Clinicians and health workers at the forefront of treating eating disorders in Wales can learn from academics, their colleagues and sufferers of the condition as part of a new postgraduate module offered at Cardiff University.
The Collaborative Working in Eating Disorders module, run by the University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies is the first of its kind in Wales and supports the implementation of the recent Welsh Assembly Government’s Eating Disorders: A Framework for Wales.
Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are serious and enduring mental health problems often affecting sufferers’ physical, social and psychological wellbeing. In severe cases eating disorders can have life-threatening complications. In Wales, more than 1000 new cases of the disorder are diagnosed each year.
Linda Cooper, the School’s Professional Head for Mental Health has led the development in partnership with Cwm Taf Health Board and Joy Jones, Lead Clinical Specialist in Eating Disorders. The new module will play a critical role in helping to establish a collaborative working ethos in the new specialist eating disorders services in Wales, highlighted in the framework. In particular the module will benefit those who wish to develop an applied knowledge and advanced practice skills with eating disorders, as they present within generic health, social care and educational settings.
Speaking about the need for the new programme, Katy Rawlins, sufferer representative from the Eating Disorders Module Planning Team said: “It has been very exciting to participate in the development of this unique course. As a long-term sufferer of an eating disorder I am really pleased to see clinicians, academics, students, sufferers and carers all working together in order to promote a true understanding of eating disorders. It is only with this kind of collaborative effort that we can think progressively and together develop a successful way to help and provide appropriate care for people with eating disorders.”
The module takes an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and will be delivered in collaboration with eating disorder sufferers, carers, lead clinicians and academic staff. It will focus on four key areas – assessment and engagement, formulation, treatment plans and risk management. It can be studied as a stand alone module or as part of the School’s MSc in Advanced Practice.
Funded places are available for staff currently employed and nominated by the following Local Health Boards: Aneurin Bevan & South Powys; Cwm Taf; Hywel Dda; Abertawe Bromorgannwg and Cardiff and Vale University Health Boards.
Completed applications should be sent to the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies by 19th November 2010. More information is available by calling 029 2068 7523 or by visiting the School’s pages at www.cardiff.ac.uk/sonms
