Weight Management Advanced Practitioner

NHS; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is looking for a Weight Management Practitioner to coordinate caseloads and support patients managing obesity. Responsibilities include delivering quality care, mentoring staff, and collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team. Candidates must have a degree, NMC/HCPC registration, and experience in weight management. The role is based in Plymouth and offers flexible working hours as well as a competitive salary within the NHS pay scale.

Benefits

Protected CPD time

Training pathways

Funding for qualifications

Qualifications

• Experience of specialist clinical and management skills in a weight management setting.
• Current experience and knowledge in all relevant areas of weight management clinical practice.
• Experience in supervising students and other members of staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage and co‑ordinate a specialist weight management caseload.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate assessment, treatment, and management of patients with obesity.
• Mentor and advise on weight management patient management.

Skills

Leadership skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Holistic patient-centred assessment

Ability to work autonomously

Innovative and assertive

Education

Degree level qualification

NMC Registration or HCPC registration

V300 non-medical prescribing qualification

Teaching qualification

Job description

Job summary

37.5 hours per week.

Would you like to work with people who have a diverse range of needs, who also struggle to manage their health and weight? The Weight Management team are an experienced multi‑disciplinary team, offering support to patients using individual and group interventions. We work closely with other agencies and together with the local Bariatric Surgical Team.

Main duties of the job

• Manage and co‑ordinate a specialist weight management caseload within Livewell Weight Management Team in accordance with national and local policies and guidelines, and in line with the Nursing and Midwifery or HCPC Standards of conduct.
• Plan, coordinate, deliver and evaluate high‑quality assessment, treatment and management of patients with obesity.
• Provide patients with advanced specialist advice and education regarding independent management of their obesity.
• Facilitate the provision of high‑quality specialist care to patients with obesity and coordinate the treatment and follow‑up care with support from endocrinology specialists where required.
• Assist in developing the weight management team based on patient experience feedback, audit and research.
• Act as a resource of specialist expertise for patients and the wider MDT within Livewell Southwest, Primary and Secondary Care partners.
• Provide professional clinical support to the weight management team and advise on practice; identify training needs of staff working in partnership with the Weight Management Team Lead.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for People Management; manage and prioritise a defined complex obesity caseload of patients and delegate where appropriate.
• Support and participate in the induction and supervision of new staff and other team members.
• Act as an advanced specialist obesity resource and assist in teaching knowledge and clinical skills for other health care professionals including specialist weight management practitioners.
• Be responsible for the day‑to‑day management of the weight management team without direct supervision in the absence of the team manager.
• Mentor and give advice on the management of weight‑management patients to the specialist team and provide regular caseload reviews/supervision.
• Take individual responsibility for personal and professional development, maintain competencies, knowledge and skills commensurate with the role and NMC code / HCPC standards.
• Provide and maintain a learning environment and maximise opportunities for education and development in the clinical area to support and enhance individual development and performance in the delivery of high standards of care.
• Act as a role model for other staff and students demonstrating high standards of specialist practice and professional conduct according to the NMC code/HCPC standards.
• Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources; identify when stock is low and make requests for ordering.
• Identify when equipment is not fit for use or new equipment is required; responsibility for administration.
• Report and record all incidents and near misses relating to health, safeguarding, safety, security, fire, physical violence, aggression and verbal abuse.
• Review and sign‑off clinical incident reports where required.
• Maintain accurate records, which are confidential, up to date, legible and must ensure care given is documented at the earliest possible time.
• Documentation records may be paper or IT based and must be maintained as specified in the Organisational Policies, NMC / HCPC guidelines and Government directives.
• Responsibility for people who use our services; work as an independent autonomous practitioner within a defined scope of highly advanced specialist practice in accordance with the NMC code / HCPC standards with the support of endocrinology.
• Maintain V300 Non‑medical Prescribing competence and take responsibility for prescribing in line with the non‑medical prescribing policy and within Devon Formulary.
• Access the appropriate clinical supervision in line with policy.
• Work within the framework of national guidance for the administration of emergency drugs.
• Work within professional guidelines (local and national) to develop specialised programmes and pathways of care for patients with obesity.
• Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to patients, relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of their condition, drugs and self‑management to ensure a consistent and individualised approach to patient care.
• Enable patients to be managed in the community by making clinical decisions as part of the patient management plan which may involve optimising and deprescribing of specialist drugs.
• Benchmark the quality of care being delivered in the weight management service against national guidelines and other services.
• Give highly specialised advice to people living with obesity.
• Deal effectively with arising clinical issues and emergency situations as an independent autonomous practitioner.
• Interpret clinical and complex information and use these to consider a variety of options when planning the patient’s care.
• Provide clinical support and guidance to the rest of the team ensuring the appropriate referral and assessment of patients to the prescribing pathway.
• Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your work including management of patient care within NMC / HCPC guidelines.
• Work within Livewell guidelines and have an excellent working knowledge of national standards, NICE Guidance and current research in the field.
• Co‑ordinate and use analytical and judgement skills to provide specialist care delivery across the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Act as a case‑manager for the patient ensuring smooth communication between primary and secondary care services.
• Attend and contribute to the development of the weight management service as a member of the multi‑disciplinary team, advocating patient issues.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills required to enable case discussions concerning service users in their caseload.
• Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments; propose policy changes and service development ideas which have impact beyond own area and role.
• Support the team lead and implement the development of policies and protocols to improve patient care.
• Foster collaboration with key stakeholders when developing new services or patient pathways.
• Use change management skills to implement new practices and service changes.
• Take a leading role with the team manager in the planning, development and day‑to‑day running of the weight management service.
• Take responsibility for your own personal and professional development; maintain competence, knowledge and skills commensurate with role.
• Access regular supervision to maintain prescribing competencies and other advance health‑care practice within the scope of the role.
• Develop, plan, implement and evaluate educational programmes for service users.
• Undertake all required training to develop competencies required for the role and integrate theory into practice by bringing new knowledge around obesity into the practice environment.
• Maintain attendance at mandatory and statutory training as per organisation guidelines.
• Work within the NMC Code / HCPC standards.
• Have a personal development plan and professional portfolio.

