About this role
Job summary
37.5 hours per week.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Mental Health Nurse to join our specialist Eating Disorder Intensive Treatment Team (ED-ITT) as a Specialist Nurse. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting adults with eating disorders, delivering high-quality, recovery-focused care within a developing and innovative service.
Working as part of a skilled multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist assessment, therapeutic interventions, physical health monitoring and risk management for individuals whose eating disorder presents significant risks to their physical and psychological wellbeing. You will work collaboratively with patients, carers, acute hospitals, the voluntary sector, primary care and community services to ensure safe, effective and seamless care.
You will contribute to clinical leadership within the service, providing specialist advice and consultation to colleagues and partner organisations. You will have opportunities to influence service development, support quality improvement initiatives and contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the care pathway for people who experience eating disorders in Plymouth.
We are seeking a compassionate and motivated clinician to join our specialist team. This is a rewarding opportunity to provide expert care for individuals with eating disorders who require intensive support, while contributing to service development and innovation.
Main duties of the job
You will provide expert assessment, treatment and support for adults with eating disorders who require intensive treatment due to significant physical and mental health risks. Working within a multidisciplinary team, you will deliver evidence-based care, develop therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, and contribute to the delivery of high-quality, person-centred services.
You will undertake specialist mental and physical health assessments, monitor physical health, manage clinical risk and support patients through periods of increased need. The role involves working closely with colleagues across community, acute and primary care settings to ensure safe, effective and coordinated care.
You will provide specialist advice, guidance and consultation to healthcare professionals, contributing to the development of clinical practice and promoting best practice in eating disorder care. You will also support teaching, training and service development initiatives, helping to improve pathways and outcomes for people accessing the service.
This is a varied and rewarding role combining direct clinical work, multidisciplinary collaboration, leadership and service improvement. It offers an excellent opportunity to develop specialist expertise within a supportive team.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.
Post may close earlier than the specified deadline.
All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Specialist Nurse will be a key member of the Eating Disorder Intensive Treatment Team (ED-ITT), providing highly specialist assessment, treatment and support to adults experiencing eating disorders who require intensive treatment due to significant physical and psychological risk.
The post holder will work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care. They will undertake comprehensive mental health, risk and physical health assessments, develop formulations and treatment plans, and deliver specialist interventions aimed at promoting recovery, reducing risk and preventing avoidable hospital admissions where appropriate.
The role will involve regular monitoring of patients physical health, including the interpretation of physical health parameters and escalation of concerns in line with clinical protocols and professional standards. The post holder will work closely with primary care, acute hospital services, mental health teams and other partner organisations to support coordinated and effective care.
The Specialist Nurse will contribute to clinical decision-making regarding admission, discharge and ongoing treatment planning for patients requiring intensive treatment. They will utilise specialist knowledge of eating disorders and associated mental and physical health complications to support high-quality, person-centred care. The post holder will identify, assess and manage clinical risk, ensuring safeguarding and governance requirements are met at all times.
Working collaboratively with patients, families and carers, the post holder will promote engagement, understanding and recovery through a compassionate and recovery-focused approach.
The applicant will provide specialist in-reach support for patients admitted to acute general hospitals or psychiatric inpatient services, including Glenbourne. They will work alongside ward teams to provide specialist advice, support clinical decision-making, facilitate communication between services and promote safe, consistent and recovery-focused treatment throughout the admission pathway, helping to ensure continuity of care during admission and discharge.
The successful candidate will provide specialist advice, consultation and support to colleagues within the eating disorder service and to professionals working across the wider health and social care system. They will contribute to the development of clinical practice by promoting evidence-based approaches and supporting the implementation of national and local guidance.
The post holder will support the ongoing development of the Eating Disorder Intensive Treatment Team and wider eating disorder pathway through participation in service improvement initiatives, audit, outcome monitoring and quality improvement activities. They will actively contribute to clinical governance processes to ensure high standards of care.
The role includes responsibility for supporting the learning and development of others through education, training and supervision, as appropriate. The post holder will act as a role model for professional practice and support the development of staff knowledge and skills in relation to eating disorders, physical health monitoring and risk management.
