Clinical Nurse Specialist - Community Team in London

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Adult Community Team at Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service. The candidate will require a good level of post qualification experience of working with patients with an eating disorder within a ward or community setting.

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, and the newly created 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. As post holder, in conjunction with your colleagues in the Community team, you will undertake the processing of all new referrals to the service. You will assess, plan, evaluate and participate in the treatment using evidenced based models of care to those suffering from eating disorders. To liaise with referrers and offer training and advice to primary and secondary services and other external agencies as required.

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 clinic 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.

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 clinic 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.

Flexible Working Policy: Since Covid-19 we have adjusted our working practices and staff typically work from home up to 1 day per week. We know staff have lives outside of work, and want to promote balance. We take flexible working seriously, allowing staff to pick working hours as long as they fit with Team capacity. You will be given your own remote working system via laptops and phones to support this.

• To process all new referrals by triaging them daily based on clinical risk, for the designated boroughs.
• To undertake specialist eating disorder assessment (at the central London clinic and the satellite clinics Harrow on the Hill & Paddington).
• To provide treatment for patients suitable for the Community Service, who often present with severe and enduring eating disorders, using a supportive clinical management model.
• To provide advice to referring agents on how to access the eating disorders service.
• To advise other teams about management of eating disorders as part of service users package of care, when there is other significant psychiatric or medical co morbidities.
• Monitoring of physical health (as appropriate to discipline) and mental health issues related to patients with eating disorders.
• Ensure practice is in accordance with the relevant Code of Professional Conduct and Mental Health Legislation, which incorporates and respects differences in respect of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, culture and disability.
• Participate as an active member of the team, accountable for your practice, and work in partnership with other health care professionals, patients and others in the delivery of care.
• Plan, prioritise and manage the delivery of assessment of referrals to the clinic from psychiatric and medical service.
• To offer support and advice on suitable treatments for those seriously ill patients awaiting outpatient/in-patient admission to professional staff and to families and carers.
• To participate in the running of a personal recovery focussed group for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders.
• To organise own schedule, maintaining daily contact with the Community Team Lead about any issues as they arise.
• To liaise with the Community Team Lead, Clinical Nurse Manager, Ward Manager, Day Patient Nurse, Service Manager and Consultant Psychiatrist about priorities on waiting list for admission.
• Always act in a manner as to promote and safeguard the interests and well-being of patients, visitors and colleagues.
• To participate in mandatory staff group.

Generic Responsibilities:

• To work to the clinical boundaries and model of care of the Eating Disorder Service.
• To attend regular clinical meetings at the service base and to report back on patient contacts.
• To provide professional advice to the multi-disciplinary team.
• To develop and maintain professional and positive inter-disciplinary relationships within the clinic, Trust and related services.
• To attend Care Programme Approach meetings, act as care co-ordinator when appropriate and undertake risk assessments.
• To maintain standards of confidentiality at all times.
• To inform the Community Team Lead and Clinical Nurse Manager in the service of any concerns about the standard of care delivered to patients, to report to him/her any incidents, accidents or complaints in accordance with Trust policy, and to assist in any investigation and provide statements as requested by the Manager.
• To have line management supervision with the Community Team Lead/Appropriate senior colleague.
• To provide written reports as required adhering to the Trust guidelines.
• To submit statistical returns within deadlines.
• To follow professional guidelines at all times.
• To attend Mental Health Review Tribunals and Service and Trust nursing and management meetings as required.
• To be aware of and implement Trust Policies for the delivery of health care, and other matters.
• To be aware of the requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983 and other relevant legislation, and to act within it.
• To work with patients and staff according to the principles of equal opportunities.

Communication:

• Possess excellent communication skills and be able to form a positive, therapeutic relationship with people who are experiencing acute crisis or distress in the context of partnership and trust.
• To be aware of how your verbal and non-verbal communication can be interpreted by others and ensure a polite approach is maintained at all times.
• Liaise closely and effectively with colleagues in primary and secondary healthcare services, families and carers to ensure well-co-ordinated and consistent care for people who are suffering from eating disorders.
• Liaise where appropriate with voluntary agencies to help create seamless patient care.
• Help promote Team cohesiveness, multidisciplinary working and at all times work collaboratively with colleagues in all parts of the Trust to achieve healthy and effective communication.
• To ensure that information of a confidential nature is not divulged to any unauthorised person and is stored in line with the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
• Ensure that all documentation is legible and written in accordance with professional guidelines and best practice.

Training:

• Participate in the planning & facilitation for the induction of staff to the service.
• To identify training and professional needs in supervision and develop an educational and training plan under KSF and appraisal.
• Ensure that own professional mandatory training is met, so that professional and statutory and legal requirements are fulfilled.
• To play a supporting role, in conjunction with other colleagues, in organising and delivering training to primary/secondary care workers and community mental health teams who are involved in referring patients.
• To provide education and training within the team and other Trust staff in relation to his/her sphere of specialist knowledge.
• To take an active interest in nursing research, in particular on mental health issues, utilise findings where appropriate and develop an investigative approach to practice.
• To maintain up to date knowledge of evidence-based treatment on eating disorder.
• To carry out any other duties appropriate to the grade.

Policies and/or Service Development:

• To enable development of team objectives and future direction of the service.
• Engage in clinical governance activity, reviewing serious untoward incidents, complaints and accidental reports to ensure that the Trust and its services learn and improve.
• Use own specialist clinical expertise to contribute to the operational and strategic plans for the service and assist its development.
• Ensure the implementation of professional and Trust wide clinical policies.