Eating disorders training for health and care staff - elearning for healthcare
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This programme is in partnership with...
  • Beat Eating Disorders
  • Royal College of Psychiatrists

About the eating disorders training for health and care staff programme

This series of training programmes was developed in response to the 2017 PHSO investigation into avoidable deaths from eating disorders as outlined in recommendations from the report titled Ignoring the Alarms: How NHS Eating Disorder Services Are Failing Patients (PHSO, 2017).

It is designed to ensure that healthcare staff are trained to understand, identify and respond appropriately when faced with a patient with a possible eating disorder.

It is the result of collaboration between eating disorder charity Beat, Health Education England and NHSE.

Dedicated to the memory of Averil Hart and everyone else who has died from an eating disorder, it is our hope that this will be a significant step to ensuring that avoidable deaths from eating disorders are consigned to the past.

You can use the links below to help you understand the learning objectives and session timings relevant to your role.

  • Medical students and foundation doctors programme

    The eating disorders training for medical students and foundation doctors is designed to enable them to:

    • Identify the major eating disorders and spot the early warning signs
    • Understand the role of starvation in eating disorders and the effects on the brain
    • Understand common challenges experienced by clinicians identifying people with eating disorders
    • Identify the occurrence of eating disorders in patients who may present with other conditions
    • Understand how to assess for an eating disorder
    • Understand from sufferers of eating disorders about how they confronted their illness
    • Recognise the official guidance and care pathways available

    The two sessions will take around 20-30 minutes to complete and includes additional learning resources for those looking to further increase their knowledge. The sessions also provide good preparation for those who go on to participate in medical simulation training on eating disorders.

    To access the elearning in the elfh Hub directly, visit the links below.

    Please scroll to the bottom of this page for additional access routes to the elearning content.

    More information about this programme and the additional resources needed to run the simulation training are available on the Beat website.

  • Nursing workforce sessions

    The eating disorders training for nursing workforce is designed to enable them to:

    • identify the major eating disorders and spot the early warning signs
    • recognise how common eating disorders may present
    • identify some suitable care plan pathways
    • explain the role of starvation in eating disorders and the effects on the brain
    • describe the common challenges experienced by clinicians identifying people with eating disorders
    • specify how to manage young people presenting with medical risk due to their eating disorder, in accordance with current guidance
    • explore how to communicate sensitively with people with eating disorders
    • identify the impact of early intervention on positive recovery

    Each of the 3 sessions will take around 30 to 60 minutes to complete and includes additional learning resources for those looking to further increase their knowledge.

    To access the elearning in the elfh Hub directly, please visit the links below.

    Please scroll to the bottom of this page for additional access routes to the elearning content.

    Upon completion of this training, you have the opportunity to attend Beat Community of Practice sessions. All sessions will be facilitated by a specialist eating disorders clinician, and provide the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge, develop a peer network, and consider the application of your learning into practice.

    More information about the Community of Practice and session registration are available on the Beat website.

  • GP and Primary care workforce sessions

    The eating disorders learning package for GPs and other Primary Care clinicians is designed to enable them to:

    • recognise the importance of early intervention with eating disorders
    • identify the barriers to seeking treatment for an eating disorder
    • describe the role of the clinician in helping a patient with an eating disorder
    • list the early warning signs, contributing factors, risk factors, clinical and diagnostic features, impact, and prevalence of eating disorders in patients of all ages
    • describe the common challenges experienced by clinicians identifying people with eating disorders
    • sensitively approach a consultation with a person with a suspected eating disorder
    • implement a guided framework for assessing a patient with an eating disorder
    • identify how to access services for an eating disorder and manage risk within primary care
    • describe the official guidance, support and care pathways available

    The two sessions will take around 30-40 minutes each to complete and includes additional learning resources for those looking to further increase their knowledge. The learning then finishes with a 20-minute role-play demonstration of an appointment between a GP and a patient, in which the GP is assessing the patient for an eating disorder.  This learning package will equip GPs and other primary care clinicians with the knowledge and skills needed to be able to identify and assess eating disorders in patients of all ages. It also reflects the new MEED guidelines (Guidance on Managing Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders) which were released in May 2022, so provides helpful, up-to-date information about when a patient might be presenting at high medical risk.

    To access the elearning in the elfh Hub directly, please visit the links below.

    Please scroll to the bottom of this page for additional access routes to the elearning content.

    Upon completion of this training, you have the opportunity to attend Beat Community of Practice sessions. All sessions will be facilitated by a specialist eating disorders clinician, and provide the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge, develop a peer network, and consider the application of your learning into practice.

    More information about the Community of Practice and session registration are available on the Beat website.

