We are delighted to receive further transformation funding in the Kent and Medway All-Age Eating Disorders Service so we are extending our service offer to include TWO very exciting additions to our portfolio: Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterised by a pattern of eating that avoids certain foods or food groups entirely, and/or is restricted in quantity and driven by sensory or avoided consequence factors. There has been increasing acknowledgement of a gap in services for ARFID, or suspected ARFID. As a result, referrals are inconsistently made to a wide range of services, including children and young people community eating disorder services, standard children and young people mental health services, community paediatrics, neurodevelopmental services, dietetic, speech and language, acute paediatric services and adult mental health services.

We are also seeking to develop an intensive home-based eating disorder treatment pathway in the form of an enhanced care pathway (Intensive Care Pathway - ICP). These forms of treatment have the potential to minimise inpatient admissions (including out-of-area placements), reduce length of stay in inpatient settings and improve experience of discharge from inpatient care as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.

We are very excited to be developing the ARFID and ICP pathways in Kent and Medway which requires a number of new staff positions.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the jobThe post-holders will be qualified fully registered HCPC/BABCP members with a passion for working in this area.

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 holders will not hold an inpatient case load, but the post holders 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 holders 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 be required to hold a caseload and provide evidence based treatment to children, adolescents and adults who present with an Eating Disorder.

The post holders will support the staff team 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

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

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 focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

COVID-19 Vaccination

We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder must show a willingness to enhance clinical and therapeutic skills by attending additional training or continuing professional development. This is also a requirement for BABCP accreditation.

The post holder will be required to attend individual supervision on a monthly basis, as well as any group supervision which may be appropriate.

The post holder will also have the opportunity to attend regular reflective practice groups within the team, as well as 3 monthly safeguarding supervision.

Please refer to the attached job description specification for further details on this vacancy and person

If you are an overseas qualified nurse and wanting to start your journey to becoming a UK based registered nurse with the NMC, you can check whether you are eligible to be supported through our Capital Nurse consortium. Please visit https://www.capitalnurselondon.co.uk/how-to-apply/. Whilst NELFT is happy to welcome overseas nurses we are unable to consider your application directly. You should submit your interest and apply through the Capital Nurse London group.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Successful completion of a post-graduate training in psychological practice (e.g. psychologist, family therapist, child and adolescent psychotherapist, Social Worker) plus an additional post-graduate qualification in Psychological Therapies (e.g. cyp-iapt post graduate diploma in systemic family practice/cognitive behavioural therapy).
• To be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, BACP, UKCP, AFT)

Desirable

• Training in other therapeutic approaches relevant to working with eating disorders and complex mental health problems and emotional and behavioural problems

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working all age patients and their families with eating disorders

Desirable

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature including in eating disorders
• Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups across the whole life course of presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
• Experience of establishing effective relations with staff from multidisciplinary backgrounds and in multi -agency settings

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for eating disorders
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by professional body

Desirable

• ighly specialist skills in the use of complex methods of systemic or CBT assessment and treatment of individuals, couples and family systems and groups
• Knowledge of and skill in using a wide variety of systemic or CBT theories and interventions and the ability to use these appropriately in relation to client need and work setting

Skills

Essential

• Well -developed skills to communicate effectively, orally and in writing at an age appropriate level (indulging use of play, drawing, role -play, metaphor and stories) complex, and/or clinically sensitive information to children, adolescents, their families, carers and professionals within and outside the NHS
• Consultation skills to work effectively with the multi -professional team or other professional groups within own service.
• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner with appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision

Desirable

• Skills in professional supervision to meet professional requirements skills for offering live supervision of both systemic psychotherapists and multi -disciplinary colleagues

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

The Courtyard, Pudding Lane

Maidstone or Canterbury

ME14 1PA

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

395-KM551-23