Mental Health Practitioner - Adult Eating Disorders

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Cornwall Foundation Trust's Countywide Adult Eating Disorder Service. Due to service transformation and changes in client need, we are restructuring and seeking experienced Core Professionals from a Social Work or Mental Health Nursing background to join our multidisciplinary team.

The post holder will manage liaison, discharge and step-downs from general and specialist eating disorder units, including 72-hour follow-ups and intensive short-term home support. They will hold a fluctuating caseload, providing bespoke, time-limited interventions and wellbeing support for clients, including those on waiting lists, while working closely with partner agencies to ensure coordinated, person-centred care.

The role also includes facilitating early engagement courses with dietetic and psychology colleagues, providing one day per week of clinician advisory support, and contributing to initial assessments on a rotational basis. All work is delivered within a supportive MDT framework, with a strong focus on managing risk, safeguarding, and evidence-based practice to support each individual's recovery journey.

This is a community-based role that requires frequent travel to various locations throughout the county including areas that may not be accessible by public transportation. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate how they will manage these travel requirements.

Main duties of the job

You will provide clinical advice and support to the administrative team, offer supervision to junior staff, and provide monthly clinical supervision to embedded VSCE colleagues. You will recognise your own limitations, seek supervision when required, and attend management, professional, safeguarding, tribunal, ward round and discharge planning meetings as directed.

The role includes providing monthly initial assessment slots (urgent and routine), completing clinical risk and mental health assessments, formulation and short-term contingency planning, and managing liaison, discharge and step-downs from general and specialist eating disorder units, including 72-hour follow-ups and intensive short-term home support.

You will hold a fluctuating caseload for bespoke, time-limited interventions and wellbeing support, including for clients on waiting lists, and work closely with partner agencies to ensure coordinated, person-centred care. Additional duties include course facilitation alongside dietetic and psychology colleagues, one day per week of clinician advisory support, supporting Mental Health Act processes when required, and working within MDT and safeguarding frameworks using evidence-based practice.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Current professional registration - NMC / HCPC/SW
• Professional qualification - RMN / SW / OT
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Extensive experience working within Mental Health Services at secondary care/community level
• Experience of working with complex clients

Desirable

• Experience of working within the field of eating disorders
• Experience of group facilitation

Skills and Aptitude

Essential

• Ability to lead, motivate and supervise a team of staff demonstrating the highest clinical standards

About the employer

We're the Adult Eating Disorder Team providing Countywide provision as part of Cornwall Foundation Trust and as members of the South West Provider Collaborative. We deliver treatment pathways to Adults with secondary care level eating disorder presentation associated with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and OFSED.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live within this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.