Specialist Nurse

Job Description

Specialist Nurse – Children & Young People’s Eating Disorders Service

Location: Chelmsford, Essex (covering Essex, Southend and Thurrock)

About the Service

NELFT’s Children and Young People’s (CYP) Eating Disorders Team provides specialist assessment and treatment for young people across Essex, Southend and Thurrock. Based primarily in Chelmsford, the service works as part of SET CAMHS and is expanding to strengthen community-based care.

We are currently developing an Intensive Support Pathway, designed to support families at home, reduce the need for Tier 4 inpatient admissions, and enable earlier, safer discharges. This is an exciting time to join a service that is actively shaping the future of eating disorder care for young people

The Role

We are looking for a skilled and compassionate practitioner to join our multidisciplinary team and play a key role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based care to children and young people with eating disorders.

You will work closely with young people and their families, supporting them throughout their recovery journey. The role requires both strong teamwork and the confidence to work autonomously, using professional judgement within recognised clinical frameworks and service policies.

You will practice at an advanced level, demonstrating a high degree of clinical independence and decision-making, while contributing to our aim of reducing prolonged inpatient admissions through effective community intervention.

What You Will Be Doing

As part of this role, you will:

• Carry out specialist assessments for children and young people presenting with eating disorders
• Deliver evidence-based treatments, including Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT-AN) and cognitive behavioural approaches
• Manage a clinical caseload, providing structured and NICE-compliant interventions
• Support families through therapeutic work, psychoeducation, and meal support
• Offer consultation and professional advice on eating disorders and associated risks to CAMHS colleagues and external partners such as schools, acute hospitals, and social care
• Provide guidance on risk assessment and risk management for young people with eating disorders
• Contribute to service development, including home treatment and day programme initiatives
• Participate in internal and external training activities, sharing specialist knowledge and skills

About You

We are seeking a practitioner who:

• Has experience working with children and young people with eating disorders and complex mental health needs
• Understands the factors contributing to the development of eating disorders, including the needs of neurodiverse young people
• Is familiar with evidence-based treatments aligned with NICE guidance, or is motivated to develop these skills
• Has experience working collaboratively with families and partner agencies
• Is confident working within a multidisciplinary team while also managing autonomous clinical responsibilities
• Is an RMN or a professionally qualified mental health practitioner

Full training and ongoing support will be provided to help you further develop specialist eating disorder treatment skills.

Professional Development & Support

NELFT is committed to supporting staff growth and wellbeing. Team members benefit from:

• Excellent continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities
• Specialist training in eating disorders and related conditions
• A strong multidisciplinary team culture that values learning and collaboration

Our Values (2025–2030)

Everything we do at NELFT is guided by three core values, co-produced with staff, patients, and carers:

• We are kind
• We are respectful
• We work together with our communities

These values shape how we care for our patients and support one another as colleagues.

Starting with NELFT

All new starters begin on the first Monday of the month and take part in a comprehensive induction programme of up to two weeks. This includes mandatory training, systems access, equipment allocation, and opportunities to meet senior leaders and attend wellbeing and engagement sessions. Induction is delivered at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Additional Information

• This post is subject to a probationary period
• The role attracts High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS), where applicable
• While NELFT is a licensed sponsor, Certificates of Sponsorship are not available for all roles. Applicants should ensure they meet UKVI points-based eligibility requirements. HCAS is not included when calculating salary for sponsorship purposes
• Applicants are advised to review the Trust’s guidance on the acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process

If you are passionate about supporting young people with eating disorders and want to be part of a forward-thinking service making a real difference in the community, we would be delighted to hear from you.