Job summary
*Please do not apply If you have a degree* see job description
Do you have compassion & would you like to support people with their mental health challenges?
Do you have excellent communication skills & able to work in a fast-paced environment?
Do you have the skills to organise & prioritise your own busy workload whilst delivering excellent care?
Do you have the skills to to organise & prioritise your own busy workload whilst delivering excellent care?
If the answer is yes, we have opportunities to train as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) apprentice
This apprenticeship would suit adults whose work has given them a minimum of 2 years experience - ideally in mental health or relevant fields & have experience that would prepare them for this professional role and is for adults who have not studied at degree level but have skills, experience & expertise that means they would meet the criteria for this role. This apprenticeship is not suitable for school/college leavers
Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and would especially like to hear from applicants from Black, Asian and other racially marginalised communities. We also encourage applications from people whose first language is not English.
We are recruiting in the following areas East Cheshire, Manchester, Stockport & Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale (HMR)
Main duties of the job
The PWP apprenticeship programme is a 15-month course delivered by Liverpool John Moores University. The course will start October 2025. The programme combines academic and work-based learning. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate commitment to the academic requirements of the course and assessments.
The role is fast-paced, varied and PWPs are required to;
- provide a wide range of treatments including telephone, online, face to face or groups.
- Manage a caseload of clients, ensuring effective support and intervention delivery.
- Conduct comprehensive assessments to guide treatment planning and intervention strategies.
- Support community events to enhance outreach and engagement
- Support the wider team to deliver an effective and efficient service
- Promote the service, actively seeking opportunities to generate referrals and expand access to mental health support
This role is not remote and you will be required to work across the community of the service, regularly attend the office & attend university in person. A car is not essential to the role but will be beneficial and you will need to make your own travel arrangements if you do not drive/have access to a car
Due to the volume of applications we cannot provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Once all applications have been shortlisted, applicants will receive an email to say if they have been successful/unsuccessful.
About us
The Big Life Group is a user led mental health charity that has developed considerable expertise in the field of primary care mental health.
The charity currently delivers a range of services including self help support groups, online CBT services, counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
The charity is funded by various NHS Trusts and works across the North West with the head office based in Hulme, Manchester.
Big Life is in the business of changing lives. We fight inequality by working with people and places to create opportunities and inspire change. Whatever service we deliver to help people to change their lives, we do things the Big Life Way.
The Big Life group positively promotes diversity in the workforce.
The Big Life groupis committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is an exciting opportunity to train with Big Life Group a trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner - Apprenticeship
This role is not suitable for those with undergraduate/post graduate degrees and will not be shortlisted - please wait for the trainee role that will be advertised later in May 2025 if you have a degree
PWPs are professionals who help people who are experiencing a range of difficulties such as stress, anxiety and low mood and provide low intensity CBT, evidence-based treatment to help people make positive changes to their wellbeing and quality of life.
As trainee PWP you will provide evidence based treatment for adults and will collaborate with a range of professionals in physical health, mental health and social care as well as with community organisations.
You will support people with depression and/or anxiety disorders by:
- conducting patient assessment and treatment sessions
- helping identify areas where the person wishes to change how they feel, think or behave
- carrying out risk assessments
- providing phone, online, face-to-face and group support
- liaising with other agencies and signposting patients to useful services, such as housing and employment
You will work with patients on a one-to-one basis or in groups or workshops. You may be based in a GP practice, healthcare centre or community venue such as a library or leisure centre. You may also work from home in some instances.
You will be provided with ongoing supervision to help you engage in self-reflection, seek and respond to feedback, and develop your professional knowledge and skills.
The role involves undertaking initial assessments and holding a high volume clinical caseload.
In this training role, you will provide Step 2 Guided Self-Help low intensity interventions whilst undertaking studies at Liverpool John Moores University.
We are looking for people with a commitment to deliver high quality evidence-based assessments and interventions, a willingness to learn new skills and a desire to improve the health and wellbeing of people anxiety and/or depression disorders. Both trainee and qualified PWPs play a critical role in helping shape the future direction of the Talking Therapies service.
