Directorate: Adult Mental Health
Location: To be confirmed on appointment
Contract and hours: Temporary, 32hrs (8PA's) A waiting list may be established for the next 12 months should another similar post arise.
Job summary
The model of care for the eating disorder services is a biopsychosocial model, using a patient centred approach, in a whole team planning process which supports recovery in community settings, promoting a learning ethos for staff and patients and which has a strong focus on involving patients and families in care planning.
Patients referred to the Community Eating Disorder Team are managed according to a 4 tier model in a mainly integrated model of service delivery. Eating Disorder Services are Tier 3 as a specialist service and offer treatment to clients with a moderate to severe Eating Disorder diagnosis.
The responsibility to triage and manage referrals remains with the Eating Disorder Team. All new referrals are triaged on receipt and contacted according to urgent or routine criteria. Following triage, the client will be contacted to ask if they wish to remain on waiting list for assessment and on response will be allocated to the most appropriate professional (WHSCT only, NHSCT add to waiting list if appropriate). This is likely to be an Eating Disorder Therapist/ Practitioner in the first instance with the Consultant offering guidance and review when necessary. Referral rates can vary and is on a needs basis. Annual referrals to the teams can range from 120-140 in WHSCT and in NHSCT.
The Consultant does not usually carry a caseload but rather has a working knowledge of all cases attached to the Eating Disorder Team. Caseload numbers throughout the individual teams can range up to a maximum of 15.
The post holder will also work closely and collaboratively with other parts of the Trust Mental Health Services (CAMHS, CMHTs, Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team, acute inpatient care team and specialist teams, PICU, and mental health liaison) and acute and primary care colleagues, to ensure safe care is delivered in the least restrictive setting commensurate with risk and need.
The post holder will offer medical leadership and clinical supervision of the Community Eating Disorder teams as indicated.
The post holder will require to perform duties as Responsible Medical Officer pertaining to the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986.
There is the opportunity for additional PAs to be agreed with the post holder upon appointment in a clinical, leadership or academic role.
Key responsibilities
- The post holder will make recommendations in the prevention, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of individuals with eating disorders who are usually over 18 and reside in the Northern/Western Trust areas.
- A role will be taken with transitioning complex adolescents from 17 where necessary.
- The successful candidate will join the consultant on call rota of the relevant trust.
- Within the WHSCT the on call rota is a maximum of 1:10, 3% supplement.
- Within NHSCT the on call rota is 1:25, 3% supplement
- Consultants are required to participate fully in appraisal processes and bring to the attention of appraisers any issues which may adversely affect performance. The Annual Appraisal provides the opportunity for feedback on personal performance, development needs and a review of the Job Plan. The post holder will be expected to conform to current and any future GMC guidelines on revalidation. Appropriate CPD activities will be supported by the Trust.
- All consultant staff are expected to participate in the cycle of personal appraisal and job planning supported by performance management information. The Trust will expect consultants to job plan as a team as well as individual doctors.
- All consultant staff are expected to maintain themselves in good standing with RCPsych for CPD. They are expected to join a recognised Peer group for this purpose and opportunities for this exist within the Trust.
- Support is available both informally and formally from consultant peers and through the RCPsych StartWell mentorship programme.
For more details view the full job description in the Additional Information section below.
