NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Senior Specialist Nurse - Eating Disorders

The closing date is 20 October 2025

Job summary

NELFT's Kent & Medway All Age Eating Disorders Service specialises in the assessment, diagnosis and NICE concordant treatment of young people and adults with Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder & Otherwise Specified Feeding & Eating Disorders). Additional pathways are being been added to the Service with transformation monies including an Enhanced Care pathway and First Episode Rapid Early Intervention in Eating Disorders (FREED) and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary all age specialist Community Eating Disorder team . The successful applicant will support this innovative multidisciplinary team in delivering the latest evidence based dietetic support to clients , carers and families of adults and children and young people who access the services. The team is committed to delivering the highest quality service to enable service users live the life they want. This opportunity gives the successful candidate the chance to influence the success of this innovative Eating Disorder service

We are looking for applicants who have enthusiasm for working in specialist mental health services, who are adaptable; enjoy variety, can working independently as well as understanding the importance of team working. You will form part of our patient focused service, providing a high quality, accurate and timely service.

Main duties of the job

As a senior member of staff, you will have the experience required to co-ordinate the workload of the team on a regular basis and to offer support and supervision within the team. We are looking for candidates who have demonstrable knowledge, understanding and experience of working with the legal frameworks which relate to the care and treatment of children and young people in crisis. In particular the Children Act 1989, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended in 2007).

The post holders will be required to assess and treat all age patients who present with an eating disorder. As the service is exclusively an outpatient service, the post holder will not hold an inpatient case load, but the post holder will work with adolescent units and adult units in order to maintain joint working and smooth transition into and out of inpatient beds. The post holder will be expected to attend and participate in MDT team meetings as well as CPA meetings of cases on their case load.

The post holders will support their peers and team leader and be an effective team member whilst working on their own initiative. They will supervise other staff members as required. They will have a commitment to collaborative working and actively supporting and liaising with other health and social professionals and agencies.

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.They are:We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities.These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Details

Date posted

06 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

395-KM303-25

Job locations

The Courtyard/ Georges turle house

Maidstone/Canterbury

ME14 1PA


Job description

Job responsibilities

A detailed job description and main responsibilities of the role can be found in the attached document.

Certificates of SponsorshipAlthough we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AIPlease see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Job description

Job responsibilities

A detailed job description and main responsibilities of the role can be found in the attached document.

Certificates of SponsorshipAlthough we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AIPlease see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Successful completion of a graduate training as a registered nurse with current NMC registration status
  • Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with patients with eating disorders Experience of carrying out generic assessment with other colleagues in the multi-disciplinary team ? Experience of initiating, organising and planning inter-agency meetings aimed at setting in place a treatment package tailored to the individual needs of the patient ?Experience of providing professional teaching and training for other professionals working with the client ? Experience of providing clinical interventions in different cultural contexts ? Experience of service development and demonstrates ability to managing change

Knowledge

Essential

  • An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance priorities
  • High level knowledge of the theory and practice of working with eating disorders at a range of severities and complexities
  • Knowledge of legislation and guidelines in relation to eating disorders and safeguarding procedures and policies
  • Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education structures, national policies and frameworks, evidence based practice including NICE guidelines
  • Knowledge of research methodology and outcome research methodology and outcome research design and ability to critically interpret research findings

Skills

Essential

  • Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively highly complex and sensitive matters to patients, which give rise to psychological distress
  • Specialist skill in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the eating disorder service.
  • Ability to tolerate anxiety without recourse to premature action whilst appreciating the role of the supervisor
  • Capacity to write clear records and observe policies, procedures and guidelines
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Successful completion of a graduate training as a registered nurse with current NMC registration status
  • Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with patients with eating disorders Experience of carrying out generic assessment with other colleagues in the multi-disciplinary team ? Experience of initiating, organising and planning inter-agency meetings aimed at setting in place a treatment package tailored to the individual needs of the patient ?Experience of providing professional teaching and training for other professionals working with the client ? Experience of providing clinical interventions in different cultural contexts ? Experience of service development and demonstrates ability to managing change

Knowledge

Essential

  • An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance priorities
  • High level knowledge of the theory and practice of working with eating disorders at a range of severities and complexities
  • Knowledge of legislation and guidelines in relation to eating disorders and safeguarding procedures and policies
  • Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education structures, national policies and frameworks, evidence based practice including NICE guidelines
  • Knowledge of research methodology and outcome research methodology and outcome research design and ability to critically interpret research findings

Skills

Essential

  • Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively highly complex and sensitive matters to patients, which give rise to psychological distress
  • Specialist skill in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the eating disorder service.
  • Ability to tolerate anxiety without recourse to premature action whilst appreciating the role of the supervisor
  • Capacity to write clear records and observe policies, procedures and guidelines

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

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

The Courtyard/ Georges turle house

Maidstone/Canterbury

ME14 1PA


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

The Courtyard/ Georges turle house

Maidstone/Canterbury

ME14 1PA


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Integrated Team Manager

Carley Tomlin

carley.tomlin@nelft.nhs.uk

03003001980

Details

Date posted

06 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

395-KM303-25

Job locations

The Courtyard/ Georges turle house

Maidstone/Canterbury

ME14 1PA


Supporting documents

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