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Job summary

Main area
Eating Disorders
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
37.5 hours per week (Part Time Hours available)
Job ref
367-SS-101213-A
Employer
Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6HG
Town
Welwyn Garden City
Salary
£29,812 - £32,715 per annum pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/05/2026 13:00

Employer heading

Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Support Worker

Band 4

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust we are looking for people to join us who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered please take part on our online values questionnaire, which you can find below. When you have finished you will be sent a 'completion code' by email, which will be valid for 6 months and required to submit your application form. 

http://hpft.recruitforvalues.co

Job overview

Despite the base being stated as Hertfordshire, this is a team which covers the whole of the east of England region, so we would welcome applications from candidates based in Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire as well as Hertfordshire.

You will work to support people with a severe eating disorder avoid specialist admission by beginning weight restoration in the community. You will support people at mealtimes either online or in person, will co-run service online groups if required and will offer other bespoke support to enable people to restore weight, as determined by the service users' needs and the team leads' direction.

Main duties of the job

Specialist meal support, guided by an understanding of eating disorder symptomatology and how to best support someone experiencing these.

Specialist carer support for families of those with our service

Close working with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure all interventions are consistent and considered.

Attendance at monthly in person team days that might be held anywhere within the east of England region

Virtual or in person delivery of interventions as directed by the clinical leads - although the intention is that each staff member will work with service users who are geographically close to them, they could be allocated to work in person with anyone in the east of England region so the role will involve travelling

Working for our organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission.

 Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

 Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will liaise and support adults with an eating disorder who are on the alternative to Specialist Eating Disorder inpatient admission pathway and their carers.  The overall aim will be to support them to avoid an inpatient admission.  They will provide skilled support at mealtimes both within and outside the home.  This support is informed by a good knowledge of eating disorder symptomology and psychopathology.  The nature of this support will be guided by the patient’s formulation and will support the service user’s recovery. The postholder may also assist in the assessment and provision of behavioural and supportive interventions outside of mealtimes. The postholder will support people online or in person at mealtimes and may also be involved in online group provision along with other team members.  The post holder will ensure they communicate with excellence within the AEDIT team and with community eating disorders clinicians and teams in the region.

Person specification

KNOWLEDGE & TRAINING:

Essential criteria
  • NVQ level 3 or a MH Certificate of equivalent qualification.
Desirable criteria
  • Additional relevant training, eg mental health, eating disorder

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with people with mental health problems in either an acute or community setting
  • Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
Desirable criteria
  • Eating disorders experience
  • Experience of assisting in the assessment of service users and the development and implementation of care plans

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential criteria
  • Ability to observe and report to others on clinical situations
  • Ability to use electronic records
  • Ability to engage service users and carers in order to facilitate recovery
  • Ability to offer advice to clients with an eating disorder
  • Ability to work well in a team setting
  • Motivational, reassurance and empathetic skills

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Essential criteria
  • Ability to recognise own limitations
  • Ability to observe physical and mental state of client and report any concerns
Desirable criteria
  • Basic understanding of legal framework for mental health care

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoAge positiveMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantCare quality commission - OutstandingStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Happy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if we receive a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application promptly.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Tanya Lovett [email protected]
Job title
Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07900162273
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