taking accurate physical measures and contributing to helping individuals meet physical activity/exercise targets.
• Experience of working with patients within a weight management service.
• Experience of working effectively as part of a MDT /team.
• Experience of working with patients of different cultures, genders and ages.
• Evidence of experience in embracing and implementing change to provide high quality health outcomes.
• Experience of working to challenging performance targets and achieving excellent outcomes.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering health promotion / public health interventions in community settings.

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

ABL Health Ltd

Address

Unit 1

Dunlop Way

Scunthorpe

DN16 3RN

Employer's website

https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/work-for-us/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)