Job summary
- Main area
- A&C
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- 18 months (Fixed Term until September 2027)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday to include evenings)
- Job ref
- 388-7837718-MUEC
- Employer
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St Edmunds
- Town
- Torquay
- Salary
- £32,073 - £39,043 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Weight Management Health Improvement Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 5
Job overview
The Weight Management Single Point of Access (SPOA) shall be provided as a pilot service for a duration of 18 months.
The SPOA shall serve as the gateway to appropriate interventions for weight management support across Devon.
The team will be the receiving centre for all referrals relating to weight management in the region.
Main duties of the job
To support the clinical triage of referrals, risk assessment and safeguarding concerns within the service, managing onward referral process for some complex service users.
Contact referrals to discuss referral options, ensure that all service users receive up-to-date information on a wide range of health improvement programmes, with a primary focus on weight management initiatives.
Provide support to service users through health coaching conversations to help them navigate potentially complex referral options.
To provide support to the Single Point of Access team and patients who are referred into the service.
Support with screening of patient questionnaires to aid appropriate signposting for onward care.
Managing referrals through the electronic referral system (ERS), ensuring that referrals are actioned within expected timeframes. Using ERS to generate reports for commissioners and service.
Supporting audit and evaluation of Single Point of Access pilot programme
Day-to-day management of Health Improvement Coordinators
Working for our organisation
Based at St Edmunds Community Care Centre in Torquay, with potential to travel within the whole of Devon. The Devon Weight Management Single Point of Access Team is a new service consisting of a Service Lead, Health Improvement Practitioner (this post) and Health Improvement Coordinator.
The aims of the SPOA are to:
• Improve access to appropriate weight management support and, where clinically appropriate, specialist weight management services
• Standardise triage and referral processes
• Reduce duplication across the weight management (and associated) pathways
• Link pathways for patients with long term conditions where weight management is recommended e.g., diabetes.
• Evolve to become the one access point for weight management across all levels of support (tiers 1 – 4)
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Raise awareness amongst the population of Devon around available support. Demonstrate improvements in public perception, increase engagement and demonstrate the impact of services by sharing real, positive user experiences on social platforms. Contribute to marketing and communication of Weight Management Services.
Design, produce and deliver appropriate evidence informed resources, including presentations to the wider team and relevant stakeholder partners.
Help target audiences to become more aware of available support through relatable examples
Highlight experiences and outcomes making services feel approachable and personal
Help to build trust in the local services and approach
Promote non-judgemental approaches to weight management for example, diverse body types, neutral supportive language (e.g., supporting your health rather than lose weight), addressing social determinants of health (e.g., access to food and healthcare instead of framing it as purely personal responsibility)
Use authentic stories of people who have improved their health by focusing on self-care
Distribute screening questionnaires to patients referred into the service to support appropriate signposting of services.
Actively participate in multidisciplinary meetings and partnerships to identify and address health inequalities and service gaps. Meet regularly with stakeholders to understand needs and raise awareness of services.
Use effective negotiation skills to engage with service users, supporting them to access services most appropriate for them. Service users will not always be eligible for the services they require, and the postholder will be required to have well developed communication skills and the ability to have challenging conversations.
Have conversations with service users where there may be communication difficulties and barriers to understanding.
To act as a link to improve communication and access between primary care, specialist services, service users and carers and non-statutory providers, to enhance team working and care delivery.
Complete Stakeholder engagement to increase access to service through a partnership approach.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Evidence of continuing professional/personal development in health improvements/ behaviour change/public health to a degree level or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- • Health promotion certificates such as Brief Interventions for Alcohol, Mental health First Aid
- Health Coaching
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Knowledge of the benefits of health improvement interventions including understanding determinants of health
- • Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodology
- • Demonstrable experience of working with a wide range of people and groups using a strength-based approach in relation to behavioural change
Desirable criteria
- • Knowledge of social marketing and health needs assessment
- • Experience of using office-based software (e.g. word processors, spreadsheets & databases) in a workplace setting
- • Experience of health promotion
Skills
Essential criteria
- • Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team and manage own caseload
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of using clinical systems Understanding of audit and evaluation
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sara Dorrans
- Job title
- Operational Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07514505222
- Additional information
Work days: Wednesday - Friday
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