Fitness Instructor

Job overview

We are looking for a motivated individual with excellent communication skills who has a passion and experience for working in mental health and the ability to work flexibly and creatively in an ever-changing environment.

Each ward has their own gym plus a space for group exercise sessions.

We are looking for someone who has previous experience working with mental health clients as this essential for this band 5 post. A part of the interview selection process will involve a visit to the unit to meet staff and patients.

There is a trustwide Gym/fitness professional group which offers professional support, development and opportunities to consider Quality Improvement projects and research.

Applicants should have a Sports Science/Sports Exercise degree or equivalent, require CIMPSPA level 3 Exercise Referral (or be working towards it) and level 4 mental health, Diabetes and Obesity. Applicants must be a member of BASES.

Main duties of the job

The work will include:

• Liaising closely with the multi disciplinary teams
• Establishing a programme of fitness sessions across all wards.
• Providing gym inductions for inpatients.
• Providing individual programmes.
• Facilitating gym sessions.
• Facilitating group exercise sessions.
• Supporting referrals on to community exercise resources
• Supporting individuals with their health and wellbeing via sessions, conversations and advice.
• Providing staff advice and training
• Responsibility for regular equipment checks and reporting any repairs
• Maintaining safe gym environments on the inpatient wards
• Keeping records of attendance and writing in patient records.

Working for our organisation

St Charles Mental Health Centre in Kensington & Chelsea has four adult inpatient wards plus two psychiatric intensive care wards that provide a safe and therapeutic environment for people with acute mental health problems.

The unit is a short walk from Ladbroke Grove station with good transport links to other stations.

There are opportunities for flexible working, access to CNWL staff health and wellbeing resources and an on-site staff wellbeing room.

We are passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patients own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.

We're always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee were hoping to find our future leaders and well support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

• To support service users to engage in health and wellbeing activities.
• To plan, implement and review a range of exercise activities using individual and group work approaches, under the supervision and direction of qualified occupational therapists.
• To support service users to engage in care plans which have been developed in partnership with the individual and that reflect ‘recovery goals’.
• To develop, plan and implement health and wellbeing-based activities including sports/ exercise at St Charles Mental Health Centre.
• To provide health and wellbeing activities that are sensitive to racial, social and cultural needs and expectations, under the guidance of a qualified Occupational Therapist.
• To apply current knowledge from the field of health, exercise and social sciences to Mental Health settings.
• To provide training to staff to be able to safely supervise service users’ use of gym equipment.
• To keep abreast new policies and initiatives that relate to health and wellbeing and to keep up to date with current knowledge and practice within sports exercise.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• Recognised sports coaching or fitness instructor qualification, level 3 or above (HND, ACDM, YMCA, exercise instructor’s certification or other industry recognised qualification)
• Registered with Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) or Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMPSA)
• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent

• Other relevant qualifications relating to health, exercise and sports science
• First aid course

Previous experience

• Experience of working with clients with mental health difficulties
• Experience of working as a qualified fitness professional
• Experience in instructing groups and individuals in sports, exercise and physical activity.
• Experience of taking responsibility for monitoring gym equipment safety.
• Evidence of autonomous working

• Experience of managing and supervising staff and services.
• Experience of audit or evaluation of services
• Teaching experience
• Experience of working in an inpatient mental health unit

Skills & knowledge

• Has knowledge of a range of sporting and fitness activities.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the needs of people with mental health issues.

• Ability to facilitate a range of different physical activity classes

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.

If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.