Employer Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Vincent Square in Health @ the Stowe Town, London
Salary: £31,944 - £34,937 Per annum incl. HCAS (pro rata if P/T)
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 11/04/2025 23:59
Interview date: 02/05/2025
Eating Disorders Peer Support Worker (Outpatient Therapy Team)
NHS AfC: Band 4
Job overview
The role of the Eating Disorders Peer Support Worker – Outpatient Therapy Team (Eating Disorders PSW) has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of recovery from an eating disorder(s) such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. In the context of CNWL’s Eating Disorders Service, postholders will have experienced recovery from disordered eating challenges and accessed support through an eating disorders service in relation to this. As this post will be based in the Outpatient Therapy Team, it would be desirable, but not required, for the postholder to have accessed a structured therapy such as CBT, MANTRA, or CAT. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, Eating Disorders PSWs inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others. Using recovery principles and socially inclusive practice, the post-holder will support service users in their personal recovery journeys through the Eating Disorders Service. This means providing peer support for adults and young people who are currently receiving clinical support for their eating disorder.
Main duties of the job
Organisational Work
Promote the development of best practices in peer support and Lived Experience Practice across the service through active participation in internal and external training and development programmes.
Work with the multi-disciplinary teams across both the adult and child and adolescent eating disorder service in the support of people accessing eating disorder services, ensuring the needs of individuals accessing the service are met through promoting strengths-based practice.
Lived Experience Specialist Work
Model/mentor a recovery process, inspire hope, and demonstrate self-management skills and techniques by skillfully using own experience of recovery.
Support service users in making sense of their experiences of eating disorders and recovery. This might include understandings of personal and social recovery, health and wellbeing, personal and social identity whilst recognising that each individual’s recovery is a distinctive and deeply personal process.
Engage in self-reflective practices and commit to continued personal development.
Learning and Development
To participate in Trust mandatory training & development opportunities considered appropriate to the Eating Disorders PSW role and as identified in the Personal Development Plan (PDP).
Undertake the accredited ‘Developing Expertise in Peer Support’ Level 4 module.
Working for our organisation
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust, we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues, and of course patients and service users when working in our healthcare settings.
As a core member of a busy multi-disciplinary team, the Eating Disorders PSW will carry out some generic duties, which will include supporting patients who may be on close observations, undertaking and recording physical health checks, and supporting patients during meal times.
The Eating Disorders PSW will take a lead role in embedding recovery values within the service setting in which they work, alongside other Trust recovery champions, and act as an ambassador of recovery for the Trust with external agencies and partner organisations.
The Eating Disorders PSW will also have the opportunity to co-work with other colleagues and there will be some opportunities for group work. The Eating Disorders PSW will work under the supervision of line management e.g. Nurse/Occupational Therapist. The Eating Disorders PSW will also co-facilitate Inpatient Recovery Snapshots on a rotational basis.
Hear from our staff what it’s like working with our CNWL Eating Disorders service, please CLICK HERE to watch the video
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Organisational Work
Be committed to professional development through independent learning, keeping up to date with the latest research and building connections with local and national peer networks.
Promote development of best practices in peer support and Lived Experience Practice across the service through active participation in internal and external training and development programmes.
Supervision requirements – Following the probation period, the Eating Disorders PSW will have monthly 1-1 supervision with clinical line manager and monthly 1-1 supervision with peer supervisor. Prior to this, and in any other periods where additional support is needed, the frequency of supervisions can be reasonably adjusted.
Eating Disorder PSWs will also have group supervision every 2 months with PSWs from other CNWL services as well as fortnightly staff group with the therapy team.
Work with the multi-disciplinary teams across both the adult and child and adolescent eating disorder service in the support of people accessing eating disorder services, ensuring the needs of individuals accessing the service are met through promoting strengths-based practice.
Attend team meetings and contribute to the assessment, planning, implementation, and review of care with the multi-disciplinary team.
Attend clinical, business & service development meetings as required.
Assist in the development and implementation of educational and peer-facilitated support groups and activities.
Make notes of date, length, and type of all contacts with service users in the locally agreed format.
Ensure timely and accurate recording of clinical-related data and information on the electronic patient record system.
Monitor the service user’s progress, level of functioning, and mental state, reporting progress and areas of concern to the multi-disciplinary team (verbally and on the SystmOne electronic record).
Report any untoward incidents or unusual occurrences to the manager/senior clinician immediately.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies, and issues in relation to eating disorders, peer support, Carers Act, and mental health.
Be aware of, teach others and challenge issues in relation to stigma, low expectations, and anti-discriminatory practice as appropriate.
Read and understand statutory requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Children’s Act.
Lived Experience Specialist Work
Respect integrity, confidentiality, clinical governance, and data protection requirements in line with Trust policy.
Have responsibility for relevant safeguarding issues in relation to service users and their network, including making difficult decisions as a team adhering to the Trust’s Safeguarding policy.
Engage in self-reflective practices and commit to continued personal development.
Establish supportive and respectful relationships with people using eating disorders services.
