Job Introduction

‘The Weigh Ahead’ is a Specialist Tier 3 Weight Management Service, winning an Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO) best practice award in 2018. We provide an intensive level of support to patients through a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals. Delivered by Spire Healthcare, for whom Vita Health Group run Primary Care services, the service is conducted remotely via video-link and face to face, using group and 121 formats, we provide a service to NHS patients referred by their GP.

The programme is tailored to specific needs over 6 months and incorporates the required elements of evidence-based interventions, supporting patients who fully engage to achieve a weight loss of at least 5% of their excess body weight and sustain this over the years ahead. The programme also aims to assist patients in meeting their personal health improvement goals and supporting them in making vital lifestyle changes in preparation for bariatric surgery.

Job Purpose:

Provide patients with a motivational interview, prior to their commencement of the weight management programme to advise them on what the program offers, check their eligibility and assess their readiness to change

Provide compassionate and empathetic support to patients within the behaviour change element of the weight management programme to include both 121 appointments and group sessions, this will involve guiding patients to a better understanding of their relationship with food, the use of evidence informed techniques and tools to help motivate, develop self-compassion, promote autonomy with change and offer a place to explore relapse and relapse prevention.

Assess patients’ mental health through the completion of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires, this will include assessment, and if required, management of risk.

Process and respond to questions and queries from patients, healthcare professionals and the wider Weight Management Service team.

Key Relationships:

The post holder will report to the Weight Management Clinical Lead and work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) and clinical leads to ensure appropriate discharge signposting following completion of a patient’s programme. They will be expected to proactively support the team and other healthcare professionals, as well as participate in peer group supervision and MDT meetings.

Other duties

To ensure patient and hospital confidentiality is always maintained and patient information is secured when department is closed

Ensure relevant information is available for audit purposes and to keep concise appointment notes.

To liaise with other hospitals, GPs, patients and internal departments where required.

To participate in performance reviews including the agreement of objectives and personal development plan with the Clinical Lead

Attend all team meetings and training sessions, liaising with other members of the MDT and wider team where necessary to ensure the effectiveness of a patient’s pathway through the Tier 3 Service.

Provide feedback on potential service improvements and innovations in terms of quality, structure and patient experience

Skills and Experience:

Essential

Previous experience in a patient contact role
Trained in motivation interviewing / counselling / CBT / CFT
Understanding of working with weight management patients and the challenges faced by those living with obesity
Proven track record of working in multidisciplinary team
Previous experience of liaising with healthcare professionals

Desirable

Healthcare / Psychology Degree with post-grad qualifications / Counselling qualification
Experience in similar role

Why Vita Health Group?

Vita Health Group celebrates life. Improving lives physically and mentally drives everything we do. Now part of Spire Healthcare Group plc we have been providing physical and mental health services for over 30 years. We work in partnership with the NHS, are engaged by insurers and some of the UK’s largest corporate companies to support their workforce and provide a full range of physiotherapy services to private customers.

To achieve our mission of Making People Better , we recognise the importance of investing in our staff. We are an award-winning employer recently recognised nationally as “Best Company to Work for” at the Health and Wellbeing Awards 2024.

This is also recognised by current employees – our most recent Employee Survey results showed the top 5 reasons to work here as being:

Supportive team and management
Positive work environment
Wellbeing and mental health support
Trust and respect
Autonomy and flexibility

We are keen to progress your skills and enable career development and provide regular Continued Professional Development opportunities including secondments, management training, a mentoring scheme, apprenticeships and regular events and webinars across a range of clinical disciplines. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer the opportunity of a flexible work life balance and a comprehensive benefits package which you can view here: https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/join-us/careers

Vita Health Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and is seeking to improve the diversity of its workforce. We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion best practice and positively encourage applications from candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion/belief, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity. For further information on our EDI commitments please view here: Vita Health Groups commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to being equitable and supporting the wellbeing of all employees.

We are a Mindful Employer
Our status as a Disability Confident Leader dedicated to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. All disabled candidates that meet the minimum essential criteria will be considered for interview.
Our Ethnicity Matters Scheme where all applicants for senior roles (£40,000+) from a minority ethnic group that meet the essential criteria will be considered for interview.
Our Gender Matters Scheme where all women applicants for senior roles (£60,000+) that meet the essential criteria will be considered for interview.
Our sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant.
Our status as a Menopause Friendly Committed employer.
Our sign up to the Employer with Heart Charter.
Our commitment to meet the standards outlined in the NHS Equality Delivery System (EDS). Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES).
Access to health and wellbeing services for colleagues including Mental Health Advocates and an Employee Assistance Programme.
An embedded “speaking up” culture facilitated by Freedom to Speak Up Guardians.
Treating transgender individuals with dignity and recognising the potential complications that may arise when taking references. We encourage applicants to contact HR at to discuss or amend how we manage reference requests.

Should you wish to discuss any adjustment or assistance you need in the application or interview process please contact and we will facilitate.

Please note, all applicants must be legally entitled to accept and perform work in the UK and all positions are subject to a DBS check.

Any data which you share with us throughout the hiring process will be stored securely within the UK and is accessible only by staff who require it. Should your application be unsuccessful, your data will be securely destroyed after 6 months.

Vita Health Group reserves the right to close this job when sufficient applications have been received.

Vita Health Group

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