Health Trainers
Fixed Term Contracts until 31 March 2014
Fulltime/Job Share considered
Salary: £14,464 - £17072 per annum (pro rata for parttime)
Vacancy Ref: HT/13/037
The Health Trainer Service started as a pilot project in the borough of Rochdale, initially funded by the NHS. It was established in Rochdale in February 2010 and because of its success and further funding it was extended to include Oldham and Bury. This Service is funded until 31 March 2014, however, we hope that additional finance will extend it beyond this date.
We are looking for people who have had a criminal history, but who have put that behind them, and are now in a position where they feel they could assist others and act as a role model.
The Health Trainer Service is a unique service as it only employs individuals with a previous conviction/s or caution/s. The reason for this is that we believe that the Health Trainer may be able to better identify with the Service User and can also act as a positive role model in showing that people can change.
The Health Trainer Service is based in Oldham, Rochdale and Bury Probation Offices. The Health Trainers work with Service Users (offenders), who are subject to Supervision or Licence. The aim of the Service is to improve the health of service users and to assist in making positive lifestyle changes. We offer a personalised approach to address health needs such as: Sexual health, smoking cessation, alcohol/drug misuse, losing/gaining weight, food and nutrition awareness, (including "Cook & Taste" sessions), referrals to outside agencies, GP's, dentists, local gyms etc, access to employment/housing and holding group work discussion about improving health.
All of our work is recorded and monitored on an NHS Data base so that we can track progress and provide outcomes to show how effective the service has been.
The successful applicants will work with a range of service users from different backgrounds on a one-to-one basis using specific interviewing techniques.
You will be given training in NVQ level 2 & 3 in Health Training, and Level 2 Certificate in Nutrition. You will be expected to attend this training programme and continue to work towards completing your NVQ Level 3 portfolio in Health Training. This requires you to practice your knowledge and skills within a Probation office under the supervision of a Senior Health Trainer and NVQ Tutor/Assessor.
You will not be paid for the two class room training days each week but will be paid a salary for the remaining three days a week whilst undertaking on the job training. Once the three month training programme is successfully completed your salary will increase to full time as you will be working full time as a Trainee Health Trainer in a probation office. During this time you will continue to work towards completing your NVQ 3 portfolio under the supervision of an NVQ assessor and Senior Health Trainer.
There will be a briefing event on Wednesday 14 August 2013 between 5.00pm - 6.30pm. This will be held at Rochdale Road Probation Office, 193-195 Drake Street, Rochdale, OL11 1EF. At this event you will receive more information about the role of a Health Trainer and what is expected of you during your training/probationary period. There will be Probation Health Trainers and Human Resources representatives present so you can ask any questions you may have at this event. If you are unable to attend the briefing but would like further information about the role, please contact Maria Jiacoumi, Health Trainer Manager, on 0300 047 9232.
Application forms will be available to collect at the briefing event. Alternatively, for a job description and an application form please telephone 03000 479000 quoting the reference number above. You will also be required to complete an additional questions paper and submit this with your Application form. Completed applications and the completed questions paper must be returned either by post to the Human Resources Department at Oakland House, or by e-mail to: ‘’, by 5pm on Friday 23 August, 2013. Following a short listing procedure which will take place on Wednesday 28 August 2013, you will be notified if you have been successful for an interview. Interviews will be held on Monday 9 September 2013 at GMPT Headquarters, Oakland House, Old Trafford.
Applications are welcome from disabled people who, if they meet the essential criteria for this post, will be offered an interview. Committed to equality in employment and service delivery
Post Title / Health Trainer / Salary Band / Band 1Post No / HT/13/037 / Scale Points / 10 - 27
Department /
Location / Bury, Oldham and Rochdale Local Delivery Unit / Salary / £14464 - £17072 per annum (pro rata for part time staff)
Responsible to / Greater Manchester Probation Trust Health Trainer Project Manager / Supervisory
Responsibility for / N/A
Job Purpose / Engage with Individuals on Community Orders and licences who require support to make sustained behaviour change to improve their lifestyle.
Operational Environment
Main responsibilities
To encourage offenders on community orders and licences in the Bury, Oldham and Rochdale area (PCT) to make healthier lifestyle choices, through;
Helping individual offenders on community orders and licences who have been referred to the Health Trainer Service;
Supporting individuals in learning how to make better health choices and supporting them in starting and continuing appropriate changes in their behaviour;
Helping people to find and use the right services;
Recording and reporting activity and results;
Work with individuals
Understand healthy living options and life choices
Help individuals to develop an ‘action plan’ to change behaviour, leading to more healthy choices and actions
Support an individual to achieve their ‘action plan’ over time
Review and update ‘action plans’ with individuals as needed
Keep written records and monitor progress
Input into the Health and Probation Data Recording System
Facilitate health group work discussions, as required
Report concerns about individuals and those whose needs’ cannot be met by Health Trainers to Offender Managers as needed
Help individuals to access local services
Communicate clearly with individuals
Work with teams
Identify ways to improve local services and inform Line Manager
Work with your Line Manager on your own training needs and personal development
Communicate with your own Health Trainer team and with Probation Offender Managers (OM’s)
Liaise regularly with the respective Offender Manager and inform them of progress with individuals
Attend Probation Office meetings to deliver Health Trainer Service updates as and when required
Other Specific Duties
To actively promote and adhere to all organisational values, policies and procedures. All duties and responsibilities must be exercised in a manner which is consistent with GMPT’s Valuing Diversity Policy and Code of Conduct.