Communications and relationships

• Explaining diagnoses and treatment plans: Communicating complex conditions and treatment options in a clear, understandable manner.
• Providing emotional support: Offering empathy, reassurance and support to patients during potential stressful times.
• Facilitating shared decision‑making: Helping patients understand their choices and participate in care decisions.
• Providing information about lifestyle changes, medication management and disease progression.
• Addressing concerns and answering questions: Acting as a point of contact for patient and family inquiries.
• Managing challenging or aggressive behaviour: utilising communication skills to de‑escalate potentially difficult situations.
• Interprofessional communication: Collaborating with the multidisciplinary team, communicating with doctors, nurses and other health‑care professionals, sharing information and updates, providing regular updates on patient progress and any significant changes in condition.
• Advocating for patients: Representing patient needs and preferences within the healthcare team, participating in team meetings and case conferences, discussing complex patient cases and contributing to care planning.
• Networking with specialists: Connecting with other experts in related fields, liaising with primary care, maintaining communication with GPs and secondary care where required and other community healthcare providers, developing and delivering presentations, sharing knowledge and best practice with colleagues and other healthcare professionals.
• Skills required: Excellent verbal and written communication, active listening, empathy and compassion, persuasion and motivational skills, conflict resolution, cultural sensitivity, developing an accessible service that promotes effective communication links throughout the patient journey across the health community, collaborating and advising multidisciplinary teams and all stakeholders in patient care.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award‑winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values: kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees’ development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programmes and funding for qualifications such as the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programmes ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro‑diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Recruitment details

Date posted: 22 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year, pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number: B9832‑2025‑NM‑10121

Job location: Cumberland Centre, Damerel Close, Plymouth, Devon, PL14JZ

Legal and safety checks

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Person specification

Qualifications – Essential

• NMC Registration or HCPC registration.
• V300 non‑medical prescribing qualification or prepared to work towards this.
• To hold a minimum of Degree level qualification.
• Teaching qualification.
• Experience in mentoring.

Qualifications – Desirable

• Qualifications in education or health promotion at degree level or equivalent.
• Qualification in advanced communication skills.
• Qualification in advanced care assessment.

Experience – Essential

• Experience of specialist clinical and management skills in weight management setting.
• Leadership skills.
• Innovative and assertive.
• Current experience and knowledge in all relevant areas of weight management clinical practice.
• Experience in supervising students and other members of staff.

Experience – Desirable

• Previous experience in a specialist weight management / obesity role.
• Coaching and mentoring experience.

Knowledge – Essential

• Holistic, patient‑centred assessment skill, including history taking and ability to develop therapeutic relationships.
• Ability to assess patients and implement appropriate care as an autonomous practitioner.
• Knowledge of national and local frameworks, strategies and governance.
• Evidence of being able to work as an autonomous practitioner.

Knowledge – Desirable

• Caseload / team management skills.
• Highly motivated with ability to influence and inspire others.

Additional criteria – Essential

• Works independently and makes autonomous decisions with regular caseload reviews and MDT meetings within a defined scope of specialist practice in accordance with NMC/HCPC standards.
• Able to travel throughout the Livewell footprint.
• IT literate.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly motivated and the ability to inspire others.
• Demonstrates commitment to promote high standards and quality of care to consistently improve patient outcomes.

Additional criteria – Desirable

• Evidence of using initiative to put innovation into practice; management of change.

Employer details

Employer name: Livewell Southwest

Address: Cumberland Centre, Damerel Close, Plymouth, Devon, PL14JZ

Website: https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/