Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Job Title: Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Location: HMP Millsike and HMP Full Sutton
Service/Department: Prisons and Criminal Justice Directorate
Reports to: Locality Lead
Responsible for: Yes (Staff Supervision)
Disclosure & Barring Check: Enhanced DBS with Adults Barred check

Terms and Conditions

• Hours per week: 37.5
• Salary: £37,338 to £44,962 per annum (AFC Band 6)
• Contract Type: Permanent

Job Summary

The Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) leads the delivery of Rethink Mental Illness’ services within an integrated mental health team based in HMP Millsike. Working as part of the primary care mental health team, the role involves providing high-volume, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based interventions for individuals with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. This includes guided self-help in both individual and group settings, in line with Step 2 IAPT guidelines. The role also involves managing clinical staff, ensuring service excellence, and maintaining compliance with national frameworks and Rethink Mental Illness’ values.

This position requires the post holder to hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle, as travel between sites or locations may be necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage referrals and assess suitability, ensuring adherence to protocols and stepping up or down treatment as necessary.
• Provide low-intensity interventions, such as guided self-help and psycho-educational programmes, based on CBT principles.
• Conduct person-centred assessments, identifying areas for change and making accurate risk assessments.
• Record and evaluate clinical outcomes, maintaining high standards of data accuracy and confidentiality.
• Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, ensuring smooth transitions between different levels of care.
• Ensure the delivery of agreed clinical activity, minimising waiting times and maintaining service accessibility.
• Provide clinical supervision to colleagues, support service development, and contribute to performance data reporting.
• Work in partnership with statutory and non-statutory agencies, ensuring ongoing care upon release from prison.
• Uphold the values of Rethink Mental Illness in all aspects of work, maintaining professional standards and representing the organisation.
• Provide cover at other prisons if required.

Essential Criteria

• Accredited PWP (BPS or BABCP) with a postgraduate qualification in Psychological Therapies (IAPT).
• Minimum of one year’s post-qualification experience delivering low-intensity interventions at Step 2.
• Experience working within a stepped-care model and delivering recovery-focused outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of CBT and low-intensity intervention techniques.
• Experience using clinical outcome measures to inform practice.
• Ability to build therapeutic relationships and work inclusively with a diverse range of individuals.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and clinical database systems.
• Must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work-related travel.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in a prison environment or with offenders.
• Additional training in relevant therapies or supervision.
• Knowledge of medications used for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.

Values and Behaviours

The post holder will demonstrate and apply Rethink Mental Illness’ core values of:

• Passion: Leading the way to improve quality of life for people affected by severe mental illness.
• Commitment: Working tirelessly to support those affected by mental illness.
• Openness: Being transparent in all dealings with beneficiaries, partners, and the public.
• Hope: Offering hope for improved outcomes for all.
• Expertise: Applying knowledge to provide practical, personal support.
• Understanding: Placing people with lived experience at the heart of everything we do.
• Equity: Promoting fairness and justice for all.

General Duties

• Comply with Data Protection and Health & Safety legislation, as well as Prison Service policies.
• Attend clinical and managerial supervision regularly.
• Maintain professional registration and engage in continuous professional development.
• Act in accordance with Rethink Mental Illness’ policies, including Safeguarding and Professional Boundaries.
• Undertake additional tasks as required by the line manager in line with the role’s profile and grade.

This role offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on the mental health of individuals within a prison setting while supporting and developing a skilled team.

*Appointments will be at the minimum of the band.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

*Given the nature of this role, which involves frequent travel to various locations and timely meetings, a clean drivers licence is essential. 

Please see further details on our website

You can also follow us on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram and LinkedIn to find out more about the work we do

Caring for our people. 

We offer a wide range of support. Some of our benefits include: 

• PULSE: our recognition, rewards, wellbeing, and benefits platform. Providing access to thousands of discounts and benefits including cashback; reloadable cards; savings etc. As well as being able to thank colleagues and nominate them for awards. 
• Wagestream: gives you instant access to up to 50% of your pay. Also provides a library of expert tools, tips and articles plus, helps you start building a rainy-day pot straight from your salary.
• Wellbeing support: our Wellbeing hub gives physical, emotional, and mental health support. We also have a BUPA Employee Assistance Programme with access to appointments. 
• Taking time for you: we work flexibly –you get to choose where you work, managing your own diary. We have generous annual leave, starting at 25 rising to 30 days, plus bank holidays, as well as your birthday off. We also offer the opportunity to buy and sell annual leave. 
• Planning for the future: We have a contributory pension scheme. 
• Structured Corporate Induction: Onboarding you into the Charity supporting your wellbeing along the way. 
• £300 when you introduce a Friend: receive up to £300 when you introduce a friend or family member. 

Who are we? 

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.” 

It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact -