Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Trainee

Job overview
Led by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT), Health in Mind provide a community-based range of evidence based therapeutic and clinical interventions to support adults with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. Based in the community and located primarily within SPFT venues and GP Practices, our service provides NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, previously known as Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), at Step 2 and Step 3.
We receive referrals from a number of routes including self-referrals and by General Practitioners. We work closely with our Service-User steering group to refine and improve the service that we offer. The result is a highly accessible and user-friendly service, capable of meeting the needs of a geographically dispersed client group.
We are delighted to be recruiting for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) to join us in Sussex Partnership Trust within Health in Mind.
Main duties of the job
As a Trainee PWP you will be responsible for your own caseload, offering high quality, evidence-based low intensity interventions including: telephone, face to face, groups, and online sessions. You will receive support from our Senior PWPs and your team lead in the form of case management and clinical supervision. Alongside your clinical work, you will be studying with the University of Exeter working toward a PGCert or GradCert in Psychological Therapies Practice.
The course itself consists of 45 training days, 30 of which are 'taught' and 15 of which are directed study days. The University will be using a mixed model of delivery including remote online lectures, workshops and tutorials. The University are also aiming to deliver some face to face teaching as part of the course, which will be based in London.
To succeed in this role, you will have excellent interpersonal skills and proven experience of working with people to improve their mental health and wellbeing. You will also be educated to degree level, preferably in a related field (e.g. psychology) but there is also the opportunity to access the undergraduate route if you do not have a degree level education.
Working for our organisation
Our services are built on the quality of care that we provide to our service users and we know that our people are fundamental to this. Regular supervision allows our trainee PWPs to manage their workload and ensure that they don't become overloaded, giving them the freedom and autonomy to focus on the quality of their work. We know that when you feel supported and valued, you will thrive.
It is our mission to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the people we serve. You will play a key role in delivering this mission, and be committed to our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. This is an excellent opportunity to join our organisation that has experienced recent growth, and continues to seek new opportunities to further strengthen and build upon our excellent reputation.
Trainees at Health in Mind will work a mixture of remote working alongside time worked in liaison spaces with colleagues, and delivering face to face treatment with clients. If you are not local to East Sussex please highlight in your application how you will fulfil the onsite element of this role.
Upon qualification, Health in Mind will support all Trainee PWPs to become registered and accredited PWPs with the BABCP or BPS.
To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Job Overview -
Led by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT), Health in Mind provide a community-based range of evidence based therapeutic and clinical interventions to support adults with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. Based in the community and located primarily within SPFT venues and GP Practices, our service provides NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, previously known as Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), at Step 2 and Step 3.
We receive referrals from a number of routes including self-referrals and by General Practitioners. We work closely with our Service-User steering group to refine and improve the service that we offer. The result is a highly accessible and user-friendly service, capable of meeting the needs of a geographically dispersed client group.
We are delighted to be recruiting for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) to join us in Sussex Partnership Trust within Health in Mind.
Main duties of the job -
As a Trainee PWP you will be responsible for your own caseload, offering high quality, evidence-based low intensity interventions including: telephone, face to face, groups, and online sessions. You will receive support from our Senior PWPs and your team lead in the form of case management and clinical supervision. Alongside your clinical work, you will be studying with the University of Exeter working toward a PGCert or GradCert in Psychological Therapies Practice.
The course itself consists of 45 training days, 30 of which are 'taught' and 15 of which are directed study days. The University will be using a mixed model of delivery including remote online lectures, workshops and tutorials. The University are also aiming to deliver some face to face teaching as part of the course, which will be based in London.
To succeed in this role, you will have excellent interpersonal skills and proven experience of working with people to improve their mental health and wellbeing. You will also be educated to degree level, preferably in a related field (e.g. psychology) but there is also the opportunity to access the undergraduate route if you do not have a degree level education.
Working for your organisation -
Our services are built on the quality of care that we provide to our service users and we know that our people are fundamental to this. Regular supervision allows our trainee PWPs to manage their workload and ensure that they don't become overloaded, giving them the freedom and autonomy to focus on the quality of their work. We know that when you feel supported and valued, you will thrive.
It is our mission to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the people we serve. You will play a key role in delivering this mission, and be committed to our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. This is an excellent opportunity to join our organisation that has experienced recent growth, and continues to seek new opportunities to further strengthen and build upon our excellent reputation.
Trainees at Health in Mind will work a mixture of remote working alongside time worked in liaison spaces with colleagues, and delivering face to face treatment with clients. If you are not local to East Sussex please highlight in your application how you will fulfil the onsite element of this role.
Upon qualification, Health in Mind will support all Trainee PWPs to become registered and accredited PWPs with the BABCP or BPS.
To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities -
Your role will involve assessing and treating clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression within NHS Talking Therapies.
To be considered for this post within our NHS Talking Therapies services, you will need to have:

• A minimum of a year's full time relevant mental health experience
• A minimum level 5 qualification i.e. Level 5 NVQ or above or a degree of any class.

We look for the following qualities in our candidates:

• Genuine passion to help others improve their lives
• Be able to use your own initiative
• Strong organisational skills
• Openness to having work and skills observed
• Willingness to accept feedback

Please see the job description for more information. Please do not apply if you do not meet the minimum criteria as we will not be able to consider your application.
Due to high numbers of applications, we are unable to respond to all requests for further information. If you do have a question, please consider whether it has been answered within the job description of job advert. If your query relates to any matter not covered in the aforementioned documents, please contact the following:
Naomi Ross - Lead Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Trainees Naomi.Ross2@nhs.net
Please note that Health In Mind interviews will take place in w/c 8th January or w/c 15th January 2024, and if successful at this stage, you will be asked to then interview with the university in either w/c 15th January or w/c 22nd January. All interviews will be held remotely.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Evidence of working with people, for at least 1 year, who have suffered with a mental health problem
• Evidence of ability to study successfully at undergraduate year 1 level or the equivalent

Experience
Essential criteria

• Evidence of working with people who have experienced a mental health problem
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication
• Able to write clear reports and letters.

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.
We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.
Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.