JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title:Fitness Associate Directorate: Community and Wellbeing Service: Leisure Location: Initially, Portaferry however maybe required to work in any leisure location across the borough Reports to: Duty Manager/ Operations Officer/ Assistant Manager Salary Scale: Scale 5 SCP 13 - 18 Car User Status: Casual PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF THE POST Committing to the one-team ethos, you will be flexible and collaborative, and you will actively support all colleagues and other activities necessary to deliver the leisure service objectives and will be expected to undertake a wide range of duties across a range of leisure facilities. As a Fitness Associate, you will implement the Councils Fitness, Rehabilitation, Strategy and Plans, both inside and outside of the Gym environment. You will also be responsible for the delivery of an innovative health and fitness programme and will provide and maintain a quality customer service, including, but not limited to, being responsible for devising and delivering health and fitness instruction programmes, centre-based coaching classes and Exercise Referral (i.e. PARs/Healthwise) and rehabilitation programmes, ensuring that service delivery is achieved to specified standards with a quality leisure experience being offered to all our customers. You will ensure that facilities are clean and well prepared, all relevant equipment is serviceable and properly handled/set up/taken down. You will ensure that all Health and Safety and hygiene standards are always maintained in accordance with the current Quality System and relevant legislation. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To improve member retention and reduce member attrition by effective engagement with existing and new members. To monitor the gym floor and use of gym equipment. To increase memberships from sales in fitness and classes through engaging with non-user groups and assisting the Fitness Officer and Membership Services Advisor with membership targets. Prepare personalised and tailored fitness programmes, monitor programmes, undertake fitness testing, and respond to customer complaints/enquires as required and monitor customer use within the centre and ensure unsafe practices are promptly dealt with or reported as appropriate. Engage with the customer in the gym and provide excellent customer care by scheduling and delivering professional inductions, providing advice, and contributing to the development and implementation of gym challenges, ensuring that a high standard of customer care and enjoyment is always achieved and repeat business is assured. Ensure all customers and members feel welcome and they are benefiting from the services provided in the gym/centre. In conjunction with the Fitness Officer, be responsible for the delivery of programmes of exercise for special populations such as Healthwise Exercise referral programme as appropriate to training and qualifications including screening of clients, delivery of exercise instruction, maintaining relevant databases and ensuring safe handling and storage of sensitive medical records under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as required. In conjunction with the Fitness Officer, be responsible for the delivery of the any exercise referral scheme (example PHA PARS programme), including the screening of clients and the delivery of programme related activities. Liaise with and provide written reports to health professionals and ensure safe storage of sensitive medical records under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as required. Conduct facility tours and assist with the set up and set down of any special events as required. Organise and deliver systems/events to enhance the social aspect of physical activity and the centre to help to create an atmosphere where people interact and feel a sense of belonging. Deliver nutrition information to customers, as trained and appropriate, helping to positively impact on their health and wellbeing. Contribute to the development, promotion, and delivery of the centre-based programme of classes and activities within the centre as appropriate to training and qualifications. Keeping abreast of industry trends and direction to ensure provision for a wide range of customers ranging from children to senior citizens. Assist with the processing of memberships. Conduct exit surveys/interviews with leaving members to understand issues around customer retention. Deliver presentations and talks both internally and at external locations to community groups of all ages to promote health and wellbeing. Assist with the induction of new staff and work placement students by providing instruction, mentoring, and shadowing on occasion as required. Help ensure the highest standards of Health and Safety for both customers and colleagues, ensuring that all relevant statutory and Council policies and requirements are complied with. Undertake equipment maintenance checks, logging and reporting defects or hazardous situations as required. Performing all duties in accordance with agreed standard operating procedures, relevant legislation, and Council policies. Assist with and participate in the achievement of applicable quality assurance awards. Ensuring that quality standards, customer care procedures, work instructions, and record keeping are followed and maintained. Perform reception duties to include being a point of contact for information/advice, cash handling, cash up, reconciliation, processing of invoices and queries, taking booking and cancellations both by telephone and in person, maintaining databases and records in accordance with data protection guidelines, actively selling and processing memberships. To provide emergency reaction care