Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

**The closing date is 9th Jun 2025**

**Anticipated Interview date(s) Service interviews will be held on 19/06/25 and 20/06/25, University interviews held on 27/06/25**

**Job summary**:
NHS Somerset Talking Therapies is looking for passionate and motivated individuals to train as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) within our service. Successful applicants will need to have developed good interpersonal skills, have experience of working in a mental health environment and have completed the relevant level of study.
- These are permanent contracts which will be offered as an initial 1-year training to qualification on either PG Cert/Grad Cert Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on a Band 4 job description and pay scale. Upon completion of training and obtaining PWP registration, you will move to a Band 5 PWP job description and pay scale._

**_ Post holders will study 2 days a week with Exeter University and work 3 days a week offering interventions for depression and anxiety within our service. You must be available on all the advertised training days (see attached timetable - the course requires 100% attendance) and attend work within the service otherwise._**

**IMPORTANT INFORMATION - You will need to be available for a REMOTE interview on 19/06/2025 or 20/06/2025 with Talking Therapies and then again on 27/06/2025 with Exeter University (remote). As part of the service interview you will be asked to prepare a 10 minute talk/presentation.**

**You will need to meet the eligibility and enrolment criteria, Qualification certification will be required and you MUST be a UK resident or hold the right to remain/work in the UK - which has been held for the past 3 years.**

**Main duties, tasks & skills required**:
**In your role as a Trainee PWP**, you will be trained to 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. There are opportunities to be involved in service development initiatives such as Computerised CBT (group webinars & online guided self-help) and expanding Long Term Conditions (LTC) partnerships. We are forming several working partnerships with local hospitals and LTC services such as heart failure, COPD and diabetes.

**What can we offer you**:

- A supportive preceptorship programme in place for when you qualify
- First year PWP registration fees paid for
- The chance to join a friendly and supportive Talking Therapies service with a strong focus on PWP wellbeing
- Development opportunities - potential to train as a Supervisor and move into management roles in the future
- The chance to join a service with consistently high recovery rates, great staff survey results and no internal waiting lists at Step 2
- CPD Opportunities such as Long Term Conditions (LTC) training
- Opportunity to progress into Champion Roles
- Part face to face / remote working
- Excellent NHS benefits including great pension and annual leave entitlement
- NHS incremental pay rises

Post holders will be based across either our Bridgwater or South Somerset bases but may be required to travel between bases or across the county at times.

**About us**:
**WE ARE**Somerset NHS Talking Therapies is a busy Countywide Talking Therapies Service that is made up of 4 teams across Somerset. We are passionate about improving access to psychological therapies and pride ourselves on our clinical model that focuses on delivering high-quality care. We boast one of the highest recovery rates in the country alongside no internal waiting lists at step 2.

**WE OFFER** the opportunity to make a difference to the wellbeing of a diverse population and to work amidst supportive and friendly colleagues and dependable managerial and clinical leaders.

**Job description**:
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 group based interventions.
- Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service
- Assess and support people with a common mental health problem in the self management of their recovery
- Undertake patient-centered assessments which identify areas where the person wishes to see change and/or recovery and make an accurate assessment of risk to self and others
- Make decisions on the suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service's referral protocols, refer unsuitable clients on to a more relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or 'step-up' the person's treatment to high intensity psychological therapy, following the service's stepped care model
- Ability to adapt materials for those with additional learning or cultural needs
- Educate and involve family members, carers and others in treatment as necessary

Potential for progression to Band 5 upon training course completion & obt