Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 5/6 Specialist Practitioner Developmental Role - Bristol

The closing date is 24 July 2025

Job summary

We are recruiting for a Specialist Eating Disorder Practitioner with the STEPS Eating Disorders Service.

We are a welcoming and supportive team based at Blackberry Hill Hospital We cover both BNSSG and Banes area providing community based eating disorder treatment and interventions including a physical health monitoring team.

We are looking for a Specialist Practitioner with a passion for delivering high quality recovery focused interventions in a community setting.

We can consider applicants for both full time (37.5hrs) and part time positions.

This post is open to newly qualified Nurses. In line with AWP trust policy all newly qualified nurses will be recruited initially at Band 5 level, regardless of advertised role banding. All newly qualified nurses are expected to successfully complete their Preceptorship within 12 months of employment, unless there are exceptional circumstances in which case it may be extended for a further 2 years.

If you have been appointed to a Band 5 post you will then be eligible to apply for a subsequent Band 6 vacancy upon successful completion on your preceptorship.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will focus on high quality assessment of service users and delivery of eating disorder based interventions. You will be required to contribute towards the planning, implementation and review of care alongside a multi-disciplinary team.

Applicants will have a commitment to working with service users creatively towards their identified recovery goals and to promote choice and self-management.

All Specialist Practitioners may at times be required to undertake and contribute to assessments.

You can expect to receive excellent supervision and there will be opportunities for career development and training in order to support you in this role.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Details

Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £44,962 a year (pro rata) (pay award pending)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

342-SS104-0725

Job locations

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road, Fishponds

Bristol

BS16 1EG


Job description

Job responsibilities

To undertake the full range of activities required to deliver ongoing comprehensive mental health assessment for service users with eating disorder needs living in the community and in a range of settings. This will include:

a. The use of standardised assessment tools, i.e. the Cluster Allocation Support Tool (CAST), KGV.

b. Recovery Star.

c. History, strengths and aspirations.

d. Mental state.

e. Impact of culture and diversity.

f. Functional needs.

g. The needs of family and carer.

h. Evaluation of risk.

i. Physical health.

j. Complicating factors.

k. The interventions and treatments required to enable positive change.

l. Social care needs.

m. Safeguarding and public protection.

n. Capacity under the Mental Capacity Act.

To be responsible for developing, delivering and reviewing comprehensive and complex treatment programmes using appropriate frameworks in line with evidencebased practice, including strategies to manage risk for service users with complex needs and carers, bringing in other resources as required.

To plan, deliver and evaluate defined, specialist therapeutic interventions as indicated in the assessment process ,in line with personal recovery plans, including to service users who maybe on other caseloads. This might include:

a. Individual or group therapeutic intervention.

b. Psychological treatments such as CBT, DBT approaches, family interventions.

c. Psychosocial interventions.

d. Motivational and coping enhancement strategies.

e. Medication management.

f. Interventions under the Mental Health Act,

To deliver a range of defined activities/interventions to improve the carers ability to support the service user and to enable them in their relationship with the service user.

To develop and maintain good partnership working with other services throughout all treatment episodes, including regular liaison within Primary Health Care Team, inpatient and intensive services, day services, voluntary sector and with nominated carers/advocates.

In collaboration with service users and carers, to be responsible for facilitating the development of complex comprehensive crisis plans, rapid access plans, advance statements etc, involving other agencies such as primary care etc where appropriate.

To personally build and lead others to build, hope inspiring relationships with service users, which acknowledge the personal journey of each person, and focus on strengths and aspirations to allow the creation of meaningful personal recovery plans.

To be responsible for maintaining own workload, as well as planning the workload of others, on a day to day basis, ensuring that time is prioritised effectively, utilising of electronic resources such as diaries/scheduling.

To be responsible for the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local safeguarding policies and procedures, including working with others in the planning development and review of protection plans, ensuring the appropriate sharing of information.

Coordinating and undertaking protective interventions which maybe required in the protection of others, as outlined in the protection plan, taking individual action where indicated.

Personally and leading others to collaboratively and sensitively work with individuals, with a range of mental health needs to develop skills to manage their own health, in accordance with their personal recovery plan, by actively promoting and using approaches which are affirming, build on strengths, identify past positive experiences and success, and use small steps to move towards the persons goal.

Undertake active clinical leadership and supervision within the team, covering for the manager and colleagues as required.

To maintain the health and social care record, ensuring both paper and electronic records are kept up to date in accordance with professional and organisational standards.

Report and record within agreed timeframes, all activity relating to information reporting and performance requirements.

To participate in management, caseload and clinical supervision in accordance with trust policy.

To take a collaborative approach to practice development and evidence-based care. Specifically this means providing a safe and effective learning environment for the mentoring and supervising of students , participating in their learning objectives and assessments.

Demonstrate responsibility for developing own practice in line with professional qualifications and for contributing to the development of others, by making use of and providing, effective feedback, supervision, coaching and appraisal.

Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others, undertaking assessments and taking appropriate action where required.

Develop own knowledge and practice, and contribute to the development of others, making use of available feedback, supervision and appraisal to identify appropriate areas of development for this work role, taking responsibility for accessing identified learning and training opportunities.

Lead, maintain and participate in practices which enable effective team working.

To participate in duty rotas as required.

