Introduction
The Functional Fitness MOT at Home course (FF MOT at Home) has been devised to replace previous face to face Functional Fitness MOT courses for professionals. As a result of the impact of Covid 19 (whereby professionals have very limited or no opportunities for face to face contact with participants), to initiate or maintain their physical activity, people face the challenge of accessing either on-line resources (groups, 1 – 1, videos and or booklets) or being active away from the home in an “unfriendly” and threatening environment. Delivered through the Later Life Training on-line Learning Portal, the new Functional Fitness MOT at Home course provides the opportunity for professionals to reach participants remotely with advice and guidance on functional fitness, wellbeing and physical activity
The difference between a FF MOT face to face course and the new FF MOT at Home
We recognise that there is some overlap between the content of the new FF MOT at Home online course and previous face to face one day CPD training. However, the FF MOT at Home online course requires a commitment of 16 hours online learning, provides enhanced learning, new resources and a method of working for those who wish to reach people in their own homes.
These are the significant changes that have been made to the FF MOT course since March 2020, now called the Functional Fitness MOT at Home.
- The whole of the course is delivered on-line through the Later Life Training E-Learning Portal
- The course now comprises a total of 16 hours online learning
- The materials and training are designed to allow professionals to deliver the FF MOT at Home assessments and support people with remote conversations in their own homes
- The programme now includes new data to support the inclusion of people aged 50+, thus expanding the potential of the programme for people from 50 – 90 years
- The course includes new resources and enhanced content
Later Life Training will be offering the new online course (including all materials) at a discounted price of £50.00 + VAT to those who have attended a previous face to face CPD course between 2017 and 2020. Details of applying for the discounted price will appear on the Apply section of the FF MOT at Home course pages and subject to evidence of previously having attended a Later Life Training FF MOT Face to face CPD day.
The Functional Fitness MOT at Home and a return to face-to-face training
This term (the Functional Fitness MOT at Home) is used to describe the current series of Functional Fitness MOT courses (April to June 2021) that are being delivered to a range of professionals to enable them to deliver the Functional Fitness MOT assessments and conversations remotely to people 50 – 94 in their own homes. This approach is in addition to the previous face to face training that Later Life Training has delivered from 2013 – 2020.
Although the timing is uncertain, as and when the current restrictions on in-person meetings and training are relaxed, Later Life Training will also be providing an enhanced blended learning face to face CPD course. We are planning that these courses will enable professionals to use the Functional MOT assessments in both at home remote settings and face to face events and activities.
Details of these courses will be posted on the LLT website as they become available.
Who can use the Functional Fitness MOT at Home?
The FF MOT at Home course has been designed for use by those who for the sake of simplicity, can be described as a Functional Fitness at Home Coordinator. A number of professionals will be in an ideal position to use the FF MOT at Home tool including:
- Health and Wellbeing or Physical Activity coordinators.
- Active Ageing professionals.
- Adult and Social Care and Housing Support professionals.
- Exercise teachers and instructors.
- Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.
The following may also be relevant:
CIMSPA defined Occupations and Job Roles |
Working with the following Population specialisms |
Manager |
Older Adults |
Senior Coach, Coach |
Inactive People |
Group Exercise Instructor |
Community Environments |
Gym Instructor |
People with Long term Conditions |
Personal Trainer |
|
NB. Later Life Training advise that whilst Volunteers, Coaching Assistant or therapy assistants could deliver components of the FF MOT at Home programme, it would not be appropriate for them to undertake a coordination role.
In addition to an understanding of and interest in physical activity and ageing, professionals will also require experience of using remote communications technology. They will also need to be able to understand and provide one to one support to participants over a period of time in order to achieve sustained participation.
The aims of the Functional Fitness MOT at Home are to:
- Educate both professionals and the public on the importance of physical activity in later life.
- Highlight the UK Physical Activity Guidelines for people aged 50 – 90 and the importance of the components of fitness, particularly strength and balance.
- Engage and motivate people age 50+ to reduce their sitting time, include regular physical activity or improve their functional fitness.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course participants will be able to:
- Describe the main features of the Functional Fitness MOT and how it works in practice.
- Describe the key elements of the UK Physical Activity Guidelines for people aged 50 – 90.
- Engage in meaningful conversations with participants about their own functional fitness and taking action to be more active.
- Plan how the Functional Fitness MOT at Home can be implemented in their setting and with their target populations.
- Know how to access additional resources to support their local programme.
NB The Functional Fitness MOT at Home tool is designed for use with people from 50 – 90 who live independently at home and may have long term conditions. It is not appropriate for use with frailer, older people who require care where additional knowledge and skills will be required.
The new FF MOT at Home course is now designed to include people in the 50+ age range, providing new opportunities for those working through primary care, workplace and pre-retirement programmes.