CYP Eating Disorder Family Therapist/ Psychologist

Job summary
To create complex psychological formulations using specialist multidimensional assessments to guide the development of packages of care for the service user with eating disorders and/or their carers. To ensure that packages of care are communicated and implemented according to the care programme approach. To provide appropriate advocacy for service users and their families to ensure the provision of the care package. To provide evidence based individual and group therapy for carers of service users with eating disorders. To ensure the compatibility of these treatments with other treatments or interventions offered to the service user. To exercise full responsibility and autonomy for the treatment of and discharge of service users whose problems are managed within the EDS, using principles of the care programme approach to ensure communication with all services involved with the service user.

Main duties of the job
To provide specialist ED informed expert consultation, liaison and supervision to other teams and professionals working with service users with eating disorders to assist with the development of formulations, care plans, and appropriate interventions within available evidenced based models employed. To provide advice and consultation on psychological therapy models for eating disorders to all teams within NELFT, local PCTs, and local independent sector services. To undertake specialist risk assessments and risk management decisions for individual service users. To provide specialist expert opinions on risk assessment and management for service users with eating disorders to all teams in NELFT. To ensure that complex and difficult information, often around issues of abuse, harm to others, child protection, or diagnosis of eating disorder, is communicated effectively with sufficient care given to high levels of distress, hostility, and concerns about confidentiality. To provide specialist advice, training, and supervision in managing aggression, self-harm, suicidality, and hostility from a psychologically informed perspective. To participate in the development of evaluations of the evidence-based interventions provided by the EDS. Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible. Develop and maintain good communication with all levels of management within

About us
NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.

Details
Date posted: 26 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,397 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: OHC-3LCY-002415
Closing date: 09 November 2026

Job responsibilities
North East London NHS Foundation Trust Community Eating Disorder service provides the latest in evidence based NICE compliant psychological interventions to clients and their families with an Eating Disorder. Unlike many other mental health services, we offer specialist assessment and treatment across the life span from age 8yrs with no upper age limit. The team's multi-disciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment of individuals with an eating disorder is a real strength.

Current team composition

• 1 x Strategic Service Lead Wte 1
• 1 x Team Manager Wte 1
• 1 x CAMHS Clinical Lead Wte 0.80
• 1 x Adult Psychiatrist Wte 1
• 2 x CAMHS Psychiatrist Wte 1.6
• 2 x Dietician Wte 2.0
• 7 x Specialist nurses Wte 9.5
• 6 x Assistant Psychologist Wte 5.6
• 8 x Therapist/Psychology/Family Therapy Wte 8
• 4 x Admin Wte 4

Service Demographics

• Barking & Dagenham: 219,992
• Havering: 268,145
• Redbridge: 309,800
• Waltham Forest: 278,100
• Total Approx: 1,076,037

Summary of the job role
The post holder will be required to work jointly across sites to assess and manage service users who present with an eating disorder, primarily working with young people age 18 and below. The post holder will be a member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and have support of other team members in the management of these cases. The post holder's role will include working in outpatient clinics across the community and to work with specialist in-patient units where young people are admitted from the geographical are. The post holder will be expected to attend and participate in MDT team meetings as well as external meetings with stakeholders in relation to improved patient care.

The post holder will be an integral member of the established eating disorders community team. They will utilise the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills when assessing service users and collaboratively work with both the service user, their family and the team for a timely, appropriate plan to meet the needs of the patient. This may occur in a highly emotive, sensitive, and contentious atmosphere. With a view to this, the job holder will be a fully qualified and registered Family Therapist, Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.

Key Responsibilities

• To provide specialist assessments and evidence-based interventions including Family Based Treatment and/or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for service users with an eating disorder within the Eating Disorder Service
• To provide consultation and advice to members of own team and other teams on psychological (primarily FBT based) models of understanding of eating disorders
• To provide consultation and advice on risk assessment and risk management of service users with an eating disorder to members of own team and other teams
• To provide supervision to staff from other teams on Eating Disorder specific interventions with service users with an eating disorder
• To undertake research into eating disorders
• To participate in the ongoing audits of the EDS
• To undertake training in working with eating disorders from a FBT perspective to mental health teams and other specialist services

Professional Duties

• To be professionally, accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work and follow guidance as set out by the UKCP/HCPC.
• To ensure the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing, and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice and Trust policies.

