Speciality Doctor in Eating Disorders

Job overview

This post forms part of the new Community Eating Disorders Service. The role will involve direct clinical care and supporting a multi-disciplinary team which includes specialist nurses, nurse therapists, clinical psychologists, dietitians, occupational therapists, social workers, and peer support workers. The work is outpatient based and will include assessment and follow-up work and management of psychiatric and physical co-morbidity.

The ratio of new patients to follow-up is expected to be 1:5.

Protected time will be allocated within the job plan for CPD and audit. Training will be available and there will be opportunities to be involved in research.

It is envisaged that the post holder will work 10 programmed activities over 5 days. Following appointment, a meeting will take place no later than three months from appointment with the Lead Consultant and Medical Lead to review and revise the job plan and objectives of the post holder.

Main duties of the job

The main responsibilities of this post will be to support the consultants in providing high quality services to patients with eating disorders. The post-holder will assist the consultants in all aspects of the service, including the provision of emergency care.

The post-holder will be expected to assess and manage patients suffering from a range of eating disorders; this will include both psychiatric and general medical care.  Management will include both pharmacological and psychological treatments. The post-holder will be expected to carry out a full medical assessment, perform a mental state examination and perform a physical examination when appropriate.

The post-holder will assess patients referred for both outpatient and inpatient treatment and liaise with referrers.

The post-holder will support non–medical members of the multidisciplinary team and review patients as required at their request.

The post-holder will be expected to attend team meetings and clinical reviews, leading such events if required. The post-holder will conduct, and regularly review, assessments of risk with patients and determine/agree management strategies to reduce risks.

The post-holder will communicate and liaise with relatives and carers and other disciplines and agencies, including general practitioners, as appropriate. The post may also include liaison with other trusts regarding individual patient care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information on this role please see the attached job description and person specification. This will give you a better overview of the job role and requirements.