The Specialist Nurse will maintain accurate and timely clinical records, contribute to multidisciplinary discussions and ensure effective communication with all professionals involved in patient care. They will maintain professional registration and practise in accordance with professional standards, organisational policies and relevant legislation.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a developing specialist service and play a key role in improving outcomes for adults experiencing eating disorders, while contributing to the future development of the eating disorder care pathway.
Please refer to full supporting documents for full job description.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of different mental health illnesses, the risks and treatment interventions.
- Knowledge of legislation that supports the rights of those with mental health illnesses such as Mental Health and Mental Capacity Act.
- Knowledge of the impact of trauma.
- Knowledge of safe clinical observations.
- Specialist professional knowledge of eating disorders, acquired through degree-level professional qualification supplemented by post-registration specialist training, continuing professional development and significant experience working with complex eating disorder presentations.
- Advanced knowledge of MEEDS guidance, physical health complications of eating disorders and evidence-based treatment approaches.
Desirable
- Knowledge of how to use system one.
- Knowledge of the personalised care framework.
- Knowledge of the cycle of change.
- Knowledge of how to respond appropriately to physical and psychological risks, specific to eating disorders.
Experience
Essential
- Proven relevant experience in working with those who have acute mental health problems and ideally exposure to those who have eating disorders.
- Proven experience of assessment skills.
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
- Experience of working with those who are highly distressed.
- Experience of those who engage in self harming and suicidal behaviours.
- Experience of responding both to physical and psychological risks appropriately.
- Proven leadership and management skills including having supervised and line managed junior staff and students.
- Experience of managing complex eating disorder presentations.
- Experience of assessing and managing significant physical and psychiatric risk.
- Experience of teaching, consultation and professional support.
- Experience of quality improvement, audit or service development activity.
- Experience of supervising students or mentoring staff.
Desirable
- Having undertaken some form of physical monitoring of those suffering with an eating disorder.
- Experience of working with those who have ARFID.
- Experience of those who oscillate within the cycle of change.
Skills
Essential
- To be able to work with those who present with high levels of emotional distress.
- To be able to work with those who are engaging in self-harming and suicidal behaviours.
- To be able to risk assess and respond appropriately, whilst empowering the individual to begin managing their own risk.
- Communicate openly and honestly with service users, including about decisions they may find difficult or distressing.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
- Able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Communicate confidently and challenge information compassionately.
- Time management skills.
- Skills in prioritising and managing workload.
- Ability to manage own stress.
- Practice in a psychologically informed way, including trauma informed.
- Aware of own limitations.
- Evidence of good multiagency liaison skills.
- Delegation skills.
- Ability to assess and treat patients using evidence-based practice.
- IT literate.
- Interpersonal skills which can support in building a therapeutic relationship with patient.
- Clear documentation skills.
- Ability to undertake a full set of physical observations and respond accordingly.
- Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to take ownership and leadership of new projects, national initiatives and service development.
- Ability to work under pressure and to manage crisis and risk management.
- Ability to work within a structured care pathway across two different services.
- Ability to work in a flexible manner.
Desirable
- Ability to work with difficult and complex situations.
- Flexible/Adaptable.
- Team player.
- Ability to act as a role model.
- Ability to motivate others.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Mental Health Nurse with current NMC registration.
- Degree level qualification in Mental Health Nursing or equivalent professional qualification.
- Specialist knowledge of eating disorders acquired through post-registration specialist training, masterclasses, CPD and extensive clinical experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development within eating disorders, risk management and physical health monitoring.
- Clinical supervision, mentorship or practice assessor qualification (or willingness to undertake).
Desirable
- ECG training.
- Venepuncture training.
- Quality improvement training.
- Completion of FREED training.
- Completion of BEAT nursing training.
- Attendance on EDSA training.
- Any courses of e-learning undertaken in mentorship
- Any courses or e-learning undertaken in mental or physical health.
- Any courses or e-learning undertaken in eating disorders.
- Any courses or e-learning undertaken in Trauma Informed Approaches.
- Certification of NEWS 2 training.
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
Livewell Southwest
Address
200 Mount Gould Road
Mount Gould
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 7PY
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)