Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Job summary

Psychological therapies services across London are recruiting trainee PWPs as part of the IAPT programme to deliver evidence based psychological therapies for people with anxiety and depression. PWPs provide brief structured supported treatments such as guided self-help.

PWP training is provided by University College London (UCL) and is full time. Trainees attend university one day a week and work in service the remaining 4 days a week. Trainees will be employed in an IAPT psychological treatment service. Training course fees on this programme are fully funded by the NHS. In addition, trainees will receive a salary from the London IAPTservice where they undertake their 4-day a week placement over the year of the programme. In previous years, this has been a full-time employed position at NHS band 4.

This programme is an NHS-funded psychological professions training programme. It is a course condition that all students remain employed by an NHS Talking Therapies employer for the duration of the programme.

PWPs work with people across the adult age range.

Main duties of the job

We are keen to recruit a workforce that is representative of the diverse local London population.

Applicants should have experience of working with people with psychological, interpersonal or social problems; either through employed positions or formal volunteer roles.

The course is a postgraduate certificate and applicants are required to demonstrate aptitude to study at postgraduate level, either through degree level education or demonstration of academic equivalence.

As part of the application process trainees will be required to nominate two London IAPT services as their preference for training. All details about the application process are set out in the recruitment pack. This information is essential reading for successful applications.

About us

Merton Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service forms part of Merton Uplift. Merton Uplift is a primary mental health service, which incorporates a Wellbeing Service, the Merton IAPT service and a Primary Care Recovery Support Team. The Merton IAPT service delivers a range of evidence-based psychological interventions (, CBT, IPT, EMDR, BCT) to people with common mental health problems (, depression, anxiety disorders and eating disorders) within a stepped-care model. We are a busy and experienced team who see people aged 18 and over for psychological assessment and treatment. Merton IAPT is professionally managed by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and operationally managed by a Service Manager. The clinical team includes qualified Clinical and Counselling Psychologists, IAPT High Intensity CBT Practitioners and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners who provide evidence-based psychological interventions in line with NICE guidance. Merton IAPT is a well-established service with a proven track record in supporting our trainees to succeed. In order to improve access, the service offers out of hour's appointments and the post holder will be expected to work at least one late evenings during the working week.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Recruitment is via the UCL website ONLY at the following link:

Please do not apply via the NHS jobs websiteRecruitment opens at 10am on Thursday 25th April and close at 10am on Monday 13th May.

This is for intakes that will start at the beginning of October 2024.

For more information about the course see:

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

Degree or equivalent academic ability; equivalence defined by clear evidence of education or training at a level equivalent to a degree such as: oa professional training or qualification of equal standing such as nursing (pre-degree), child care or non-health care qualifications oeducational experience at HND or higher level NVQ or demonstrate equivalent academic ability

Desirable

Degree in a relevant subject such as psychology or social sciences Upper second class honours degree or higher Further training in relevant areas psychology, mental health care, nursing, social care, primary care, research design/ analysis

Experience

Essential

Evidence of working with people who have experienced a mental health problem

Desirable

Experience of paid work in direct care provision Experience of working or liaising with Primary Care Services Experience of working in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

An appreciation of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems (particularly anxiety and depression) and how they may present in primary care Broad understanding of mental health issues and the primary care context Broad understanding of audit, research and evaluation Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills Able to communicate effectively in an emotive atmosphere Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients and colleagues

Desirable

Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to the post Ability to manage own caseload and time

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