Employer heading

Fitness Instructor - Cardiac Rehabilitation Assistant

Band 3

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. 

We are committed to recruiting to our values. Leading One Culture of Care underpins our values by creating an environment, tone and behaviours across all parts of the Trust that are fundamentally rooted in compassionate care.

We are open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. There are opportunities to flex the days of the week, hours and times of work and place of work including: part-time, job-share, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home when appropriate. Please talk to us during the interview process to discuss any flexibility that you may require.

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Our Future Plans

The Department of Health and Social Care has awarded capital funding to invest in local health services at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. This is a significant investment and an opportunity to enhance services for our populations in Calderdale and Huddersfield and West Yorkshire for generations to come. To find out more, please visit 

Job overview

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Heart Failure Assistant/Fitness Instructor.

The role will involve working in the community alongside nurses and therapists to assist in assessing, educating and delivering physical activity sessions to patients with cardiovascular disease.

Main duties of the job

As a Cardiac Rehab Assistant you require the knowledge of facts, principles, processes and general concept in a field of work. They may carry out a wider range of duties with guidance and supervision available when needed. They will contribute to service development and are responsible for self-development.

Working for our organisation

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Cardiac Rehabilitation Assistant with excellent communication skills to join our experienced, friendly and dynamic multidisciplinary cardiac rehab team.

If you are a team player, have excellent communication skills, have a patient centred focus to your work, are committed to continuous professional development and enjoy working flexibly within a multidisciplinary environment then this could be the post for you!

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working to agreed competencies and protocols and guided by the registered practitioners, the post holder will be key in support of the treatment and care of patients and also their carer/relatives where relevant. The post holder will be working under indirect supervision of the registered practitioners in the team. This will involve taking responsibility for an identified and delegated workload following screening and/or assessment by a registered practitioner. The post holder will undertake delegated work following a rehabilitation plan devised by the Registered Practitioner or Assistant Practitioner, and will be expected to make minor adjustment to this following agreed protocols and guidelines, liaising with the registered practitioner as necessary.

Work will be carried out mainly within a community setting but could include working in the service user’s home or other health care setting. Tasks will also be carried out in the hospital.

 Activities will include:

 Delivery and adaptation of the exercise component of the programme ensuring patient safety and suitability.

 To supervise cardiac rehab functional capacity testing including calculation of safe exercise

 Implementing treatment to protocols, based on competencies.

 Monitoring progress and feeding back to the registered practitioner or assistant practitioner

 Making minor adjustments to treatment programmes within pre-determined limits

 Assisting registered practitioners with complex treatment.

 May involve assessing for, ordering and issuing predetermined basic equipment to protocols and established guidelines

 Leading and assisting with group exercise

 Delivering Health Promotion Education sessions

 Collection and inputting data for the cardiac rehabilitation national audit

 To assist in the training and supervision of volunteers

 Preparation of Cardiac Rehab clinics

 Inputting of patient data/figures into System 1

 The post holder will be required to undertake lone working in line with the Trust policy.

 Administrative duties and general patient care across departments are required. The post holder will be expected to demonstrate self-directed development and practice

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING

Essential criteria

GCSE level English and Maths or equivalent Wright Foundation /BACPR exercise instructor training level 4 or equivalent Willing and able to participate in competency work based training programme NVQ L3 ( or equivalent ) in appropriate field - or working towards this

Desirable criteria

Experience of chair based exercise programme Experience in prescribing Gym based programmes

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Essential criteria

Previous experience working and communicating with the public in a social care/health care/educational setting Previous experience of working within an exercise / physical activity environment. Experience of delivering taught sessions to patients and staff

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in cardiac rehabilitation Previous experience working in a Multidisciplinary team in health, social care or education setting Experience of teaching and instructing individuals or groups Experience of dealing with clients with complex needs and their carers Experience of working within community settings

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)

Essential criteria

Demonstrates positive attitudes and behaviours Able to work on own following agreed protocols, seeking help appropriately, particularly around unforeseen circumstances Able to use initiative but be aware of limitations of role Problem solving / decision making skills based on patient / client needs Good communication skills Tactful diplomatic, supportive and resourceful Ability to work to deadlines Good time management skills Ability to work well in a team

Further details / informal visits contact

NameClair JonesJob titleCardiac Rehabilitation / Heart Failure Team LeaderEmail [email protected] number07825054496Additional information

Kathryn Fairhurst / Nurse Specialist to the Cardiac Rehabilitation team

Office Number 07909290265