Salaried General Practitioner in Adult Eating Disorders Service

Job overview

The post holders will be part of the Formulation based health assessment (FBHA) team and will work in collaboration with other members of the Eating Disorders Service as part of the team providing assessment and outpatient treatment for patients aged 18 plus with an eating disorder.

This post primarily involves medical assessment, including physical and mental assessment and monitoring of risk and understanding of patient formulation guided assessments and treatments, consultancy to a range of staff in primary care and mental health services; teaching and training; and contributing to service audit/evaluation and research .

The post holder will provide professional support to primary care networks in Cambridge and Peterborough regarding patients with eating disorders which will involve a 2-hour slot each day to support GP practices with eating disorder consultation and advice

The post holder will be required to work within the framework of the Service’s policies and procedures and to supervise, manage and support the work of less qualified team members and trainees.

The post-holder will ensure that they are in good medical standing for CPD, that their practice is up-to-date and in line with the GMCs Good Medical Practice Guidelines and will be able to evidence this for the purposes of annual appraisal.

Main duties of the job

To provide a medical assessment, treatment and consultation service for patients referred to the Eating Disorders Service (EDS) and to provide professional support to primary care networks in Cambridge and Peterborough regarding patients with eating disorders.

The post holder will support the Formulation based health assessment (FBHA) in conjunction with the rest of the MDT for patients who receive treatment / intervention from the Adult Eating Disorder Team and who are at high and moderate medical risk. The post holder will work in clinics across the region (currently in Cambridge and Huntingdon) Patients suffering from a mild to moderate eating disorder will be monitored at their surgery by trained HCAs and the eating disorder Service will be responsible for checking results of bloods /physical observations and ECGs and take any required actions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Medical Assessment and Monitoring

• To work closely with the other members of the FBAR team (HCA, CNS, GP and consultant psychiatrists) •    To provide an assessment of physical risk as part of the EDS multi-disciplinary assessment team. This will include arranging and interpreting appropriate investigations (e.g. blood tests, ECG, Dexa scan).  •    To contribute to multidisciplinary assessments, care planning, clinical reports and referral to other appropriate agencies/services.  •    To provide feedback to patients and appropriate professionals regarding formulation based health assessment related to eating disorders.  •    To provide health education advice for clients following the medical assessment / review.  •    To provide on-going monitoring of physical health symptoms related to the eating disorder during the patients’ time in treatment, to link with their GPs when appropriate.  •    To provide end of treatment assessment reports to patient and relevant professionals when appropriate •    To work with Primary care and Check results + take any required actions for patients monitored at the surgery by trained HCAs.

Medical Treatment

• To provide medical treatment recommendations for patients who meet the Eating Disorder Service treatment criteria. •    To refer to appropriate agencies for further medical assessment / treatments, as necessary. This can be a referral to hospital if patient needs urgent treatment on medical ward.

Job Plan

It is anticipated that the 6 sessions will be worked flexibly to include direct patient assessment, liaison/support of GPs and EDS staff and attendance at MDT team meetings and assessment feedback sessions

A final job plan will be negotiated with the post holder, with consideration of the post holder’s interests as well as service needs.

Clinical Governance

• The post-holder will be aware of, and act within, locally and nationally agreed protocols and will be actively involved in clinical governance within the service.

The post-holder will ensure any issues of concern are appropriately escalated and that any incidents are appropriately reported