Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Weight Management Health Improvement Practitioner

The closing date is 16 April 2026

Job summary

TheWeight Management Single Point of Access (SPOA)shall be provided as a pilot service for a duration of 18 months.

The SPOA shall serve as the gateway to appropriate interventionsfor weight management support across Devon.

The team will be the receiving centre for all referrals relating to weight management in the region.

Main duties of the job

To support the clinical triage of referrals, risk assessment and safeguarding concerns within the service, managing onward referral process for some complex service users.

Contact referrals to discuss referral options, ensure that all service users receive up-to-date information on a wide range of health improvement programmes, with a primary focus on weight management initiatives.

Provide support to service users through health coaching conversations to help them navigate potentially complex referral options.

To provide support to the Single Point of Access team and patients who are referred into the service.

Support with screening of patient questionnaires to aid appropriate signposting for onward care.

Managing referrals through the electronic referral system (ERS), ensuring that referrals are actioned within expected timeframes. Using ERS to generate reports for commissioners and service.

Supporting audit and evaluation of Single Point of Access pilot programme

Day-to-day management of Health Improvement Coordinators

About us

Why Work With Us

Based at St Edmunds Community Care Centre in Torquay, with potential to travel within the whole of Devon.The Devon Weight Management Single Point of Access Team is a new service consisting of a Service Lead, Health Improvement Practitioner (this post)andHealth Improvement Coordinator.

The aims of the SPOA are to:

o Improve access toappropriate weightmanagement support and, where clinicallyappropriate, specialist weight management services

o Standardise triage and referral processes

o Reduce duplication across the weight management (and associated) pathways

o Link pathways for patients with long term conditions where weight management is recommended e.g., diabetes.

o Evolve to become the one access point for weight management across all levels of support (tiers 1 - 4)

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

388-7837718-MUEC

Job locations

St Edmunds

Victoria Park Road

Torquay

TQ1 3QH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Raise awareness amongst the population of Devon around available support. Demonstrate improvements in public perception, increase engagement and demonstrate the impact of services by sharing real, positive user experiences on social platforms. Contribute to marketing and communication of Weight Management Services.

Design, produce and deliver appropriate evidence informed resources, including presentations to the wider team and relevant stakeholder partners.

Help target audiences to become more aware of available support through relatable examples

Highlight experiences and outcomes making services feel approachable and personal

Help to build trust in the local services and approach

Promote non-judgemental approaches to weight management for example, diverse body types, neutral supportive language (e.g., supporting your health rather than lose weight), addressing social determinants of health (e.g., access to food and healthcare instead of framing it as purely personal responsibility)

Use authentic stories of people who have improved their health by focusing on self-care

Distribute screening questionnaires to patients referred into the service to support appropriate signposting of services.

Actively participate in multidisciplinary meetings and partnerships to identify and address health inequalities and service gaps. Meet regularly with stakeholders to understand needs and raise awareness of services.

Use effective negotiation skills to engage with service users, supporting them to access services most appropriate for them. Service users will not always be eligible for the services they require, and the postholder will be required to have well developed communication skills and the ability to have challenging conversations.

Have conversations with service users where there may be communication difficulties and barriers to understanding.

To act as a link to improve communication and access between primary care, specialist services, service users and carers and non-statutory providers, to enhance team working and care delivery.

Complete Stakeholder engagement to increase access to service through a partnership approach.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Raise awareness amongst the population of Devon around available support. Demonstrate improvements in public perception, increase engagement and demonstrate the impact of services by sharing real, positive user experiences on social platforms. Contribute to marketing and communication of Weight Management Services.

Design, produce and deliver appropriate evidence informed resources, including presentations to the wider team and relevant stakeholder partners.

Help target audiences to become more aware of available support through relatable examples

Highlight experiences and outcomes making services feel approachable and personal

Help to build trust in the local services and approach

Promote non-judgemental approaches to weight management for example, diverse body types, neutral supportive language (e.g., supporting your health rather than lose weight), addressing social determinants of health (e.g., access to food and healthcare instead of framing it as purely personal responsibility)

Use authentic stories of people who have improved their health by focusing on self-care

Distribute screening questionnaires to patients referred into the service to support appropriate signposting of services.

Actively participate in multidisciplinary meetings and partnerships to identify and address health inequalities and service gaps. Meet regularly with stakeholders to understand needs and raise awareness of services.

Use effective negotiation skills to engage with service users, supporting them to access services most appropriate for them. Service users will not always be eligible for the services they require, and the postholder will be required to have well developed communication skills and the ability to have challenging conversations.

Have conversations with service users where there may be communication difficulties and barriers to understanding.

To act as a link to improve communication and access between primary care, specialist services, service users and carers and non-statutory providers, to enhance team working and care delivery.

Complete Stakeholder engagement to increase access to service through a partnership approach.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oEvidence of continuing professional/personal development in health improvements/ behaviour change/public health to a degree level or equivalent

Desirable

  • oHealth promotion certificates such as Brief Interventions for Alcohol, Mental health First Aid
  • Health Coaching

Knowledge

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the benefits of health improvement interventions including understanding determinants of health
  • oKnowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodology
  • oDemonstrable experience of working with a wide range of people and groups using a strength-based approach in relation to behavioural change

Desirable

  • oKnowledge of social marketing and health needs assessment
  • oExperience of using office-based software (e.g. word processors, spreadsheets & databases) in a workplace setting
  • oExperience of health promotion

Skills

Essential

  • oAbility to work both autonomously and as part of a team and manage own caseload

Desirable

  • oExperience of using clinical systems Understanding of audit and evaluation
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oEvidence of continuing professional/personal development in health improvements/ behaviour change/public health to a degree level or equivalent

Desirable

  • oHealth promotion certificates such as Brief Interventions for Alcohol, Mental health First Aid
  • Health Coaching

Knowledge

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the benefits of health improvement interventions including understanding determinants of health
  • oKnowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodology
  • oDemonstrable experience of working with a wide range of people and groups using a strength-based approach in relation to behavioural change

Desirable

  • oKnowledge of social marketing and health needs assessment
  • oExperience of using office-based software (e.g. word processors, spreadsheets & databases) in a workplace setting
  • oExperience of health promotion

Skills

Essential

  • oAbility to work both autonomously and as part of a team and manage own caseload

Desirable

  • oExperience of using clinical systems Understanding of audit and evaluation

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Edmunds

Victoria Park Road

Torquay

TQ1 3QH


Employer's website

https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Edmunds

Victoria Park Road

Torquay

TQ1 3QH


Employer's website

https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Manager

Sara Dorrans

sara.dorrans@nhs.net

07514505222

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

388-7837718-MUEC

Job locations

St Edmunds

Victoria Park Road

Torquay

TQ1 3QH


Supporting documents

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