Engagement, Activity and Physical Therapies PractitionerNHS
Job summary
37.5 hours per week
Are you a qualified sports professional looking for a rewarding role supporting men with serious mental health conditions and forensic risk? Are you motivated, creative and passionate about helping individuals improve their physical health and wellbeing? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Lee Mill Low Secure Unit is a 12-bed male inpatient ward near Plymouth, providing specialist care for men with complex mental health needs and forensic histories.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will support patients to engage in exercise, sport and physical health activities tailored to their individual needs and recovery goals. Your role will help promote healthier lifestyles, improve wellbeing and support patients on their journey towards recovery and successful community reintegration.
We are looking for someone enthusiastic, adaptable and committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred care to a challenging but rewarding patient group.
As a valued member of the team, you will receive regular supervision and support from psychological services along with continuing professional development training including essential training for staff working within secure services.
Due to the nature of the role, all staff are required to attend a physical interventions training session to ensure we can meet the needs of our patients and remain effective in maintaining the safety and wellbeing of all. This post covers a 24/7 shift pattern.
Main duties of the job
Working as part of the multi-disciplinary team on the ward, the post-holder will:
1. Use their specialist knowledge and skills of sports and exercise to plan and provide a flexible, client-centred programme of exercise/sports activities and other appropriate interventions for patients on the Lee Mill Unit.
2. Contribute to the individualised assessment and treatment of patients on the Lee Mill Unit under the supervision of the Occupational therapist. This will involve setting realistic and achievable goals with patients as well as providing feedback for clinical meetings.
3. Be responsible for their own caseload of patients within their sphere of knowledge and skill, seeking advice and guidance when necessary.
4. Be responsible for maintaining the sports and exercise resources on the wards, including ordering of equipment, and ensuring safe use.
Be responsible for developing and embedding the role of engagement, activity, and physical therapies (EAP) practitioner onto the ward.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
Job description
Communication and Relationship Skills
To develop therapeutic relationships with individuals ensuring patient choice, development and independence, adapting approach to consider any potential communication difficulties.
To respect the individuality, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to a service that is sensitive to these needs.
To provide information to patients, carers, families, staff and other agencies about the value of exercise in good physical and mental health and wellbeing in the most appropriate format.
To create and maintain partnerships with leisure and recreational providers within the local and wider community
Analytical and Judgement Skills
To make evidence-based assessment of the interests, activities and ability of each patient at Lee Mill and work with occupational therapist and team to plan and implement activities which promote recovery.
Evaluate patient conditions and adapt treatment and exercise plan as necessary
To explore and introduce a broad range of activities outside of the mental health service to promote social inclusions and to negotiate activities within individuals and groups.
To maintain and develop an exercise/ activity timetable demonstrating both 1:1 and group sessions with patients
To promote healthy lifestyle by engaging in group activities e.g. walking group, swimming
Health Promotion
To promote health education on a 1:1 and group basis e.g. smoking cessation, sleep hygiene, diabetes management etc.
To assess patients suitability to participate in sports and exercise activities on the wards.
To provide a range of exercise-based activities for patients on the ward, responding to individual patients needs including gross and fine motor skills, dexterity, dressing, mobilisation ability and strength building.
Be responsible for their own small caseload of patients, providing interventions that fall within their knowledge and skills base, seeking advice and guidance when required.
To develop a variety of sports, fitness health and wellbeing activities using facilities provided in the in-patient unit and local community.
Social inclusion and transition.
To support patients to achieve the highest level of independence possible, in line with their physical condition.
To independently carry out individual or group work, which has been planned with the occupational therapist.
To report to the ward multi-disciplinary team on the progress of patients and any significant change in their condition or circumstances that would indicate need for change in their planned care.
To deal sensitively with patients who may present with challenging behaviour, caused by pain, distress or limited mobility
To support the ward team in the management of potential and actual aggression when requiredLee Mill teamPMVA
Financial and Physical Resources
To comply with Health and Safety policiesPoliciesHealth and Safety
To be responsible for the day-to-day running of the fitness room and fitness equipment
Infection Control
To identify risks in the working environment and be responsible for the safe and competent use of fitness equipmentLee Mill UnitHealth and Safety
To report any untoward incidents and take immediate appropriate action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients, carers, relatives and staffLee Mill Service Users
Responsibility for administration
To maintain high quality, contemporaneous patient records, in accordance with professional and Trust standards and guidelines for record-keeping.
To maintain compliance with Trust and statutory responsibility for confidentiality
To conduct and participate in audits as requiredAuditingService improvement and governance
Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments
To identify and propose amendments to the social, recreational and therapeutic activity programme on the ward
To identify resources required to carry out this work role
Contribute to the development of this emerging role and help to embed this onto the ward.
Other Responsibilities
To actively undertake CPD and develop own portfolio of life-long learning.Individual
To participate in the Trusts annual appraisal process as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development objectives
Human Resources
To assist with staff and student orientation and induction, by demonstrating their own duties
Supporting patients with warm ups, physical therapy, walking, swimming, other activities as required.
Mental Effort
Sustained concentration, communication with individuals experiencing a range of mental health difficulties in an effort to motivate and sustain engagement.
Emotional Effort
Working with a range of patients with different challenges and potential challenging behaviours.
Ability to manage conflict, anger and aggression
Working conditions
Occasional conflict, violence and aggression
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.