when needed throughout the facility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers. To undertake any other appropriate duties as may be allocated from time to time in accordance with the general nature of the post including interchange of duties, to cover for leave, sickness, employee vacancies etc. and working within other sections of Leisure or the Council. PERSON SPECIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS: ESSENTIAL: A recognised qualification in Fitness i.e. NIIC, GNVQ II, Premier or equivalent qualification. Applicants should hold a qualification enabling them to deliver at least (1) class from our leisure timetableOR if a qualification is not held, applicants must agree to complete the required training/ certification within 6 months of appointment. Indoor Cycle Circuits Kettlebells Core Strength & Conditioning Boxercise Body Pump (TBF) PARS (Physical Activity Readiness Scheme) or agree to obtain within 12 months of appointment DESIRABLE: Hold a recognised academic qualification associated with the leisure industry. Recognised sports specific coaching qualification One or more coaching qualifications for classes GP Referral qualification Hold a recognised First Aid qualification. Hold a customer care or Welcome Host certificate. Hold a recognised qualification in IT e.g., CLAIT II or ECDL EXPERIENCE: ESSENTIAL: Previous experience of working in a customer focused environment DESIRABLE: Previous relevant experience in the leisure industry Experience in the delivery of fitness classes Previous experience of reception duties within a similar environment OTHER REQUIREMENTS: ESSENTIAL: Must be prepared to work on a rota system which can include days, evenings, weekends (Sat & Sun) and public holidays. Must consent to a pre-employment Enhanced with barred list Access NI check. Undertake any training required to deliver a high-level service experience and ensure qualifications are kept up to date in line with both personal development and the needs of the service. Please note, successful appointments without a Spin qualification, will be provided with the required training and certification. The selection panel reserves the right to enhance the shortlisting criteria to facilitate the process when necessary. Appendix 1 Please note the following points are generic duties and responsibilities which fitness staff will be expected to assist with as required. Undertake any cleaning and housekeeping duties as required to ensure that the highest possible standards of cleanliness, maintenance and presentation are always maintained. Check and maintain records of cleaning and housekeeping stock levels and maintain supply rooms. Stock and supply designated facility areas including toilets and changing areas. Dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, hand scrubbing and detailing as required. Carry out deep cleaning and detailed cleaning tasks as per cleaning schedules in all areas of the facility as required on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. Use and experience of commercial floor cleaning machines. Notify management of deficiencies or repairs required. Perform the role of First Aider First Aiders Primary Role: To provide immediate emergency lifesaving medical care Manage the incident and ensure the continuing safety of themselves, bystanders, and the casualty. Assess casualties and find out the nature and cause of their injuries. Arrange for further medical help or other emergency services to attend. Prioritise casualties based upon medical need. Provide appropriate first aid treatment as trained.Including(CPR), Using an automated external defibrillator (AED). Make notes/observations of casualties and complete accident/incident report form. Provide a handover when emergency services arrive. Incident/Emergency Evacuation Duties In the event of a fire or other emergency, you will be required to work as team and clear the building, these duties will include. You will need to perform a full sweep of your designated area to ensure that no one has been left behind. Take action to minimise the spread of fire and smoke. Assist people with evacuating when necessary. You should provide support to disabled and vulnerable people if necessary. Ensure that people are leaving the area via the safest route and report the designated assembly point. Fight the fire safely with the fire equipment on site and if safe to do so. Give the emergency services any details such as the location of the fire and its source any trapped people. Maintaining general outside and covered areas of the facility. To maintain the general upkeep of the outside areas of the centre, including the sports pitches, tennis courts, Dome and entrance ways. These duties will include, litter picking, emptying of and replacement of the bins, maintaining the recycling bins, setup and moving of equipment as required. Monitor customer use within the centre and ensure unsafe practices are promptly dealt with or reported as appropriate. Special events assist with the set up and set down of any special events as required. Perform all duties in a professional, friendly and caring manner to ensure that a high standard of customer care and enjoyment is achieved at all times and to actively promote all of our services in a positive manner so manging retention of customers within the facility and ensuring that expectations are met and repeat business is assured. As required assist with equipment set up and set down in order to meet the needs of the programmed activities and provide stewardship as required. Assist with dealing with Anti-social behaviour. Please note employees must remain on site for the duration of all breaks which may be interrupted due to the requirements of the service. Paid meal breaks are normally of 30-minute duration.