Providing a warm welcome to the people engaging with your service and workforce is paramount. First impressions can be quickly formed and take a long time to change, particularly when expectations are not met.
A smooth and predictable experience is key, particularly when engaging with people who are new to you. The coaching workforce forms a critical part of this first impression.
Understanding people's wants and needs is a fundamental part of being able to meet their expectations.
Around three-quarters of UK adults see the coaching workforce as a support for increasing levels of physical activity, promoting emotional health and well-being; and 61% agreed that they are effective at having a positive influence on their personal and professional lives.
45% of people living with a long-term health condition or disability are active and achieve the current physical activity recommendations across a wide range of activities and settings.
When you are considering the design of a service or programme, it is important to remember that:
- your existing workforce has the potential to positively impact upon the lives of people living with a long-term health condition by providing a person-centred approach
- everyone in your workforce can contribute towards creating a positive experience for those engaging in physical activity and sport, not just those with specialist knowledge
Workforce Principles
We developed a set of simple Workforce Principles to guide you when thinking about the needs of the people taking part in your physical activity/sport, helping you to provide great experiences for everyone.
The six principles will encourage you to think about the needs of your customers, and your front line delivery workforce, however you define it. This could be someone helping out; a volunteer, trainer, instructor, facilitator or coach.
How can the Workforce Principles help me?
The Workforce Principles can be used to help you think about your workforce, specifically, where you are now and where you want to be.
Understanding Customers
Customers are at the centre of everything we do:
- We are focussed on the needs of all our customers
- We understand our current and potential customers
- We understand customer experience
Getting the Right People
We attract the workforce we need:
- We understand what an effective workforce looks like
- We understand who is part of our workforce
- We know how to engage the workforce we need
Mobilising People
We deploy our workforce with care, and for a purpose:
- We protect our people
- Our workforce receives a warm welcome
- We match our workforce and customers
Looking after People
We value and support our workforce:
- We know how to support our workforce
- We provide a range of needs-led support
- We celebrate the success of our workforce
Developing People
We foster a learning culture:
- We understand learning preferences
- We provide our workforce with the right opportunities to develop
- We encourage lifelong learning
Using Your Learning
We keep improving what we do:
- We track our progress
- We share our learning
- We demonstrate impact
Use our template to help you reflect on each of the Workforce Principles, then use our online tool, which will give you a more detailed look at your workforce and the opportunity to reflect, prioritise and act in order to support those living with a long-term health condition or disability.
For further details on the Workforce Principles, and to access the online tool please contact us at [email protected].
Talk to me: 10 Principles
Activity Alliance champion inclusive practice and aim to make physical activity and sport more accessible for everyone.
As a result of their 'Talk to me report' , the organisation produced a set of 10 simple principles that sports providers can follow to help make their sessions more appealing to disabled people.
Find out more.