Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Eating Disorders Specialist Practitioner

The closing date is 28 September 2025

Job summary

We welcome applications from both experienced eating disorder practitioners and those from other mental health backgrounds, offering tailored training and professional development to support your growth.

The Dorset All Age Community Eating Disorder Service has an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Practitioner to join our team. The post can be based at Trinity Court, Dorchester, or Spring Court on the Kings Park Hospital site (relocating to St Ann's Hospital, Poole in 2027).

We are a friendly, multidisciplinary service providing assessment, treatment, and ongoing support to individuals of all ages with eating disorders and their families. At present, we are particularly keen to recruit practitioners interested in working with adults, though there may be opportunities in the future to work across age groups.

You do not need previous experience in eating disorders to apply. If you have a background in mental health and the skills to assess, formulate, manage risk, and work collaboratively in a team, we can provide the specialist training and supervision you need. We are committed to supporting your professional development and helping you gain confidence and expertise in this specialist area.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of the Multi-disciplinary Dorset All Age Community Eating Disorders Service.To provide advice to patients / service users and carers regarding their care.Provide supervision, mentorship, training and clinical support to students, trained practitioners and junior staff in the team.

To provide a high quality person centred approach to care delivery which always considers people's safety, privacy and dignity.

To provide specialist care and interventions, assessments, treatments and managing patients on a caseload, as part of the wider multi-disciplinary care team.

To provide specialist advice to others regarding the management and care of patients / service users.

To devise specialist programmes of care for other professionals to deliver and ensure they are delivered appropriately.

To plan, implement and review health improvement programmes in a range of settings.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Details

Date posted

12 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

152-M111.25B

Job locations

Kings Park Hospital

Gloucester Road,

Boscombe, Bournemouth

BH7 6JF


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

Essential

  • Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level supplemented by post registration diploma level specialist training and/or short courses or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant specialty.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

  • Demonstrate advanced experience in conducting comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments for individuals presenting with eating disorders, integrating complex physical, psychological, and social factors to inform formulation and treatment planning.
  • Deliver a range of evidence-based interventions in line with NICE guidance, with the ability to adapt treatment approaches to meet the needs of individuals with varying presentations and levels of complexity.
  • Provide specialist psychoeducation and clinical guidance to service users and their families/carers, supporting understanding of eating disorders, treatment pathways, and relapse prevention strategies, and contributing to care planning and shared decision-making.
  • Demonstrate experience in recognising and responding to physical health needs in individuals with eating disorders, ensuring timely intervention and appropriate clinical decision-making within a multidisciplinary framework

JOB SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Experience of mental health specialist working.

Desirable

  • Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level
  • Recent previous experience within a comparable role.

MANAGERIAL/SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Experience of providing clinical supervision and mentoring to junior staff
Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

Essential

  • Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level supplemented by post registration diploma level specialist training and/or short courses or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant specialty.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

  • Demonstrate advanced experience in conducting comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments for individuals presenting with eating disorders, integrating complex physical, psychological, and social factors to inform formulation and treatment planning.
  • Deliver a range of evidence-based interventions in line with NICE guidance, with the ability to adapt treatment approaches to meet the needs of individuals with varying presentations and levels of complexity.
  • Provide specialist psychoeducation and clinical guidance to service users and their families/carers, supporting understanding of eating disorders, treatment pathways, and relapse prevention strategies, and contributing to care planning and shared decision-making.
  • Demonstrate experience in recognising and responding to physical health needs in individuals with eating disorders, ensuring timely intervention and appropriate clinical decision-making within a multidisciplinary framework

JOB SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Experience of mental health specialist working.

Desirable

  • Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level
  • Recent previous experience within a comparable role.

MANAGERIAL/SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Experience of providing clinical supervision and mentoring to junior staff

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kings Park Hospital

Gloucester Road,

Boscombe, Bournemouth

BH7 6JF


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kings Park Hospital

Gloucester Road,

Boscombe, Bournemouth

BH7 6JF


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Manager

Hannah Zillner / Rebecca Morgan

dhc.eatingdisorders@nhs.net

03000191771

Details

Date posted

12 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

152-M111.25B

Job locations

Kings Park Hospital

Gloucester Road,

Boscombe, Bournemouth

BH7 6JF


Supporting documents

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