Eating Disorder Locality Lead - Bridgwater
Posted 8 hours ago by NHS
Join a passionate, forwardthinking team making a real difference to people living with eating disorders across Somerset.
As an Eating Disorder Specialist Nurse, you'll work within the Adult Eating Disorders Service (EDSA), part of our wider Community Mental Health Services. You'll play a vital role in delivering highquality, compassionate, evidencebased care to individuals experiencing an eating disorder.
You'll be part of a vibrant multidisciplinary team including nurses, psychologists, dietitians, psychological therapists, clinical practitioners and support workers. Working closely with Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association (SWEDA), our service is actively developing and now accepts referrals directly from primary care.
We are committed to the FREED approach, helping young adults access treatment quickly when presenting with a firstepisode eating disorder. This is an environment that values professional development, innovation and collaborative working a brilliant place to grow your specialist skills.
Main duties of the job- Manage a specialist caseload, carrying out comprehensive assessments, care planning and delivering NICE recommended interventions.
- Provide expert guidance, clinical support and supervision to colleagues across community and inpatient services.
- Lead on physical health monitoring and management for highrisk MEED patients, working closely with the Clinical Lead and Consultant Psychiatrist.
- Triaging referrals and coordinating admissions with outofarea Eating Disorder Units when needed.
- Facilitate or cofacilitate therapeutic groups such as MANTRA, Emotional Skills and psychoeducation programmes.
- Build strong collaborative relationships with primary care, acute hospitals, voluntary services and wider mental health teams.
- Contribute to service improvement through audits, evaluation, training delivery and clinical governance work.
- Provide clinical supervision, mentorship and (where appropriate) line management to other staff and trainees.
- Travel across county bases and community settings to deliver flexible, person-centred care.
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job responsibilitiesClinical Expertise
- You'll deliver specialist, holistic care that addresses both the psychological and physical needs of people with eating disorders. This includes:
- Completing high-quality assessments and formulating care plans grounded in a biopsychosocial approach.
- Delivering evidence based psychological interventions and monitoring physical health risks.
- Carrying out and communicating detailed risk assessments.
- Supporting families and carers with clear, compassionate communication during highly emotive situations.
- Coordinating care for individuals treated out of area and ensuring smooth transitions back into local services.
Leadership & Support
- You'll be a key clinical resource within the team, offering:
- Clinical supervision to staff from a range of professional backgrounds.
- Line management responsibilities where appropriate.
- Support to the Trust's preceptorship programme and involvement in recruitment processes.
- Guidance and training to colleagues both within and beyond the eating disorder service.
Training, Development & Service Improvement
You'll have the opportunity to:
- Help develop and deliver specialist training around eating disorders across the Trust.
- Participate in pathway development and policy implementation.
- Support audit, research and evaluation activity to continually improve the service.
- Promote adherence to NICE guidance and best practice standards.
Operational Responsibilities
- Produce high-quality reports and documentation.
- Work in line with all Trust policies including safeguarding, infection control, confidentiality, equality & diversity and health & safety.
- Travel across Somerset (Wells, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Taunton and community settings) to meet service needs.
- Registered mental health nurse. (RMN) Or Registered Nurse (RN)
- Commitment to continuing professional development in the field of eating disorders e.g. attending relevant MSc modules or equivalent.
- Non-medical prescribing or a willingness to undertake appropriate training.
- Specialist Eating Disorder training at MSc level or equivalent.
- Evidence of recent relevant training.
- Experience in mental health provision and a working knowledge of eating disorders underpinned by relevant bio/psychosocial clinical models.
- Significant experience in working with people with complex clinical and risk presentations.
- Experience of offering clinical supervision in a variety of settings.
- Working with clients in the community and inpatient settings.
- Knowledge of physical health complications of eating disorders.
- Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
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.