Clinical Exercise Therapist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Clinical Exercise Therapist within our Forensic Inpatient Service at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. The post sits within a large, supportive therapies team that includes Occupational Therapists, Clinical Exercise Therapists, Activity Support Workers, and Technical Instructors.

The Forensic Inpatient Service comprises both medium and low secure wards, providing care under the Mental Health Act for men and women with mental health difficulties who present a significant risk of harm to themselves or others. The service also supports individuals with co‑existing learning disabilities and autism.

Our primary aim is to provide a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment that enables patients to develop the skills needed for their recovery and successful transition back into the community.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be a key member of the Forensic Therapies Team, supporting the Lead Clinical Exercise Therapist in delivering exercise interventions and sports activities across all medium and low secure wards. Our service includes a small team of Clinical Exercise Therapists working within the wider therapies department.

In this role, the postholder will work with the team to provide a range of sports and exercise‑based interventions tailored to the needs of forensic inpatients. They will also contribute to developing initiatives that educate, encourage, and motivate patients to adopt and maintain healthier lifestyles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To assess service users suitability for exercise, adhering to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines where appropriate.
• To discuss concerns around any identified medical contraindications to exercise with the wards medical staff.
• To tailor a service users sport/exercise therapy programme to their individual needs, taking personal interests and any possible limitations into account.
• To be aware of service users history/background/culture and take this into account when designing exercise programmes and contribute to a clinical team risk assessment as appropriate.
• To promote and support individual choice and maximum independence, respecting service users beliefs and ensuring privacy & dignity.
• To be familiar with medication and the possible side effects when planning /designing exercise therapy sessions.
• To plan and deliver a range of clinical exercise and sports interventions, taking into account the differing abilities of service users on the ward and in community settings.
• To lead gym sessions, exercise sessions and coaching / sports sessions with individuals and groups.
• To maintain and audit fitness equipment to a satisfactory level, ensuring regular maintenance where required, in line with Trust health & safety standards.
• To continually review and evaluate service users progress, treatment plans and risk assessments as the service users condition changes, making suitable alterations to their exercise programmes.
• To assess risk and manage it effectively within clinical settings, ensuring a safe environment in which to exercise.
• To be able to manage challenging behaviour and set clear boundaries within a sport/exercise setting.
• To educate service users on Healthy Lifestyle – regular exercise, healthy eating, weight management, smoking cessation.
• To be able to successfully organise & manage a caseload.