STAFF FITNESS TESTING TOOLKIT January 2021 Purpose of the Toolkit To give further insight into the Staff Fitness Testing policy, guiding members of staff and managers through the main requirements for taking the fitness test, including: Who
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Presentation Transcript
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STAFF FITNESS TESTING TOOLKIT January 2021<br>
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Purpose of the Toolkit
To give further insight into the Staff Fitness Testing policy, guiding members of staff and managers through the main requirements for taking the fitness test, including:
Who takes the Fitness Test.
Information about the Fitness Test.
Taking the Fitness Test.
Failing the Fitness Test.
The Adjusted Test
Where to go for further support.
Navigating the Toolkit
You can click the buttons at the top of the page to take you to the relevant parts of the toolkit.
For example, click on the ‘The Test’ button for guidance on the content of the Fitness Test. Alternatively you can use the left and right arrows to go back and forth between pages.
If you have viewed both the Staff Fitness Testing policy and the toolkit and still have unanswered questions, why not have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions. How to use the Toolkit Support<br>
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Who takes the test? Support Staff must undertake an annual fitness test to the required level if they are:
A uniformed Band 3-5 who joined or re-joined HMPPS after 1 April 2001 (for re-joiners that is if there is a break in service after 1 April 2001 which is not related to signing up for Fair &Sustainable (F&S)). This includes those promoted to a Custodial Manager role;
Substantive Band 3-5 who are on Temporary Cover to a higher grade (e.g. Governor grade);
Control & Restraint (C&R) Advanced trained staff (even if they had been in a uniformed Band 3-5 role before 1 April 2001);
National Dogs Technical Support Group (NDTSG) staff (even if they had been in a uniformed Band 3-5 role before 1 April 2001);
National Tactical Response Group (NTRG) (even if they had been in a uniformed Band 3-5 role before 1 April 2001); The annual fitness test does not apply to:
Any other uniformed Band 3-5 that joined HMPPS before 1 April 2001.
Any specialist PEO or General Purpose Dog Handlers that were in these specialist roles before 1 April 2001. C&R Advanced Tornado Dogs (even if they had been in a uniformed Band 3-5 role before 1 April 2001);
Long Term & High Security Estate local response group even if they had been in a uniformed Band 3-5 role before 1 April 2001);
Method of Entry (MOE) trained staff even if they had been in a uniformed Band 3-5 role before 1 April 2001);
Applying to become qualified as a specialist Physical Education Officer (PEO) or General Purpose Dog Handler after 1 April 2001 (even if they had been in a uniformed Band 3-5 role before 1 April 2001 but in a non-specialist role);
Prison Officers on Entry Level Training (POELT). Their fitness test will expire after 12 months from the date they passed at the Assessment Recruitment Centre (ARC). If it is due to expire before the end of their planned POELT course they will need to undertake the fitness test element of their recruitment again, before starting their POELT course.<br>
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The Test
The mandatory basic test Support Grip Test Shield Hold Test Pass Level: 25kgf on both hands Multi Stage Fitness Test Speed and Agility Pass Level: Level 5.4 Pass Level: 1 Minute Pass Level: 34 Seconds<br>
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Taking the Test Support Shield Hold Test Speed and Agility The candidate should stand upright with their feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent and their arms by their sides.
The dynamometer should be held parallel to the sides, with the dial facing away from the body.
As the candidate breathes out they should squeeze the dynamometer as hard as possible without moving the arm. At no time should it be braced against the torso or thigh The test involves continuous running between two lines 15m apart in time to recorded beeps.
The speed at the start is slow. The subject continues running between the two lines, turning when signalled by the recorded beeps. A sound indicates an increase in speed, and the beeps will be closer together. This continues at each level. If the line is not reached in time, the subject must run to the line turn and try to catch up with the pace within 2 more ‘beeps’. The candidate should stand with one foot in front of the other.
Keeping their back flat the candidate should bend the knees and raise the shield up into a functional position as demonstrated by the assessor.
The candidate should hold the shield at a 45 degree angle with both hands gripping the centre of the handles and tucking their elbows into their body. The stopwatch will start once the shield is raised into the starting position. The candidate must start directly behind the start line.
When the candidate is ready they should follow the course as directed by the assessor, navigating cones and without making contact. The test ends when the candidate crosses the finish line.<br>
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Failing the Test Support<br>
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Adjusted Test Support The Reasonably Adjusted Fitness Test (RAFT) is only available for staff following a recommendation from OH.
It allows a reasonable adjustment for staff deemed medically unsuited to the twists, turns, stops and starts of the bleep test.
Staff will still need to undertake running on the speed and agility element of the fitness test.<br>
