Sports and Exercise Therapy Instructor

Job overview

We are seeking a Band 4 Sport and Exercise Therapy Instructor to work across our Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit and Woodlands Inpatient Unit.

This role will work across The Tarn (Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit), Oxleas House and The Woodlands Inpatient Mental Health Unit. The post is embedded within the Occupational Therapy Structures of the Acute and Crisis Mental Health Directorate and has been designed to complement the therapeutic group work and interventions carried out by OT on the wards encouraging service user engagement with their own physical well being.

The post holder will work under the supervision of the Directorate Lead Occupational Therapist to deliver sport & exercise therapy, with support from the Trust Sport & Fitness Lead. This entails planning and implementing an evidence-based exercise prescription programme, tailored to the clinical conditions of the service user/s needs.

The Sport & Exercise Therapy instructor will work with both individuals and groups offering a range of sporting activities

We are looking for someone with experience of working in the field of exercise and fitness who has a passion for bringing these skills to our in-patient services.

Main duties of the job

• Facilitate sports and fitness programmes for service users across inpatient sites, offering a range of sports and fitness activities as well as encourage access to community sports programmes to promote social inclusion.
• Manage own clinical caseload.
• Work autonomously under the supervision of the Directorate Lead Occupational Therapist.
• Apply evidence-based methods, experience and skill set to assist in providing therapeutic sport, exercise and physical activities for individuals/groups of service users.
• Communicate with service users/carers and MDT.
• Provide feedback on caseload and therapeutic activities at monthly supervision.
• Have an awareness of local sport, exercise and physical activity providers that will promote social inclusion and skills development for service users.
• Undertake additional delegated responsibilities as directed by the Directorate Lead Occupational Therapist.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Work effectively as a member of the MDT in providing a programme of unit-based therapeutic activities.
• Apply experience, knowledge and skillset to engage service users in therapeutic activities whilst implementing exercise-based best practice.
• Facilitate planned group work and individual activities.
• Engage in the ongoing assessment and treatment of service users and adjust own clinical interventions based on the fluctuating needs of the service users.
• Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.
• Ensure service users health, social, cultural and spiritual needs are considered and respected at all times.
• Apply risk assessment and management principles in your practice.
• Adhere to Trust’s requirements for the prevention and management of violence and aggression training relevant to clinical area.
• To work with service users with mental health needs who may exhibit challenging behaviours.

Research

• Utilise evidence-based practice in your everyday work.
• Participate in audits and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor.
• Participate in clinical governance activities in own clinical area.

Communication

• Maintain good communication with other professionals working within the units to ensure integrated team working and improve the operational delivery of services.
• Communicate appropriately with service users, carers and colleagues.
• Use suitable communication methods to convey information effectively as required by your role.
• Report effectively to the MDT on service users’ progress/performance in areas of health, fitness and wellbeing.
• Ensure that up to date electronic and written records are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.
• Ensure all documentation is complete and entered on RiO.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.