Job title: Health and Wellbeing Community Coach
Hours: 18.5 hours a week
Contract: Funded until 31st March 2026.
We aim to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated fitness professional to support the Active Leeds Health Programmes Team in the delivery of various exercise and physical activity programmes. Working closely with Adults Care and Health providers, the Health Programmes Team delivers interventions to promote self-management, increase independence, and promote a healthier lifestyle.
Purpose of the Job:
Supporting the delivery of the following NHS funded health programmes:
* Heart and Lungs Community Cardiac and Respiratory Programmes
* Leeds Encouraging Activity in People (LEAP)
* Falls Prevention Strength and Balance Programme
* Keep Moving
The successful applicant will work with healthcare professionals at venues across the city, including leisure centres and community centres. The post is required to support a personalised approach, ensuring referrals receive a positive experience when participating in a health programme. The role requires a person with motivation and encouragement to give to patients while being sympathetic when needed.
Duties include:
* Manage referrals to access suitable activities in leisure centres or communities.
* Deliver or support group exercise classes.
* Provide bespoke individualised programmes for people managing health conditions.
* Promote key health messages to target audiences.
* Deliver pre and post health assessments and health-based workshops.
* Support monitoring and evaluation of the programme.
Skills include:
* Able to communicate with a wide range of individuals & groups.
* Health Coaching
* Excellent personal skills to motivate referrals to become and remain active.
You should possess:
The successful candidate should hold a Level 2 Fitness or Group Exercise Qualification.
Hold or be willing to work towards a Level 3 Exercise Referral Qualification, CPR / first aid certificate, group exercise qualification (a circuit, exercise to music or aqua qualification).
All health & fitness qualifications must be endorsed by CIMSPA.
Candidates will have the opportunity to be trained in Level 4 Fitness Qualifications and undertake training in behavioural change techniques.
Experience should include at least a year working in the Health & Fitness industry.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognized in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer, and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme, or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job Purpose:
Deliver physical activity interventions to improve individuals' or groups' healthy behaviours that will improve their physical & mental wellbeing using evidence-based techniques such as goal setting and motivational interviewing.
Supporting referrals to navigate their local physical activity system and increase participation by reducing barriers and improving access for individuals or groups to become physically active.
Provide bespoke and individualised support to people seeking to improve their physical activity levels for any activity chosen. This could include physical rehabilitation for people living with long-term conditions or frailty, including embedding self-management as a key outcome.
To ensure that programmes are monitored and evaluated for commissioners.
Responsibilities for Grade:
* Provide assessments to referrals sent by healthcare professionals and co-produce bespoke support to becoming active, a suitable rehabilitation plan, or a suitable exercise prescription.
* Tailor appropriate structured exercise or physical activity to each individual referred.
* Deliver structured, safe, and effective group exercise sessions to improve the health of participants such as circuit classes, exercise to music, chair-based exercise, aquatic-based activities, and postural stability classes.
* Provide suitable healthy conversations with all contacts to embed self-management as a core principle across the Health and Social Care economy.
* Seek and provide up-to-date information about healthy active lifestyles that improve people’s overall health e.g., diet & nutrition, relaxation, information on how to manage their condition.
* Facilitate groups and individuals to understand their needs and explain the opportunities across the city to become or remain active.
* Identify and overcome barriers to participation among people referred through behaviour change techniques including SMART goal setting, recording behaviours, motivational interviewing, social support, and solutions-focused planning.
* Collate information, monitor, and evaluate health programmes as required and produce periodic reports on each referral's progress.
* Undertake training and continuous professional development as necessary to the post and further career advancement.
* Use digital communication channels to actively deliver and promote active healthy lifestyles and self-management of conditions.
* Undertake any other duties assigned that are commensurate with the grade of the post.
* Undertake the accountabilities of the post in accordance with council policies including the Safeguarding of Young People and Vulnerable Adults, Equal Opportunities, and Health & Safety policies.
* As the post involves working with children/young people, the post holder will be subjected to an enhanced Criminal Record Bureau check.
* Any other duties assigned by the line manager relevant to the post.
Qualifications: Qualified Fitness Professional at Level 3 endorsed by CIMSPA.
Essential requirements: It is essential that the candidate demonstrates the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
* Good interpersonal skills
* Ability to communicate effectively with Health and Social Care professionals in a wide range of organisations
* Ability to deliver behaviour change techniques to referrals supporting a change in behaviour to an active healthy lifestyle.
* Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
* Ability to evaluate sessions and provide quality feedback to participants
* Ability to work with employees that need specialist rehabilitation
* Knowledge of the benefits of physical activity & how this can lead to a better lifestyle & improved quality of life
* Knowledge of health coaching or behaviour change techniques to support people within Active Leeds health programmes
* Aware of suitable activities that clients can be referred to facilitate lifelong lifestyle change.
* To have or be willing to gain further qualifications in specialist health conditions to allow greater access to the health programmes.
* Experience of planning, leading, and coordinating exercise sessions on an individual & group basis
* Experience of supporting and motivating adults who are reluctant to change their lifestyle.
* Experience of working with individuals with a range of medical conditions and supporting them to self-manage
* Experience of supporting people to improve their lives through physical activity, exercise, fitness, or sport.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics:
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
* Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
* Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
* Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
* Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
* Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding the equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements: It is desirable that the candidate demonstrates the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements; however, these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
* Able to instruct group exercise classes.
* Knowledge of referral pathways, frameworks & the management of people with long-term conditions
* Level 4 Fitness Qualifications recognized by CIMPSA; such as Cardiac Rehabilitation, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Postural Stability
* Group exercise qualifications such as Exercise to Music, Aqua, Zumba, Circuits, Les Mills, Chair Based Exercise
* Experience of collating records and paperwork to provide robust evaluation of health interventions.
* Current full driving licence or ability to travel around Leeds effectively.
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