Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a Practitioner Psychologist/Specialist Psychological Therapist to join the Sussex Eating Disorder Service (SEDS). We are a passionate multidisciplinary team delivering NICE recommended treatments aiming to provide the best possible care to adults living with eating disorders.

 Previous experience of working in an eating disorder service is desirable but not necessary, as we offer considerable in-house and external training opportunities (including CBT-T, CBT-E and MANTRA). The post will be supervised by a senior psychological therapist within the team.

Covering the whole of Sussex, SEDS provides specialist eating disorder services across a large geographical area. There may be a requirement to travel across the area dependent on service demand. However, we are mindful of staff members' work-life balance when allocating and there is the opportunity for some working from home.

 This is a chance for you to join an organisation which sets a high priority on the development of services in collaboration with experts through experience and carer’s, and to work with dedicated and supportive colleagues.

 Please note that we also welcome applications from SPFT staff interested in a secondment to SEDS (which must be agreed with current line manager before applying

Main duties of the job

 Key responsibilities of the role:

• The post holder will provide specialist assessment and psychological therapy to adults with eating disorders in an outpatient setting
• We are keen to foster individual interests or specialties relevant to eating disorders, that you would then 'champion' to the wider team. Examples of this might include working with specific co-morbidities (e.g., personality disorder or autistic spectrum disorder), working with the families or loved ones of people with eating disorders, or championing smooth transitions from CAMHS
• Research is encouraged; you will be part of a team that values delivering evidence-base treatment and supports evidence-generating practice. We have established an innovative eating disorder research clinic (SPIRED). This clinic aims to improve the treatment and support available to people with eating disorders; bringing together the expertise and experience of clinicians and people with lived experience of eating disorders.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to supporting staff well-being, developing new roles in teams, and have a thriving Recovery College. We have close links with the local universities and support the training schemes for clinical psychology and nursing, providing high quality placements.

 The trust is committed to strong integrated, collaborative leadership between managers and clinicians. 

 Your benefits:

•  Access to full psychological support, via our internal wellbeing team
•  Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development
• Access to a host of discount scheme
• A position within a trust rated as ‘Outstanding’ for caring and ‘Good’ overall by the CQC
• Excellent NHS Pension
• Generous holiday entitlement (starting at 27 days + 8 bank holidays)

About the Trust:

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people, and adults across Sussex. SPFT is rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by CQC. In our staff survey:

•   82% agree that care for patients is our top priority
• 70% highlight flexible working opportunities as key to satisfaction at work
• 79% report feeling able to make improvement to improve the work within their team
• 77% identify opportunities to show initiative in their roles

About Sussex:

Sussex is easily accessible from London, Gatwick, Surrey, and Hampshire and is a beautiful county with good transport links, vibrant communities and tourist attractions, including the Coast and the South Downs.