Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Job overview

Welcome! Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin NHS Talking Therapies is a busy caring team consisting of Administration staff, PWPs, CBT Practitioners, and Counsellors.

We are currently recruiting for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.

Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners are employed on one-year fixed term training contract that is high pressured, involving a clinical placement during which you will manage a high-volume caseload of low intensity service users. You will additionally undertake the Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert LIPI) at University of Birmingham, meeting academic deadlines. In addition to clinical contact, the role will include data collection, data management, analysis and note writing. Trainees are expected to progress to work with a high degree of autonomy, with high volume caseloads including individual and group work; this may include telephone sessions, video consultation, and face-to-face clinical work.

On successful completion on the course a permanent contract would be offered.

If you are a highly organised and motivated individual with a commitment to the NHS and patient care, then we would welcome your application to study for the professional role of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner. Successful candidates will be trained to deliver Low Intensity Psychological Interventions, which are the cornerstone of NHS Talking Therapies Services (formally known as IAPT).

Main duties of the job

• 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-centred assessments to identify areas where the person wishes to see change and or recovery and makes an accurate assessment of risk to self and others. Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the department’s referral protocols, refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or step-up the person’s treatment to high intensity psychological therapy.
• Provide a range of information and support for evidence based high-volume low-intensity psychological treatments. This may include guided self-help computerised CBT, information about pharmacological treatments. This work may be face to face, telephone or via other media.
• Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a training role within the NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression (NHSTTAD) Service. The post-holder will work within the NHSTTAD service providing high volume low intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role. The training post will equip the post-holder to provide a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions to clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression.

The programme of learning is delivered jointly between Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) and the University of Birmingham (UoB). If successful you will be required to attend a minimum of 1 day teaching, undertake 1 day of self-directed study and provide 3 days of clinical practice per week offering assessment and low intensity treatment to patients presenting with common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. You will receive appropriate support throughout their training journey.

You will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities. You will work across the Shropshire locality and therefore must be able to travel.

When completing your application please be as accurate as possible and provide up-to-date information and reference details in order that your application can be processed in a timely manner. We would remind you only to apply to one Trust and one HEI. Multiple applications can disrupt service delivery and undermine clinical delivery and patient care.

Successful applicants will hold:

• Qualifications suitable to their level of study

• Relevant experience necessary for clinical practice

• Postgraduate Certificate (M Level) qualification route: A degree in a relevant subject or equivalent (e.g., Registered Nurses and AHPs).
• Graduate Certificate route 2 Advanced Level GCEs (A-C) or equivalent (e.g., B-tec, GNVQ, NVQ Level 3 and 4).
• Significant experience of at least one year working with people who have suffered with a mental health problem in voluntary or paid positions.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more details.

Dates for your diary:

Application:

• Complete the NHS service application form for the vacancy before the deadline of 26th May 2025.
• Complete the University application form before the deadline of the 26th May 2025 - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/nEwtGtnX3h
• Complete the University Academic Reference Template and return to the email on the form by the 2nd June 2025 (included in attachments).

Failure to complete any of the above will unfortunately mean we cannot consider your application.

Shortlisted applicants will:

• Attend for suitability screening with the university on either 10th, 11th or 12th June 2025.
• Successful applicants following screening will then be invited to attend a workplace interview on the 25th June 2025 or 3rd July 2025.

Applicants who are successful in both screening and the workplace interview must be able to begin their role in service on the 29th September 2025 and at university on the 6th October 2025.

Please save these dates to your diary.