Service detail

The service is for adults over aged 18 years and over, with a diagnosable primary eating disorder.

We work with:

·       Anorexia Nervosa (AN) including atypical presentations

·       Bulimia Nervosa (BN) including atypical presentations

·       Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

·       Other Specified Feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)

We are not currently commissioned to work with ARFID. Please see BEAT website for information and guidance about assessment and management of ARFID.

Our service comprises several pathways:

Enhanced Treatment Team

Here in the ETT we are working alongside the outpatient service and will work with those who may benefit from more intense and frequent interventions. We hope that this means we can enable early discharge from hospital or prevent inpatient admissions. We know that sometimes it might be necessary to be admitted to hospital and whilst under the ETT we hope to offer quick access to inpatient beds as a last resort if required.

Our bespoke treatment package runs for approximately 6-8 weeks and focuses on practical support with a nutritional focus. We are an outreach service which means we hope to have sessions in your local area and meet for coffee, snacks, shopping trips or anything you might find useful.

Within ETT, we offer regular medical monitoring. We will work with you as best we can to ensure your physical health is stabilised however, in the event that any professional becomes concerned about physical health complications we may advise an urgent medical review with one of our medics or acute medical care (including emergency admission).

As part of the Enhanced Treatment Team, you will receive support from a Specialist Eating Disorder Dietitian. The Dietitian’s role is to ensure you are well enough nourished to be physically and mentally able to do the things you want in life, and to support you move towards a more positive relationship with food.

1:1 sessions will be offered by the Occupational therapist within your own home or in the community if preferable. The OT will aim to provide an assessment within the first week that you are referred and accepted by the enhanced treatment team. Assessments allow the OT to get to know you, your interests, strengths, and any challenges you might be facing. Some of the assessments provided can also inform you and the OT about any environmental or sensory barriers you are experiencing.

If you need to contact ETT, please do so by contacting the service directly at: adultseatingdisordersteam@swlstg.nhs.uk

If you are a carer of someone being seen by ETT, please contact EDSCarerSupport@swlstg.nhs.uk

FREED

The service follows the principles of the First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders (FREED) service model

FREED is a pathway for 18-25-year-olds who have had an eating disorder for three years or less who have not previously received support for an eating disorder.

Young people getting help for their eating disorder through FREED are given rapid access to specialised treatment which gives special attention to challenges we know young people face during these years of their life, and in the early stages of an eating disorder.

FREED is a flexible evidence-based treatment approach focused on early intervention, making it much more effective than traditional treatments at reversing the changes to brain, body and behaviour caused by eating disorders.

As part of FREED, we offer specific resources, as well as psycho-educational groups to offer support with transitions, such as the move to university.

Transitions

We work closely alongside colleagues within the Children and young people's Community Eating Disorders Service (CEDS) to support individuals transitioning to adult services following their 18^th birthday.