Liaise with clients to identify and agree their needs and objectives for personal training

URN: SKAEAF12
Business Sectors (Suites): Exercise and fitness
Developed by: SkillsActive
Approved on: 2021

Overview


This standard is about the competence that personal trainers require to identify and support clients' needs and objectives to undertake personal training programmes. This is likely to be the initial stage of meeting a client to establish an effective relationship while gathering suitable information in inform programme design. 



Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. meet with the client at an appropriate time and place

  2. establish a rapport and engage the client using appropriate techniques

  3. explain yours and the clients' role and responsibilities in the personal training process

  4. effectively communicate with the client that encourages them to engage openly and honestly

  5. implement a process of informed consent for the collection of information and exercise prescription

  6. identify appropriate methods of collecting relevant client information and data

  7. collect and record information and data from clients

  8. refer or signpost any client's needs and potential you cannot meet to other professionals

9. analyse the clients' readiness to change by identifying lifestyle behaviours and barriers

  1. support the client to identify suitable ways to overcome these barriers

  2. support the client to establish suitable goals based on the information and data collected

  3. provide the client with relevant and credible information to support agreed goals

  4. work in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols


Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere

  2. the principles of anatomy and physiology including skeletal, cardiovascular, myofascial, nervous, endocrine, energy and digestive system.

  3. how to apply anatomy and physiology when planning and delivering progressive programmes for a range of personal training clients.

  4. the components of health and skill related fitness and how to apply these into a progressive programme of exercise to suit your clients' needs

  5. the scope and professional boundaries of personal training a range of clients to include, but not exhausted to pre and post-natal women, older adults, disabled people and young people.

  6. the health benefits of physical activity and risks of inactivity

  7. the general healthy eating advice based on credible sources and how to apply these to a clients' programme 

  8. the importance of meeting the client at the correct time and place to provide a professional setting

  9. how to build rapport with different clients

10. the importance of establishing roles and responsibilities at the start to ensure the best outcome

11.  how a personal trainers' communication skills can influence the quality of information received

12.  how non-verbal communication can influence the information gathered from the client

13. the level of commitment and motivation needed for the achievement of the personal training programme

14. when and how to gather informed consent appropriate for the clients' information and exercise prescription.

15. how to identify appropriate methods for gathering information and data from clients

16. when and how to refer clients

  1. the models of behaviour change

  2. the types of barriers to participation commonly encountered and the strategies to overcome these barriers

  3. how to assess the clients' readiness to change those lifestyle behaviours to achieve their overall objectives

  4. the process of effective goal-setting and action planning with the client

  5. how to support and empower clients to develop their own strategies to adherence

  6. how to access relevant credible information to support the clients overall needs and objectives


Scope/range


Scope Performance

Methods

  1. interview

  2. questionnaire

  3. physical assessments

  4. observation

  5. Information technology applications


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS

​This standard links to SKAEAF13, SKAEAF14, SKAEAF15 and SKAEAF20


External Links


Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2024

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

SkillsActive

Original URN

SKAEF13

Relevant Occupations

Coach / Instructor, Sport, Leisure and Recreation, Sports and Fitness Occupations

SOC Code

3433

Keywords

exercise; physical activity; client consultation; goals; personal training