Employer Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Kimmeridge Court, St Ann's Hospital, Town Poole Salary £24,937 - £26,598 p.a. Salary period Yearly Closing 24/09/2025 23:59
Mental Health Support Worker - Eating Disorders
Band 3
Job overview
The Dorset All Age Eating Disorders Service (DAEDS)
We are looking to recruit kind, caring and compassionate Mental Health Support Workers who are interested in being part of a team offering treatment and care to people with an eating disorder.
Experience of caring for people with an eating disorder in a mental health setting is desirable, empathy towards those who have an eating disorder essential. The ability to work effectively and dynamically in a busy and demanding setting with a willingness to learn vital.
We promote learning and development, and all staff are encouraged and supported throughout their career to grow and develop. We provide an initial induction, inhouse and other training opportunities, plus clinical and management supervision. Your continuous professional development will be planned and tailored to your needs together with support to achieve your personal objectives set via annual appraisal and you will receive regular clinical and management supervision.
The inpatient unit is open 24/7, 365 days a year and the role requires the person to work shifts including nights. To safely and effectively deliver treatment and care, we are very interested in applicants who are looking for their rostered day shifts to be 7.5 hours opposed to long days. We are looking to recruit:
1 x 37.5 hour post
1 x 22.5 hour post
Main duties of the job
To carry out assigned tasks involving direct care in support of, and supervised by, a Registered Nurse.
Carrying out assigned task which have been identified by the trained nursing staff in relation to patients’ needs.
To help supervise and support patients during and after mealtimes.
Making accurate records of patient observations.
To work unsupervised when offering verbal and emotional support to patients.
You will be required to undertake a Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression course and it is a condition of your employment that you successfully complete all aspects of this course; if this is not achieved you will not be able to commence working in the post.
Working for our organisation
At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Person specification
Knowledge Skills and Training
* Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English for effective performance in the role.
* Demonstrable experience of working with adults with a mental health disorder
Information Technology
* Basic IT skills, normally obtained through practice or practical training.
Personal qualities and attributes
* Able to work effectively as part of a team.
* Able to demonstrate and use own initiative
Additional requirements
* A level of fitness and ability to perform Physical Intervention and/or Breakaway techniques (following training).
* Experience working with persons with an eating disorder
At Dorset HealthCare we want to offer all our staff the opportunity to work flexibly, putting health and wellbeing first, whilst continuing the delivery of excellent patient care. Flexible working looks different for everyone and we welcome applicants to discuss flexible working opportunities with the recruiting manager.
What working for us will provide:
* 27 days of annual leave, rising to 33 over ten years (for staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions)
* Health and wellbeing services
* Flexible working options, including family-friendly hours
* Free training and one-to-one career coaching to reach your career goals
* Preceptorship programme for newly qualified nurses and AHPs
* Access to nine staff networks – have a voice and transform our Trust
* Relocation costs where applicable
* Salary sacrifice scheme opportunities – including childcare vouchers, car lease and cycle scheme, home technology equipment, and buying annual leave
* NHS discounts to save on your shopping, gym membership and more
Visit our careers website to learn more about our culture, staff stories, benefits, development programmes and opportunities.
What you need to do:
Before applying for this post, please do ensure that you have read the job description and person specification requirements. If you think you have everything we're looking for, then we'd love to hear from you, alternatively if you would like more information about the role please do not hesitate to contact us.
Regrettably, we are not able to offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you attempt to apply for a role that we do not offer sponsorship for, you will receive notification of this at the time of starting your application and you will not be able to proceed. At this point, we wish to thank you for your interest in working for us and apologise we cannot take your application any further.
Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Further guidance can be found on the gov.uk website. It is vital that you provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Employer certification / accreditation badges
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Zainab Abdul-Raheem Job title Ward Manager Email address zainab.abdul-raheem@nhs.net Telephone number 0300 019 1771 Additional information
Ward Manager Emily Pullen and Deputy Ward Manager Ellie Tyson 01202 492151
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