Model/mentor a recovery process, inspire hope, and demonstrate self-management skills and techniques by skillfully using own experience of recovery.
Assume a ‘coaching role’ supporting users in developing personal recovery plans; this can be delivered individually or in groups.
Support service users in making sense of their experiences of eating disorders and recovery. This might include understandings of personal and social recovery, health and wellbeing, personal and social identity whilst recognising that each individual’s recovery is a distinctive and deeply personal process.
Facilitate the individual to move through and beyond services.
Accept and respect service users' personal beliefs, uniqueness, and identity.
Accompany service users to appointments/meetings/activities of their choice and perform a range of practical tasks aligned to recovery goals.
Sign-post individuals to various resources, opportunities, and activities within the Trust and the community to promote choice and informed decision making.
Positively promote and support service users in the community by maintaining extensive knowledge and links with community resources and actively supporting service users to access opportunities of their choice.
Communicate with patients/clients and carers with empathy, reassurance, and tact.
Support the service user to prepare for meetings regarding their care e.g. assessments.
Help service users to access information on health promotion, mental and physical wellbeing.
Assist the service user to understand their rights and choices within the service.
Challenge any inequalities and address any discrimination whilst ensuring a process of learning for the organisation, modelling positive, strengths-based, non-discriminatory, non-jargon, non-medicalised language in all areas of work.
Participate in and deliver Recovery College programmes where appropriate.
Raise the profile of peer support both within CNWL, and externally, through co-delivery of presentations, workshops, and participation in Trust wide peer-related projects and audits: and information sharing as required and as agreed with the line manager.
Maintain professional relationships with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
General Responsibilities
Work in accordance with CNWL’s Trust Values, Aims, and Objectives.
To act as an ambassador for the Trust with external agencies and partner organisations.
Work at all times to promote equality, diversity, inclusivity, and justice, as well as individual human rights.
Be efficient, responsible, and maintain a high level of personal organisation; keeping accurate and appropriate records and providing information for monitoring and evaluation as required.
To prioritise your own personal wellbeing, and to seek support if issues arise with work-life balance.
Work flexibly, being prepared to perform other duties commensurate with the role which may include new areas of operation following consultation.
Work alongside and ensure active service user and carer participation in all aspects of work including design, implementation, and monitoring of activities.
Learning and Development
To participate in Trust mandatory training & development opportunities considered appropriate to the Eating Disorders PSW role and as identified in the Personal Development Plan (PDP).
Undertake the accredited ‘Developing Expertise in Peer Support’ Level 4 module.
To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual development review/Appraisal.
To receive regular line management supervision in addition to discipline-specific supervision.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
* Commitment to obtain underpinning knowledge through work-based learning and mandatory training
* Completion of Level 4 City University accredited course “Developing Expertise in Peer Support” course.
* Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
* Accredited certificate in Life Coaching
Previous Experience
* Lived experience of recovery from an eating disorder(s)
* Own personal experience of accessing eating disorders services
* Willing to positively share own life experiences and personal experiences of an eating disorder with service users
* Developed plans for managing own mental wellbeing
* Paid or unpaid working experience in health and social care
* Involvement in service redesign and development
* Paid or unpaid experience of working with people with eating disorders
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
* Ability to demonstrate first person experiential knowledge of recovery
* Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others
* Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form peer relationships with service users and carers
* Ability to communicate on all levels and to a broad scope of individuals, both internally and externally to the Trust
* Ability to appreciate/understand other people’s worlds
* Ability to demonstrate empathy, compassion, and patience
* An ability to be non-judgemental
* An ability to act calmly and to respond in a professional manner to distress, disturbance, and unpredictability
* Knowledge of how to build community links and networks
* Ability to problem solve and create innovative solutions to help empower service users
* Understanding of issues arising from experiencing mental ill health
* Ability to work independently, flexibly, reliably, and consistently with guidance
* Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and an ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice/equal opportunities
* Ability to demonstrate practical skills to provide support with daily living activities
* Excellent planning, self-management, and organisational skills
* An awareness of behaviour and interactions as meaningful communications
* Ability to challenge issues in relation to stigma, low expectations, and discriminatory practice in an effective manner
* Knowledge of basic food hygiene
* Knowledge of basic first aid
* Basic Health and Safety awareness
* Moving and handling awareness
* Awareness of local services
* Knowledge of benefits/employment systems
* Ability to demonstrate a good understanding of mental health issues
* Ability to speak other languages
* Knowledge of current legislation which underpins Health and Social Care and a working knowledge of the Equalities Act 2010 and Human Rights Act. Working knowledge of the principles of co-production
Other
* A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate (e.g. some evenings & weekends)
* Ability to travel between locations using own or public transport
Numeracy and Literacy
* Acceptable level of written literacy and numeracy
* Basic IT skills i.e. word & email
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13-week probationary period.
If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
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: Kelsea McCready
Job title: Advanced Lived Experience Practitioner
Email address: kelsea.mccready@nhs.net
Telephone number: 02076856218
Additional information: Please do get in contact if you have any questions or would like to visit prior to interview.
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