Job Overview
Eating Disorder Nursing Associate - Adult Community Team
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Nursing Associate in the Adult Community Team at Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service.
The community team are an integral part of the wider eating disorders service acting as 'front of house' for all stakeholders, doing regular specialist assessment of patients referred to the eating disorder service and managing a small caseload of patients with a range of severe and enduring eating disorders within a personal recovery model. The team also has various treatment pathways including an established early intervention pathway, an expanding primary care pathway, including intensive community treatment team.
You will need to be a motivated, empathic, skilled and dedicated individual who can work well both autonomously and within a team, and possess excellent communication skills.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
As part of the Community Team, the post holder will support the processing of new referrals to the service, including liaising with internal and external services as required, under the guidance of registered practitioners.
The post holder will contribute to the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care for individuals with eating disorders, supporting the multidisciplinary team to provide evidence-based interventions within their scope of practice.
To partake in physical health monitoring clinics, checking weight, vital signs, completing ECG and venepuncture, escalating concerns as necessary.
You will be required to work at both the central London base and the satellite clinic at Harrow on the Hill and Paddington as needed. Alongside with your supervisor and other senior staff, you will contribute to the development of the community service and the Eating Disorders Service
The post-holder will have a base at Vincent Square Eating Disorders Service main base in central London and will also spend time at the satellite clinics in Harrow on the Hill and Paddington, when required.
To work with the Community Team, Multidisciplinary Team, collaborating with Doctors, Psychologists, Occupational Therapist, Family Worker, Inpatient and Day Programme Team. In addition, there will be liaison with community Mental Health Teams, Primary Care Teams, and Medical and Psychiatric Wards.
Working for our organisation
You will be well supported in your role by a friendly, dynamic MDT as well as receive regular line management and clinical supervision in various forms. Your primary base will be in vibrant South Kensington in Central London and you will also be required to work at the satellite clinics at Harrow on the Hill & Paddington, when required.
Vincent Square Eating Disorders Service is the specialist service provider for patients living in the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Brent and Harrow. In addition the service accepts national referrals for specialist in-patient and day-patient care.
Hear from our staff what it's like working with our CNWL Eating Disorders service, please CLICK HERE to watch the video.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, accountable to registered nurses and contributing to collaborative care delivery.
Support the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care in line with NMC standards and Trust policies.
Assist with assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Monitor patient progress, recognise deterioration or risk, and escalate concerns appropriately.
Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation and support effective communication within the MDT.
Undertake clinical tasks within scope of competence (e.g. physical health observations, venepuncture, ECGs).
Contribute to patient assessments, including completion of appropriate assessments within agreed scope of practice.
Participate in service duty systems including triage processes, referral management and shared inbox monitoring.
Promote patient safety, safeguarding and quality improvement through reflective practice and incident reporting where required.
Support health promotion, patient education and partnership working with patients, families and carers.
Act as a patient advocate, maintaining dignity, consent and person-centred care at all times.
Contribute to physical health monitoring and specialist care delivery relevant to eating disorders.
Attend MDT meetings, audits and service development activities.
Supervise or support junior staff where appropriate and contribute to team development.
Maintain professional registration, mandatory training and ongoing professional development.
Person specification
Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria
Nursing Associate Foundation Degree (or equivalent) and current NMC registration as a Nursing Associate.
Training in physical health monitoring skills (e.g. ECG, venepuncture, physical observations).
Desirable criteria
Additional training relevant to mental health and/or eating disorder care.
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
Knowledge of eating disorders, including associated psychological and physical health risks.
Understanding of mental health conditions and their impact on functioning, engagement and risk.
Ability to recognise and escalate risk, including safeguarding concerns, deterioration or complex presentations.
Desirable criteria
Understanding of physical health complications associated with eating disorders.
Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act and risk management within mental health services.
Awareness of community mental health pathways, triage processes or duty systems.
Understanding of trauma-informed or recovery-oriented approaches.
Experience
Essential criteria
Experience working within mental health services or with individuals experiencing mental health difficulties.
Experience supporting individuals with eating disorders or related complex needs (or demonstrable transferable experience with similar high-risk presentations).
Experience recognising, managing and escalating clinical risk or safeguarding concerns.
Desirable criteria
Experience supporting physical health monitoring within mental health settings.
Experience working within community-based services or outpatient pathways.
Experience participating in duty/triage systems or referral management.
Experience contributing to assessment, care planning or ongoing monitoring within a multidisciplinary team.