To participate in local arrangements in order to ensure consistent care to service users across the local geography.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To undertake the full range of activities required to deliver ongoing comprehensive mental health assessment for service users with eating disorder needs living in the community and in a range of settings. This will include:

a. The use of standardised assessment tools, i.e. the Cluster Allocation Support Tool (CAST), KGV.

b. Recovery Star.

c. History, strengths and aspirations.

d. Mental state.

e. Impact of culture and diversity.

f. Functional needs.

g. The needs of family and carer.

h. Evaluation of risk.

i. Physical health.

j. Complicating factors.

k. The interventions and treatments required to enable positive change.

l. Social care needs.

m. Safeguarding and public protection.

n. Capacity under the Mental Capacity Act.

To be responsible for developing, delivering and reviewing comprehensive and complex treatment programmes using appropriate frameworks in line with evidencebased practice, including strategies to manage risk for service users with complex needs and carers, bringing in other resources as required.

To plan, deliver and evaluate defined, specialist therapeutic interventions as indicated in the assessment process ,in line with personal recovery plans, including to service users who maybe on other caseloads. This might include:

a. Individual or group therapeutic intervention.

b. Psychological treatments such as CBT, DBT approaches, family interventions.

c. Psychosocial interventions.

d. Motivational and coping enhancement strategies.

e. Medication management.

f. Interventions under the Mental Health Act,

To deliver a range of defined activities/interventions to improve the carers ability to support the service user and to enable them in their relationship with the service user.

To develop and maintain good partnership working with other services throughout all treatment episodes, including regular liaison within Primary Health Care Team, inpatient and intensive services, day services, voluntary sector and with nominated carers/advocates.

In collaboration with service users and carers, to be responsible for facilitating the development of complex comprehensive crisis plans, rapid access plans, advance statements etc, involving other agencies such as primary care etc where appropriate.

To personally build and lead others to build, hope inspiring relationships with service users, which acknowledge the personal journey of each person, and focus on strengths and aspirations to allow the creation of meaningful personal recovery plans.

To be responsible for maintaining own workload, as well as planning the workload of others, on a day to day basis, ensuring that time is prioritised effectively, utilising of electronic resources such as diaries/scheduling.

To be responsible for the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local safeguarding policies and procedures, including working with others in the planning development and review of protection plans, ensuring the appropriate sharing of information.

Coordinating and undertaking protective interventions which maybe required in the protection of others, as outlined in the protection plan, taking individual action where indicated.

Personally and leading others to collaboratively and sensitively work with individuals, with a range of mental health needs to develop skills to manage their own health, in accordance with their personal recovery plan, by actively promoting and using approaches which are affirming, build on strengths, identify past positive experiences and success, and use small steps to move towards the persons goal.

Undertake active clinical leadership and supervision within the team, covering for the manager and colleagues as required.

To maintain the health and social care record, ensuring both paper and electronic records are kept up to date in accordance with professional and organisational standards.

Report and record within agreed timeframes, all activity relating to information reporting and performance requirements.

To participate in management, caseload and clinical supervision in accordance with trust policy.

To take a collaborative approach to practice development and evidence-based care. Specifically this means providing a safe and effective learning environment for the mentoring and supervising of students , participating in their learning objectives and assessments.

Demonstrate responsibility for developing own practice in line with professional qualifications and for contributing to the development of others, by making use of and providing, effective feedback, supervision, coaching and appraisal.

Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others, undertaking assessments and taking appropriate action where required.

Develop own knowledge and practice, and contribute to the development of others, making use of available feedback, supervision and appraisal to identify appropriate areas of development for this work role, taking responsibility for accessing identified learning and training opportunities.

Lead, maintain and participate in practices which enable effective team working.

To participate in duty rotas as required.

To participate in local arrangements in order to ensure consistent care to service users across the local geography.

Person Specification

Professional Registration

Essential

  • Professional Registration for the following occupations or on a relevant university course within the final year; Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in adult mental health
  • Evidence of risk management and developing risk management strategies

Desirable

  • Experience, or placements in a wide variety of settings
  • Actual or previous experience of working in community setting
  • physical health experience/ Transferrable Skills
  • ED Experience/ Transferable Skills

Interventions

Essential

  • Ability to deliver or evidence of ability to work towards delivering a range of therapeutic interventions

Desirable

  • Relevant therapeutic qualifications eg CBT NMP AMHP
  • Experience in medication management and clinical interventions
  • Experience of physical health and comorbidities
  • Experience of psychosocial intervention and/or knowledge of these approaches

Communication skills

Essential

  • Highly developed written communication skills
  • Excellent documentation skills and report writing
Person Specification

Professional Registration

Essential

  • Professional Registration for the following occupations or on a relevant university course within the final year; Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in adult mental health
  • Evidence of risk management and developing risk management strategies

Desirable

  • Experience, or placements in a wide variety of settings
  • Actual or previous experience of working in community setting
  • physical health experience/ Transferrable Skills
  • ED Experience/ Transferable Skills

Interventions

Essential

  • Ability to deliver or evidence of ability to work towards delivering a range of therapeutic interventions

Desirable

  • Relevant therapeutic qualifications eg CBT NMP AMHP
  • Experience in medication management and clinical interventions
  • Experience of physical health and comorbidities
  • Experience of psychosocial intervention and/or knowledge of these approaches

Communication skills

Essential

  • Highly developed written communication skills
  • Excellent documentation skills and report writing

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road, Fishponds

Bristol

BS16 1EG


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road, Fishponds

Bristol

BS16 1EG


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Manager

Michelle Douglas

michelledouglas1@nhs.net

01173546920

Details

Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £44,962 a year (pro rata) (pay award pending)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

342-SS104-0725

Job locations

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road, Fishponds

Bristol

BS16 1EG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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