Healthcare Support Worker for Adult Eating Disorders
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an individual to fill the post of a Healthcare Support Worker for Eating Disorders, working with those who are aged 18 & above (17.5 if transitioning from children & adolescent services) within the Eating Disorder Intensive Treatment Team (ED-ITT).
The successful applicant will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) supporting individuals at high risk of medical deterioration & Hospital admission. The applicant will be essential in the physical health assessment clinic undertaken at a minimum of weekly within ED-ITT. The service also provides interventions to prevent admission such as mealtime support, of which the successful post holder will be undertaking.
It will be expected that you will also support individuals during admissions to Hospital, promoting safety, dignity & therapeutic engagement whilst helping to reduce risk & support recovery during periods of acute illness.
The mental health support worker will work to build relationships with service users, by demonstrating an understanding of eating disorders, compassion & a transparent, trauma informed approach. The post holder will assist the individual to set & achieve their own unique recovery goals by providing support & keep the focus of life beyond illness.
please notethat this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Workerroute, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regardsto eligibility
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant as part of the MDT will assist individuals at high risk of medical deterioration & Hospital admission. You will work to build relationships with service users, by demonstrating an understanding of eating disorders, compassion & a transparent, trauma informed approach. You will assist the individual to work towards their unique recovery goals by providing support & keep the focus of life beyond illness, this will be both in the community & inpatient.
You will be essential in the physical health assessment clinic undertaken in the community at a minimum of weekly within ED-ITT. The service also provides interventions to prevent admission such as mealtime support, of which you will be undertaking. You will also be involved in supporting the service user to gain physical & psychological stability, provide psychoeducation & support at times of high emotional distress, including when the service user is experiencing eating disorder driven cognitions & body image disturbance
It will be expected that the candidate will also support individuals during admissions to Hospital, promoting safety, dignity and therapeutic engagement whilst helping to reduce risk and support recovery during periods of acute illness
The candidate will support the individual to access all parts of the Eating Disorder Plymouth Pathway, including the Eating Disorder Service (EDS)
All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able & willing to work across a 7 day service
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job responsibilities
The role of the Healthcare Support Worker for eating disorders will be to work as part of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) within the Eating Disorder Intensive Treatment Team (ED-ITT). This service works with those who are 18 and above (17.5 if transitioning from children and adolescent services) who are at risk both physically and psychologically secondary to their eating disorder. Support will be provided both when the individual is in the community and in Hospital. The applicant will also provide advice and consultation to the teams providing treatment to the service user throughout the pathway.
The successful applicant as part of the MDT will assist individuals at high risk of medical deterioration and Hospital admission. The mental health support worker will work to build relationships with service users, by demonstrating an understanding of eating disorders, compassion and a transparent, trauma informed approach. The post holder will assist the individual to work towards their unique recovery goals by providing support and keep the focus of life beyond illness, this will be both in the community and inpatient.
The applicant will be essential in the physical health assessment clinic undertaken in the community at a minimum of weekly within ED-ITT. The service also provides interventions to prevent admission such as mealtime support, of which the successful post holder will be undertaking. The candidate will also be involved in supporting the service user to gain physical and psychological stability, provide psychoeducation and support at times of high emotional distress, including when the service user is experiencing eating disorder driven cognitions and body image disturbance.
It will be expected that the candidate will also support individuals during admissions to Hospital, promoting safety, dignity and therapeutic engagement whilst helping to reduce risk and support recovery during periods of acute illness.
The candidate will support the individual to access all parts of the Eating Disorder Plymouth Pathway, including the Eating Disorder Service (EDS).
Please refer to job description for key responsibilities of post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Maths & English GCSE Grades 4 and above or equivalent
* Commitment to further education
* NVQ III or equivalent in Mental Health and/or able to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and ability to work to this level
* 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 Venepuncture training.
* Certification of ECG training.
* Certification of NEWS 2 training.
* The post holder will need to travel and attend to service users based across Plymouth and other geographical areas.
* Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
Experience
* Experience of working with those who have been acutely unwell with their mental health.
* Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
* Experience of working within a clinic setting.
* Experience of working with those who have eating disorders.
* Experience of working with those who have been acutely unwell secondary to their mental health.
* Experience of lone working.
Specific skills
* To be able to work with those who present with high levels of emotional distress.
* To be able to work transparently and have honest conversations with service users including when the decisions are those that will not be agreed with or will cause distress.
* Ability to travel across the city to attend home and community appointments.
* Able to work independently when tasks have been set, but also as part of a team.
* Confident in talking to individuals, and also challenging information provided, compassionately.
* Skills in prioritising and managing workload.
* Ability to mange own stress.
* Understanding approach, to mental health and specifically eating disorders.
* Belief that recovery is possible.
* Aware of own limitations.
* To be able to undertake a full set of clinical observations.
* To be able to undertake venepuncture.
* To be able to undertake an ECG.
Knowledge
* 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 eating disorders.
* Knowledge of safe clinical observations.
* The different types of eating disorders, the medical and psychological risks, treatment interventions.
* Awareness of MEEDS.
* Knowledge of how to use system one.
* Knowledge of the personalised care framework.
* Knowledge of the cycle of change.
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.
Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working
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