Band 6 - Clinical Nurse Specialist - Community Team

NHS; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in Central London seeks a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Adult Community Team, specializing in eating disorders. The role requires a motivated individual with strong clinical skills and experience. Responsibilities include triaging referrals, conducting assessments, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Candidates must be NMC registered and have experience in mental health nursing. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and a supportive environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience working in eating disorders.
• Post registration clinical experience.
• Experience managing a caseload.

Responsibilities

• Process new referrals based on clinical risk.
• Undertake specialist assessments.
• Provide treatment and monitor health issues.

Skills

Risk assessment skills

Knowledge of eating disorders

Good physical care skills

Ability to work independently

Understanding of family/carer issues

Education

NMC Registered RMN

Current NMC registration

Mentorship Training

Job description

Job Summary

Eating Disorder Clinical Nurse Specialist - Adult Community Team

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.

Responsibilities

• Process all new referrals by triaging them daily based on clinical risk for the designated boroughs.
• Undertake specialist eating disorder assessment at the central London clinic and the satellite clinics Harrow on the Hill & Paddington.
• Provide treatment for patients suitable for the Community Service using a supportive clinical management model.
• Offer advice to referring agents on how to access the eating disorders service and liaise with primary and secondary services.
• Advise other teams about the management of eating disorders within patient care packages when there are additional significant psychiatric or medical comorbidities.
• Monitor physical 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 and respects differences in 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 carers.
• Plan, prioritise and manage the delivery of assessments for referrals from psychiatric and medical services.
• Offer support and advice on suitable treatments for seriously ill patients awaiting admission to professional staff, families and carers.
• Participate in a personal recovery focussed group for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders.
• Maintain daily contact with the Community Team Lead and organise own schedule.
• Liaise with the Community Team Lead, Clinical Nurse Manager, Ward Manager, Day Patient Nurse, Service Manager and Consultant Psychiatrist about priorities on the waiting list for admission.
• Always act to promote and safeguard the interests and well‑being of patients, visitors and colleagues.
• Participate in mandatory staff groups and attend Mental Health Review Tribunals and Trust meetings as required.
• Provide professional advice to the multi‑disciplinary team and maintain confidential reports in line with Trust guidelines.
• Submit statistical returns within deadlines and provide written reports as required.
• Collaborate with primary and secondary care, community mental health teams, voluntary agencies and other stakeholders to ensure seamless patient care.
• Participate in the planning and facilitation of staff induction, identify training needs, provide training and education within the team.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of evidence‑based treatment for eating disorders and support the operational and strategic planning for the service.
• Assume responsibility for the management of human and financial resources within the team in an effective manner.
• Engage in clinical governance activity, review serious untoward incidents, complaints and reports to improve service.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications (Essential)

• NMC Registered RMN
• Current NMC registration
• Mentorship Training

Education and Qualifications (Desirable)

• Evidence of regular updating in clinical practice since qualification
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) Training
• Degree or Post‑Graduate qualification relevant to the post

Skills and Knowledge (Essential)

• Excellent risk assessment and general mental health assessment skills including full psycho‑social, physical and mental health assessments.
• Knowledge of eating disorders and current treatment.
• Experience and skills in assessment and treatment planning for patients with mental health needs.
• Good physical care skills and knowledge in mental health and specific to eating disorders.
• Understanding of family/carer issues and ability to foster good working relationships across a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Ability to work independently, manage a stressful workload and use time effectively.
• Knowledge of evidence‑based treatment for eating disorders and current legislation including Mental Health Act 1983, Care Programme Approach, discharge and other relevant legislation.
• Training in venepuncture and ECG procedure or willingness to be trained.

Skills and Knowledge (Desirable)

• Knowledge of recent issues in nursing and mental health care.
• Knowledge of eating disorders treatment and research.

Experience (Essential)

• Post registration clinical experience.
• Experience working in eating disorders.
• Experience completing a nursing assessment and formulating a safe care plan.
• Experience managing a caseload of patients as keyworker or care coordinator within a ward or community setting.
• Experience working therapeutically with patients presenting with an eating disorder and psychiatric/medical comorbidities.
• Experience supervising student nurses.

Experience (Desirable)

• Evidence of skills and experience transferable to eating disorders.
• Therapy qualification or therapy skills training relevant to working in eating disorders.
• Involvement in audit and research.
• Experience completing a specialist assessment for patients with a range of eating disorders within a community setting.

Other Essential

• Willingness to work flexible hours to meet the service requirements.

Job Details

• Band: 6
• Salary: £46,419 to £55,046 a year excl. HCAS (pro rata if P/T)
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full‑time
• Location: Central London (South Kensington), satellite clinics Harrow on the Hill & Paddington
• Flexible working: Staff may work from home up to 1 day per week.

Additional Information

Disability: 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled work sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Employer Details

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre, 1 Nightingale Place, London, SW10 9NG

Website: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)