Clinical Exercise Therapist

Job overview

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to be the first ever Clinical Exercise Therapist at Sussex Partnership NHS Trust. We are a Mental Health Trust and want to develop our physical health provision to the population we serve. We see introducing specialist exercise therapy as a key component in improving the physical and mental health of our servicer users.

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Clinical Exercise Therapist. You will be in possession of or working towards a degree or equivalent in related area (e.g. sports science, health studies, youth and community work), with recognised exercise teaching or coaching qualifications, for example Gym Instructor or GP Referral.

The successful candidate will have experience of designing individualised physical activity programmes and practical experience of delivering physical activity sessions for people with a range of health needs. Experience of working in a mental health or healthcare setting would be desirable.

You will join the already established physiotherapy team and work as part of a wider specialist multi-disciplinary team who care for people with mental ill-heath. The role covers in-patient adult wards across two sites (Swandean Hospital in Worthing and Oaklands Centre for Acute Care in Chichester).

Please note that your CIMSPA registration is required for shortlisting.

Main duties of the job

You will support the planning, co-ordination and delivery of an extensive physical activity group programme. You will also provide targeted physical activity programmes for individuals with a range of mental health conditions and chronic physical health difficulties. In addition, you will be involved in health promotion activity focusing on the importance of maintaining a physically active lifestyle for improved health and wellbeing. You will also work to develop the signposting and referral of patients for physical activity/sports groups on discharge back into the community.

Candidates will need to have excellent communication, motivational and time management skills. They'll need to be energetic, flexible and creative in their approach to delivering physical activity health improvement programmes and have a keen interest in working with people with mental health needs. They must also have a proven ability to work effectively in a team, and effective communication and presentation skills.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide clinical exercise therapy for service users referred. All service users have mental health needs and some will have complex mental health & social care needs. • To provide a range of suitable physical activities, overseeing sport and exercise programmes. • To educate & motivate service users to adopt healthier lifestyles. • To work and plan alongside other members of the immediate team and with the wider MDT, communicating effectively about service users and service changes/developments • The role is a pilot with the aim of evidencing the impact of exercise therapy in the in-patient mental health setting so professional lead can use the evidence to build a case for a trust wide exercise therapy service

To assess service user's 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.