Senior Eating Disorder Practitioner - Community

Job responsibilities

Provide a quality specialist service to people (and their families/carers) referred to the alternatives to admission eating disorder pathway.

Promote the reputation of the service and support in the development of the Alternative to Admission pathway within Adult Community Eating Disorder Services.

Provide specialist assessment and intervention for people presenting with an eating disorder.

Provide timely response, according to urgency of need.

Manage a defined caseload, using evidence based/patient centred practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

Act as a keyworker for complex cases needing the support of the alternatives to admission pathway.

Lead the planning and delivery of enhanced home treatment and meal support.

Deliver care within an extended hours provision as and when required to support adults and their families and improve access to services.

Work as a member of a multidisciplinary team, providing advice to the multidisciplinary team as required.

Work closely and in collaboration with our local general hospital, inpatient units, and eating disorder services to ensure the best possible care and outcomes are achieved and that services develop in line with local picture and need.

Contribute to the proposal, development and implementation of policy and procedures for the eating disorder pathway.

Attend clinical service meetings where required to represent the eating disorder pathway.

Chair both clinical and non-clinical meetings, as required.

Supervise junior staff and support their development.

Develop and provide training for stakeholders and other organisations.

Participate in all clinical governance and audit developments including post registration education, training and continuing professional development.

Work in accordance with relevant legislation and professional standards in partnership with wider services and fully with Safeguarding, and other processes which requires working together with other agencies.

Proactively involve adults and their families in service development including using service questionnaires to obtain structured feedback.

Empower Service Users and their families/carers to influence and use available services, information and skills and act as an advocate where appropriate.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Excellent time management skills, organisational skills, ability to work under pressure and to manage own and other workloads efficiently.
• Independently mobile i.e. drive and able to travel across Navigo.
• Ability to competently use a computer, including email, word and excel.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post-registration experience of working with people with mental health needs, including those with an eating disorder.
• Experience of managing caseloads and care co-ordination.
• Experience of using evidence-based practice
• Ability to work in partnership with universal services and the wider system to provide the best possible outcomes for service users.
• Ability to work both as a member of a team and autonomously and to manage own and other colleagues anxieties.
• Ability to meet agreed/ specified service targets.
• Highly developed communication skills.
• Ability to communicate concisely both verbally and in writing
• Ability to delegate whilst maintaining overall responsibility for service users care, where appropriate.
• Highly motivated and able to engage with service users and carers to improve outcomes.

Desirable

• Post registration experience of working with people in the acute phase of an eating disorder.
• Experience of facilitating meal support / supervising colleagues delivering meal support.
• Experience of managing and developing staff including providing management and/or clinical supervision.
• Experience of building links with stakeholders and other organisations.
• Experience of providing training for staff and stakeholders.

Knowledge

Essential

• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical/risk assessment and understanding of Information Governance principles.
• Expert knowledge of Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act and Safeguarding.
• Excellent knowledge of current local and national strategies concerning adults experiencing mental health issues.
• Excellent knowledge of clinical/risk assessment and risk management of people in crisis.

Desirable

• Post registration experience of working with people in the acute phase of an eating disorder.
• Experience of facilitating meal support / supervising colleagues delivering meal support.
• Experience of managing and developing staff including providing management and/or clinical supervision.
• Experience of building links with stakeholders and other organisations.
• Experience of providing training for staff and stakeholders.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered with a professional body e.g. NMC, UKCP, HCPC, BACP
• Recognised Professional Qualification in:
• Registered Nursing.
• Social Worker
• Occupational Therapy
• Dietician
• Or other relevant qualification e.g. IAPT or Psychotherapy qualification
• Qualification or training or experience specific to the management of eating disorders and their comorbidities.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).