  • Medical Monitoring in eating disorders

    The eating disorders learning package for Medical Monitoring is designed to enable them to:

    • identify why medical monitoring is needed and the possible challenges and barriers
    • explain how to undertake the recommended examinations and investigations, and why these are needed
    • consider protocols to deal with patients who don’t attend their appointments
    • describe the legal framework for those not consenting, or who may not have capacity
    • explain the guidance around confidentiality to patients and their supporters
    • sensitively approach an appointment with a patient with a suspected eating disorder
    • describe what to say and what not to say during medical monitoring
    • provide appropriate information and advice to patients and their supporters

    The session will take around 30 minutes to complete and includes additional learning resources for those looking to further increase their knowledge.

    To access the elearning in the elfh Hub directly, please visit the links below.

    Medical Monitoring: https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/785018

  • Eating Disorders in acute medical settings

    The eating disorders in acute medical settings session is designed to enable users to:

    • identify the types of eating disorders and spot the signs of risk ​
    • identify the occurrence of eating disorders in patients who may present with other conditions   ​
    • recognise how common eating disorders may present in acute medical settings   ​
    • explain risk management guidance for patients with eating disorders   ​
    • recognise and understand official guidance regarding eating disorder treatments, Mental Health Act and capacity legislation​
    • list the next steps after an eating disorder has been identified in an acute medical setting   ​
    • identify and implement suitable treatment plans and pathways   ​
    • describe the role of the multidisciplinary team in managing eating disorders within acute medical settings and how to involve and collaborate with other healthcare professionals ​
    • explain how to communicate sensitively and provide information for patients with eating disorders and their carers and supporters, irrespective of challenges that might be involved with providing care​
    • describe the experiences of those with an eating disorder

    The session will take around 60 minutes to complete and includes additional learning resources for those looking to further increase their knowledge.

    To access the elearning in the elfh Hub directly, please visit the links below.

    Eating Disorders in acute medical settings

  • Understanding Eating Disorders Webinar resource for dietitians, oral health teams and community pharmacy teams

    The session is split into 5 webinars, each of which takes around 10-15 minutes to complete. The webinars include an introduction to understanding eating disorders, transitions, information for dietitians, oral health teams and community pharmacy teams.

    The training programme is designed to help dietitian, oral health and community pharmacy professionals to:

    • Understand why you need to know about eating disorders
    • Identify the types of eating disorders
    • Recognise the signs and symptoms of possible eating disorder that you specifically need to be aware of
    • Understand what to consider when approaching someone if you suspect an eating disorder as a dietitian, oral health and community pharmacy professional
    • Recognise and understand official guidance regarding managing service transitions
    • Understand the next steps after a suspected eating disorder has been identified as a dietitian, oral health and community pharmacy professional
    • Understand what practical tips and support you can give a patient who might be experiencing an eating disorder
    • Understand the experiences of those with lived experience of an eating disorder

    To access the elearning in the elfh Hub directly, please visit the links below.

    Understanding Eating Disorders Webinar resource for dietitians, oral health teams and community pharmacy teams

Meet the team

  • Jess Griffiths

    Jess Griffiths

    Clinical Lead, Beat
  • Dr Kiran Chitale

    Consultant Psychiatrist and Training Lead, Royal College of Psychiatrists
  • Ellen Macpherson

    Foundation Doctor
  • Rachel Poynor

    Rachel Poynor

    Senior Project Manager, Beat
  • Eleanor Speakman BEAT

    Eleanor Speakman

    Clinical Advice Coordinator, Beat
  • Brooke Sharp

    Brooke Sharp

    Clinical Advice Coordinator, Beat
  • Katharina Dixon Ward

    Katharina Dixon-Ward

    Clinical Advice Coordinator, Beat
  • Kate Robbins

    Kate Robbins

    Trainee Clinical Psychologist, University of East Anglia
  • Martha Williams

    Martha Williams

    Clinical Advice Coordinator, Beat
  • Cara Lisette

    Cara Lisette

    Senior Mental Health Nurse, NHS
  • Ellie Gordon

    Ellie Gordon

    Mental Health Nurse, NHS
  • Ros Rea

    Ros Rea

    Clinical Education Lead, Beat
  • Dave Beardmore

    Dave Beardmore

    Project Manager, HEE elearning for healthcare
  • Karen Walker - ID

    Karen Walker

    Lead Learning Designer, HEE elearning for healthcare
  • Tracy Watkins

    Tracy Watkins

    Lead Learning Designer, HEE elearning for healthcare
  • Rachel Grant

    Rachel Grant

    Learning Designer, HEE elearning for healthcare
  • Rachel Gowland

    Rachel Gowland

    Communications Stakeholder Manager, HEE elearning for healthcare
  • Kim Flockton

    Kim Flockton

    Beat Freelance Trainer, Clinical Lead Hull Community Eating Disorder Service

How to access

In order to access the eating disorders training for health and care staff programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.

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To view the eating disorders training for health and care staff programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.

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Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ‘OpenAthens’ portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the eating disorders training for health and care staff programme, please contact elfh directly.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.

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