To respect confidentiality of information acquired in the course of the exercise of the duties and responsibilities of this post
To promote a positive image of the organisation.
To participate fully in the GMPT supervision and appraisal process and continue personal and professional development as identified.
To comply with all statutory regulations and other legal requirements on health and safety which may, from time to time, be applicable or in force.
Special Conditions of Service
Where the postholder has a disability every effort will be made to make reasonable adjustments to enable them to carry out the duties of the role
All holiday leave is to be taken in line with the requirements of the team / service
The post may involve travel throughout the Borough of Bury, Oldham and Rochdale and will require the post holder to be flexible and willing to work in other Probation and Partnership buildings.
Our hours of work are 37 hours per week within a flexi time scheme. Initially two days will be classroom based and will not be paid but the on the job training for the remaining three days a week will be paid. Once the 3 month training programme has successfully been completed the full time equivalent salary will be applicable. Note that if you do not pass your NVQ level 3 in Health Training you will be expected to reimburse the training costs. A Training contract will be issued, discussed and agreed upon.
Appointment will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
This Job Description forms part of the contract of employment of the person appointed to the post. It outlines the broad responsibilities of the post and is not intended to be exclusive or exhaustive. Responsibilities may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post holder.
We will select people who have the following skills or experience and we may ask you to tell us about these at the interview. When you fill in your application form you can use examples to show us that you have these skills and experience. Examples can be from past jobs or from activities in your life such as organising a wedding or a birthday party, because if you can do those things you will have used the same skills that it takes to organise a meeting.
Candidates must have a previous conviction/caution and must be 12 months post licence/supervision with no further offences in that time to apply for this post.
Qualifications
Essential / DesirableNo formal qualifications are needed but you must be willing to be trained as a Health Trainer (NVQ level 3 in Health Training)
You must pass the NVQ Level 2 in Health Training and Nutrition Award in the three month training period. / X
Experience
Essential / DesirableGood knowledge of English
Knowledge of one or more language that is used by local people
Experience of working with local community groups in some capacity / X
X / X
Professional Knowledge and Understanding
Essential / DesirableKnowledge about the things that make people healthy and unhealthy
Knowledge about local communities
Knowledge about the broad health and health services needs of the local community
Knowledge of how to find out about local services and how to support individuals to use them
Knowledge about behaviour change methods
Know your own limits of skills, competences and responsibilities and work within them / X
X / X
X
X
X
Personal Skills, Abilities and Competencies
Essential / DesirableAble to talk to people face-to-face
Ability to write down information in clear accurate English
IT skills
Team working skills
Organisational skills
Good at listening to people
Able to get on with different kinds of people
Supportive and encouraging to people in difficult situations without making a judgement about them
Able to respect confidentiality even in difficult situations
Respectful and value people regardless of background
Able to find information to help people
Able to use what you have learnt from a situation to help others
Interested in helping people to find ways to solve their problems
Able to learn from your own experiences
Able to identify, assess and manage risks / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
Date last reviewed: July 2013
GREATER MANCHESTER PROBATION TRUST
CRIMINAL HISTORY - SELF DECLARATION
Many of the posts in the Greater Manchester Probation Trust are exempt from the requirements of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. These posts are those based in approved premises, or whose duties involve the supervision of offenders. Applicants for these posts are required to declare any previous criminal convictions or cautions. The Probation Trust will seek confirmation of criminal history from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) before confirming the appointment of any person to these posts.
For all other posts in the Greater Manchester Probation Trust, the employer is entitled to ask for details of those criminal convictions or cautions that are “unspent” as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An explanation of what counts as an “unspent conviction is given in the enclosed leaflet. Failure to declare any such conviction that is subsequently made known to the employer may be grounds for summary dismissal.
The post for which you have applied requires that you declare: –
Any criminal conviction or caution
Only “unspent” convictions or cautions
**Many of the posts in the Greater Manchester Probation Trust are exempt from the requirements of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. These posts are those based in approved premises, or whose duties involve the supervision of offenders.
The main sentences and the time it takes for them to become spent are sent out in the chart below.
If your sentence is not listed in the chart, call the Resettlement Plus Helpline number below to find out about it. Or ask someone that will know (such as a probation officer).
If you have many convictions, your first one may not be spent until the last one does. To check this, ring Nacro’s Resettlement Plus Helpline number below. Or ask someone who would know.
Sentence / Time it takes to become spentIf you were 17 or under when you were found guilty / Time it takes to become spent
If you were over 18 or older when found guilty
Prison and YOI term of 6 months or less / 3 ½ Years / 7 Years
Prison and YOI term of more than 6 months up to 2 ½ years / 5 Years / 10 Years
Fine, Compensation, probation, community service or combination order / 2 ½ Years / 5 Years
Action plan, curfew, drug treatment and testing order or reparation order / 2 ½ Years / 5 Years
Absolute discharge / 6 months / 6 months
* If you were found guilty by the court on or after 3rd February 1995