Leisure Assistant in North East

Passionate about health, fitness and wellbeing? Ready to make a real difference in your community? Join Durham Leisure Centres as a Leisure Assistant and turn your passion into a rewarding career. We have a range of full-time, part-time and casual opportunities available across our centres, offering varied and rewarding work where no two days are the same.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

As a Leisure Assistant, you'll play a vital role in creating welcoming, safe and enjoyable environments for our customers. You'll be an ambassador for healthy living, supporting people of all ages to become more active and achieve their wellbeing goals.

• Delivering excellent customer service across all areas of the centre
• Supporting customers in leading healthier, more active lifestyles
• Carrying out lifeguarding duties and ensuring the safety of pool users
• Encouraging children and young people to participate in physical activity
• Supporting the day-to-day operation of the leisure centre
• Helping maintain a safe, efficient and enjoyable environment for all customers

WHAT WILL I NEED?

• Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification (or equivalent) and/or a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
• Experience in a customer-focused environment, leisure centre and/or gym setting
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• First Aid Certificate, or the ability to achieve one within an agreed timescale
• Successful candidates will also be required to complete an in-house pool water competency assessment where lifeguarding forms part of the role.

Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria.

We encourage you to contact James Tindale via email at james.tindale@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Our commitment to safeguarding

Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore if successful in your application, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought inclusive of a check of the Children’s Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity.

Applicants should be aware that the DBS check will disclose both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, in line with current legislation and will confirm whether an individual is barred from working with children.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held on week commencing 23 November 2026.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

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