Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
Job summary
As a Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), you will provide evidence based low-intensity CBT interventions to our patients with low mood and anxiety through a variety of deliveries such as telephone, face to face, online and to support our busy course programme. You will work closely with a team of equivalent senior PWP’s and the PWP Lead in delivering case management and clinical skills supervision across all localities, while managing the locality PWP Team. You will work with the team in monitoring clinical activity, allocations, and productivity at step 2, incorporating evaluation and audit where needed. You will work alongside senior colleagues to contribute to service development initiatives and expanding Long Term Conditions (LTC) and community outreach work.
We have a strong supervision model that provides weekly, individual case management supervision, monthly clinical skills supervision and monthly line management. You will be joining a service which values PWP development and wellbeing, there are opportunities to develop your skills and explore areas of specialised interest through various CPD, national IAPT conferences and workshops, top up LTC training and opportunities to progress in the service.
Main duties of the job
Assess and support people with a common mental health problem in the self management of their recovery.
Provide a range of information, signposting and support via evidence based, high-volume, low-intensity psychological treatments. This support may be offered by telephone, online, face to face or via psycho-education group or webinar.
To provide case management and clinical skills supervision to PWP’s
For locality Seniors – to line manage the PWP team
For clinical Seniors – to lead on groups and webinar provision and oversee community and outreach initiatives at step 2.
To work alongside the Senior Management Team to implement new service developments and initiatives, including responsibility for dissemination of information about these.
To keep up to date with new innovations and developments in PWP practice, maintain links with the Universities/Educational Providers and ensure any new learning is disseminated to colleagues.
To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.
About us
As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance and a commitment to career development. You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure discounts. We are proud of our skilled, diverse workforce and as an inclusive employer we welcome applications from all backgrounds. Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone’s throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London. There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan — there is truly something for everyone!
Short term recovery focused treatment
Somerset NHS Talking Therapies is part of a network of NHS Talking Therapies services across England, designed to provide short term recovery focused treatment for adults with common mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety disorders. We can also support patients to cope better if they have experienced a traumatic event or are struggling to live with a long term physical health condition.
We offer specialised assessments and use psychometric measures to understand a patient’s primary difficulty and provide the best support and treatment. We use a stepped care model, recommending the least intrusive intervention first when appropriate. We also closely liaise with other services, such as GPs, health visitors and the Community Mental Health Team, to establish and provide the best care.
Clinical roles in NHS Somerset Talking Therapies
Psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs)
Senior PWPs
Assessment workers
Cognitive behavioural therapists
Psychological therapists (counsellors)
Team leaders
Service leaders
Trainees supported by qualified members of staff.
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
PWPs are mental health professionals in NHS Talking Therapies services. They are trained to assess and treat common mental health difficulties and support patients in the self-management of their recovery, while liaising with other healthcare professionals and managing any risk. They deliver cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions through a variety of formats, such as face to face, telephone, group and online programmes.
Becoming a PWP
There are different routes to becoming a PWP, with varying combinations of learning, assessment and placement. Most will require at least 1 year’s prior experience in a mental health setting or other relevant personal/life experience.
A common route to becoming a PWP is to complete a certificate in low intensity CBT interventions. This involves academic work through a university and supervised practice through employment in a local Talking Therapies service. Prior experience needed for this would be a level 5 qualification or level 6 degree. Other routes to becoming a qualified PWP include completing a master’s level degree with PWP placement (3 years at undergraduate level with dissertation research project, plus an additional placement year), or a PWP apprenticeship.
Career progression
After a minimum of two years’ experience as a PWP, you can look to progress into roles such as a Senior PWP taking on clinical supervision and management. Others may look to complete further training to become a high intensity CBT therapist. Further progression opportunities include PWP service lead or other clinical psychology roles.