Additional Information
Health & Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations to ensure that the Trust's Health and Safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.

Infection Control
Each staff member has a duty to take personal responsibility for the prevention and control of infection, in accordance with Trust Infection Prevention and Control Policies, which reflect the statutory requirements of the Health Act 2006 – Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infection. They must attend mandatory training in Infection Control and be compliant with all measures required by the Trust to reduce HCAIs.

Risk Management
You will be responsible for adopting the Risk Management Culture and ensuring that you identify and assess all risks to your systems, processes and environment and report such risks for inclusion within the Trust Risk Register. You will also attend mandatory and statutory training, report all incidents/accidents including near misses and report unsafe occurrences as laid down within the Trust Incidents.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
NELFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults and to protecting them from the risks of harm. The Trust recognises its responsibility to ensure that safe working conditions and systems are in place for staff working with children, adults and families in their care. Staff are required to comply with Trust policies on Safeguarding.

Standards of Business Conduct & Conflict of Interest
The NHS Code of Conduct and Standards of Business conduct for NHS Staff require all employees to declare all situations where you or a close relative or associate has a controlling interests in a business [such as a private company, public organisation or other NHS or voluntary organisation] or in any activity which may compete for any NHS contracts to supply goods or services to the Trust. All such interests must be declared in the Trust's register of interests either on appointment or when such interests are gained. As an employee you are required to make yourself aware of and adhere to the Trust's governance policies, such as Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions.

Sustainability
All staff has a responsibility for delivering high quality healthcare in a low carbon environment, where energy is used wisely and not wasted. It is the responsibility of all staff to minimise the Trust's environmental impact by recycling where possible, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use, minimising water usage and reporting faults promptly.

Smoking Policy
It is the Trust's policy to promote health. Smoking, therefore, is actively discouraged. It is illegal within the Trust buildings and vehicles.

Codes of Conduct
NELFT requires the highest standards of personal and professional conduct from all of its employees. All employees must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct appropriate to their professional governing body. As an NHS employee, you are required to observe the following principles:

• Make the care and safety of patients my first concern and act to protect them from risk.
• Respect the public, patients, relatives, carers, NHS staff and partners in other agencies; Be honest and act with integrity.
• Accept responsibility for my own work and the proper performance of the people I manage.
• Show my commitment to working as a team member of working with all my colleagues in the NHS and the wider community.
• Take responsibility for my own and continuous learning and development.

Data Protection
Personal data is protected under the Data Protection Act (1999) and the post holder will ensure that it is securely held and that the requirements of the Act are followed. It is the responsibility of all staff whose jobs requires them to record information in Trust Computer systems (e.g. RIO and ESR) to ensure that the data entered into these systems is of high data quality and that information is recorded correctly and in a timely manner. Failure to adhere to this requirement could be considered a disciplinary matter.

Information Security and Confidentiality
All employees are required to observe the strictest confidence with regard to any patient/client information that they may have access to, or accidentally gain knowledge of, in the course of their duties. All employees are required to observe the strictest confidence regarding any information relating to the work of the Trust and its employees. You are required not to disclose any confidential information either during or after your employment with the Trust, other than in accordance with the relevant professional codes.

Person Specification
Qualifications - Essential

• Appropriate qualification according to profession of BSc in Psychology
• MSc in Systemic Family Therapy or Doctorate in Clinical Counselling Psychology
• Clinical Experience working with service users with eating disorders
• Accreditation by UKCP, HCPC or other appropriate accrediting body.

Experience - Essential

• Experience of working with a wide variety of service user groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for service users psychological care and treatment within the context of multidisciplinary care plan
• Experience of assessing and treating service users across the full range of care settings

Experience - Desirable

• Experience of representing psychological therapy within the context of multi-disciplinary care
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts
• Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details
Employer name: NELFT North East London Foundation Trust
Address: Orchard Health Centre, Barking, Greater London, IG11 7RS, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: CAMHS Clinical Lead, Kirsty Shepherd, nem-tr.bdwf.recruitment@nhs.net