Eating Disorders Support Worker (2 posts) in Sheffield

The Eating Disorder Support Workers are newly created posts to provide practical support for young people aged 16-25 with eating disorders, or disordered eating. These roles will each be 0.5FTE, and will work in an anon-clinical way, to complement the therapeutic work of SYEDA's clinical team.

Main duties of the job

• Primarily, you will be supporting young people with goals-based activities, such as eating out, as well as supporting transitions between SYEDA and community, or inpatient eating disorder services.
• Work closely with our Occupational Therapist, to support workshops, and to devise new activities for young people such as craft-based activities, and psychoeducational sessions.
• Discuss sensitive topics relating to eating disorders and to broader mental health.

About us

SYEDA (South Yorkshire Eating Disorders Association) are a registered charity who provide support for individuals affected by eating disorders and disordered eating, as well as their friends and family. We have been providing support for 30 years. As well as our therapeutic services, we provide regular training to professionals across South Yorkshire, helping to raise awareness of eating disorders and their impacts.

We are committed to supporting every member of our team, and so if there are barriers you may face as part of the recruitment process, or as part of the role, please do reach out to us for a discussion about how we can best support you. We also welcome applicants who have lived experience of an eating disorder, though we ask that you wait for around 2 years after recovery before applying for a role with us.

Job responsibilities

• Provide safe, empathetic, and non-clinical support to individuals at risk of, or in the early stages of, an eating disorder.
• Focus on early intervention, prevention, and reducing escalation, empowering individuals to seek appropriate help and develop healthier relationships with food, body, and self.
• Support and Delivery:

• Provide one-to-one and group support sessions (both in person and online) to individuals aged between 16-25 who are accessing, or have recently been referred to, or discharged from SYEDA.
• Support individuals to explore concerns around food, body image and eating behaviours in a safe, non-judgmental way.
• Accompany individuals to cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, or clothing stores, where requested, to act as a supportive and encouraging presence.
• Work with other eating disorder services, ensuring clients moving between services are welcomed and supported.
• Support with workshop sessions.

• Identify any early warning signs of developing or worsening eating disorders and elevate these to SYEDA's Clinical Lead.
• Support individuals in developing coping strategies, thinking about protective factors, and self-confidence, encouraging the challenging of disordered thoughts around food.
• Promote prevention focused messaging around body image, diet culture and mental wellbeing.
• Facilitate workshops, outreach sessions, or awareness activities, such as psychoeducation for those clients who are waiting for therapy at SYEDA.
• Ensure compliance with all SYEDA policies and procedures.

• Maintain clear professional boundaries and work in accordance with SYEDA's policies and procedures, and staff code of conduct.
• Follow safeguarding policies, risk management procedures, and escalation pathways.
• Recognise the limits of the support worker role, liaising with line manager or SYEDA's Clinical Lead where clients are requiring more support.

• Support with data collection of eating disorder outcome measures.
• Ensure appropriate and timely recording of notes, communications with clients, and any escalations.
• Attend clinical supervision, reflective practice sessions, and relevant training.

• Work collaboratively with staff, volunteers and external partners, ensuring that clients are at the heart of our activities.
• Contribute to service development by sharing insights from lived experience.
• Work in accordance with SYEDA's values.

Person Specification

• Understanding of the importance of maintaining professional boundaries.
• Understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality principles.
• Excellent listening, communication, and interpersonal skills, enabling effective rapport-building and positive interaction to aid recovery in one-to-one and group settings.
• Ability to work across services to ensure supported transitions.
• Reliable, approachable, and able to communicate in a relatable manner whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
• Compassionate and enthusiastic.
• Commitment to anti-stigma, inclusive, and trauma-informed practice.
• Flexible and adaptive.
• Respectful, honest and committed to SYEDA's values.
• Able to maintain own wellbeing whilst working in an environment where sensitive topics are routinely discussed.
• Knowledge of eating disorders, broader mental health challenges, or a willingness to learn about these.
• Knowledge of NHS referral pathways.
• Understanding of neurodiversity.

Qualifications

• Safeguarding Level 2 training, Mental Health Awareness/First Aider Training.

Experience

• Experience of providing support to, or volunteering with, individuals with mental health conditions, or neurodiverse individuals.
• Experience working on a 1:1 basis with individuals, in the community.
• Experience of community outreach.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.