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Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

PWPs work with clients experiencing common mental health problems such as Anxiety and Depression. They work collaboratively with clients, providing person centred assessments, risk assessments and evidence based short term psychological interventions (guided self-help). These are usually based on CBT and psycho-education principles. Interventions are provided in a range of ways: 1:1, groups and computerised Guided Self-help. Interventions include Psycho-education, Behavioural Activation, Cognitive Restructuring, Worry Management, Problem Solving and Exposure. PWP's are registered with either the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner is also known as PWP.

Role Characteristics

  • Working 1:1 with clients to develop coping strategies
  • Facilitate psycho-educational classes
  • Support people to become their own therapist
  • Actively listen to clients to assess and determine the correct course of treatment
  • Signpost and work closely with other supporting organisations
  • Work collaboratively with a client towards a common goal

Skills

  • Active listening
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Empathy
  • Resilience
  • Public speaking

Day in the life

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Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

  • An apprenticeship
  • BTEC
  • A-Levels
  • Undergraduate degree
  • Degree apprenticeship

How to become

GCSEs, A-Levels, T-Levels, Undergraduate Degree. Accredited PWP Post graduate certificate or equivalent graduate-level qualification or a level 6 apprenticeship. If you have a degree, you can usually take a postgraduate certificate. If you do not have a degree, you can do an equivalent graduate-level qualification or a level 6 apprenticeship. Courses sometimes have different names, so make sure you check the ones you’re interested in are graduate level PWP courses. The apprenticeship is intended for people without a degree but have useful life experience or would like to make a career change.

Jobs are advertised on NHS jobs (jobs.nhs.uk) , as ‘Trainee Psychological Wellbeing practitioners’. Trainees are paid whilst completing their qualification. Once qualified, pay increases to the salary scale shown above.

Training is open to people with a range of experience but will help your application if you have some experience of working with people with mental health problems, and good interpersonal skills are essential for the role.

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care. As your professional knowledge and experience grows, you can develop specialisms, move into senior PWP or management roles, be involved in completing research, or working in University teaching and training PWP’s. You can also consider training as a Psychological Therapist (e.g. Hi Intensity therapist, or CBT therapist) or if you have done a Psychology degree that grants the BPS Graduate basis for chartership, you can consider further training as a Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling, Forensic, Health).

Location

  • At Home
  • Community Settings
  • GP Practices
  • Offices

Working hours

  • Part Time
  • Full Time
  • Flexible Hours
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