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Job summary

Main area
Sussex Family Eating Disorder Service
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
354-CS-21690-A
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Aldrington House
Town
Hove
Salary
£26,530 - £29,114 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust logo

Nursing Associate

NHS AfC: Band 4

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

We are seeking to recruit a passionate, knowledgeable and dynamic Nursing Associate to join Sussex Family Eating Disorder Service (SFEDS).

Due to a recent change in service delivery, we are now operating a hub and spoke model to enable the service to provide more localised treatment to the CYP & families. The successful candidate will be required to create and operate robust physical health clinics predominantly in Hailsham, East Sussex and on our Aldrington campus, Brighton and Hove. However, you will be required to work flexibly in line with service demand. You will also provide support to our Duty team, monitor and evaluate and changes in risk, review and update care plans, and update patient records. You will be supported by the wider MDT with any concerns and escalate these in line with local and Trust policies & processes.   

SFEDS works with young people aged 10-18 with Anorexia Nervosa/ Bulimia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa and their families, and supports recovery through Evidence Based Interventions such as Maudsley Family Therapy models, group work, and CBT-E

You will be joining a service of highly skilled and experienced Family and Systemic Psychotherapists, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Assistant Psychologists, Occupational Therapy, Nurses, Support Workers, and Dietician with support from our administration team.

Aldrington House as the main team hub. Staff are required to attend the weekly MDT at this location.

Main duties of the job

The Service provides interventions to support those with a diagnosed Eating Disorder in the community and prevent a hospital admission.

 As a Nursing Associate in SFEDS you will provide physical wellbeing reviews for children and young people with eating disorders. You will have experience of taking physical observations and recording this information appropriately. You should feel comfortable asking about wellbeing and talking positively about lifestyle choices. You will identify and deliver relevant treatments and interventions, liaising where appropriate with families, carers and the professional network.

 You will update the records in accordance your findings, escalate any concerns to the Lead Practitioner/ Consultant and advise accordingly and review progress of existing meal/ support plans and provide Psychoeducational support as indicated in the review meeting.

Working for our organisation

Working in Sussex

  • With a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there's always new experiences to be enjoyed
  • Embrace the city life with great access to Brighton and London
  • Easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK

We'd love you to join our organisation that is rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the CQC.  Our staff agree, with 82% of people in our recent staff survey telling us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.

Other key staff survey results include:

  • 70% highlighting flexible working opportunities as a key point for satisfaction at work
  • 79% reporting feeling able to make suggestions to improve the work within their team

See attached 'Partnership Perks' for further details

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

REQUIREMENTS

In order to be a Nursing Associate in our team you will be:

  • Registered Nursing Associate on the NMC Register
  • Educated to a minimum level 5 Foundation degree level specific to nursing associate practice
  • Care Certificate
  • Trained in Phlebotomy (or willingness to complete)
  • Training in ECG recording, or willingness to complete
  • Experienced in working with people presenting with mental health problems
  • Experienced of working in a health care or social care setting providing direct patient care
  • Comfortable in providing physical wellbeing reviews and treatment for young people with eating disorders

It would also be advantageous if you have:

  • Experience working with mental health, young people and eating disorders is desirable, but not essential  
  • Ability to travel is essential
  • Experience at supervising junior staff is desirable but not essential, training will be provided

MAIN DUTIES

  • Skills/Experience Literate in IT/Computer Skills
  • Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English Language
  • Able to establish and maintain empathic, supportive relationships with people in distress, their families and carers.
  • Able to receive, understand and communicate confidential client information of a sensitive and often complex nature, including discussing care with family members within boundaries of confidentiality.
  • Ability to communicate in a sensitive reassuring manner, with empathy.
  • Able to make good use of clinical supervision in a group and/or individual format
  • Liaise with other teams and services including external agencies as required for the wellbeing of patients.
  • Able to deal with a range of clients presenting with mental health difficulties, their carers and the clinical team.
  • Able to concentrate on specific activities for up to an hour at a time.
  • Able to deal with conflicting demands in an unpredictable work pattern.
  • Able to work flexibly and adapt to each person as appropriate to their needs in a variety of settings
  •  To be an active participant in the multi-disciplinary team, formulating care plans and utilising appropriate assessments. 
  • Carry a caseload, actively working with patients and carers
  • To ensure that all those open to the team have an individual risk assessment and care plan which has been created collaboratively
  • Monitor, evaluate and modify interventions/treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention(s).
  • To provide a care group specific specialised range of clinical interventions and knowledge of evidence-based models of practice.
  • Working autonomously, competently and safely with the utilisation of supervision and the expertise of colleagues as required.
  • To work in partnership with other agencies to gain the best person centred
  • See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details

To discuss this role, for more information or to arrange an informal visit,  please contact;

Interim Service Manager Pratima Hurrymun; [email protected]

Or one of the lead nurses;

Zoe Shepherd [email protected] (available Tuesday - Thursday) or

Jo Squire [email protected] (available Monday/ Tuesday)

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Registered Nursing Associate on the NMC register
  • Educated to a minimum Level 5 Foundation degree level specific to nursing associate practice
Desirable criteria
  • Care certificate

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience of working within a Healthcare setting
  • Understanding of the scope of the role of Nursing Associate in the context of the team

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Communication and relationship skills
  • Analytical and judgement skills
  • Planning and organisational skills
  • Experience of supervising junior staff
  • Experience of ordering stock
  • IT skills - ability to use clinical systems
  • Ability to complete physical health checks

Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel across sites
  • Ability to deal with workload and individual patient contact
  • Ability to deal with frequently distressing or emotional circumstances

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Pratima Hurrymun
Job title
Interim Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Zoe Shepherd - Lead Nurse - [email protected] (available Tuesday-Thursday)

Jo Squire - Lead Nurse - [email protected]  (available Monday-Tuesday)

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