Successful candidates will be motivated, resilient, efficient, empathic, supportive and will be required to have a good understanding of the needs of local populations and familiarise themselves with local knowledge of services. It is not an essential requirement but it is desirable for applicants to have an understanding of the local area & services available to clients.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment and strongly encourage applications from racialised communities, especially individuals for whom English is not a first language. We value diverse perspectives and experiences and strive to create a welcoming and supportive space for all
The trainee PWP role is demanding, involving full-time work, managing a client caseload, and handling your own schedule. Youll need to adapt to a new team, external services, and various systems. The role includes regular feedback, role-playing with peers, and completing a postgraduate course requiring 100% attendance, academic work, essays, assessments, recorded client sessions, and presentations. While study days are provided, trainees are expected to complete university work outside of working hours.
We encourage applications from individuals who demonstrate resilience, adaptability, strong diary and caseload management, academic capability to complete the course, and openness to feedback. As this is a fixed-term contract, applicants must be able to work quickly and adapt easily.
Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited to an assessment day May 2025.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is an exciting opportunity to train with Big Life Group a trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner - Apprenticeship
This role is not suitable for those with undergraduate/post graduate degrees and will not be shortlisted - please wait for the trainee role that will be advertised later in May 2025 if you have a degree
PWPs are professionals who help people who are experiencing a range of difficulties such as stress, anxiety and low mood and provide low intensity CBT, evidence-based treatment to help people make positive changes to their wellbeing and quality of life.
As trainee PWP you will provide evidence based treatment for adults and will collaborate with a range of professionals in physical health, mental health and social care as well as with community organisations.
You will support people with depression and/or anxiety disorders by:
- conducting patient assessment and treatment sessions
- helping identify areas where the person wishes to change how they feel, think or behave
- carrying out risk assessments
- providing phone, online, face-to-face and group support
- liaising with other agencies and signposting patients to useful services, such as housing and employment
You will work with patients on a one-to-one basis or in groups or workshops. You may be based in a GP practice, healthcare centre or community venue such as a library or leisure centre. You may also work from home in some instances.
You will be provided with ongoing supervision to help you engage in self-reflection, seek and respond to feedback, and develop your professional knowledge and skills.
The role involves undertaking initial assessments and holding a high volume clinical caseload.
In this training role, you will provide Step 2 Guided Self-Help low intensity interventions whilst undertaking studies at Liverpool John Moores University.
We are looking for people with a commitment to deliver high quality evidence-based assessments and interventions, a willingness to learn new skills and a desire to improve the health and wellbeing of people anxiety and/or depression disorders. Both trainee and qualified PWPs play a critical role in helping shape the future direction of the Talking Therapies service.
Successful candidates will be motivated, resilient, efficient, empathic, supportive and will be required to have a good understanding of the needs of local populations and familiarise themselves with local knowledge of services. It is not an essential requirement but it is desirable for applicants to have an understanding of the local area & services available to clients.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment and strongly encourage applications from racialised communities, especially individuals for whom English is not a first language. We value diverse perspectives and experiences and strive to create a welcoming and supportive space for all
The trainee PWP role is demanding, involving full-time work, managing a client caseload, and handling your own schedule. Youll need to adapt to a new team, external services, and various systems. The role includes regular feedback, role-playing with peers, and completing a postgraduate course requiring 100% attendance, academic work, essays, assessments, recorded client sessions, and presentations. While study days are provided, trainees are expected to complete university work outside of working hours.
We encourage applications from individuals who demonstrate resilience, adaptability, strong diary and caseload management, academic capability to complete the course, and openness to feedback. As this is a fixed-term contract, applicants must be able to work quickly and adapt easily.
Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited to an assessment day May 2025.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- It is a programme requirement that apprentices must provide evidence of achievement of an English qualification such as GCSE English grade C/grade 4 and above, or level 2 functional skills
Experience
Essential
- - Experience in a health or social care setting, along with an understanding of anxiety and depression and their presentation in Primary Care, is necessary.
- - Applicants should also have knowledge of the impact of work on mental health, as well as familiarity with the NHS Talking Therapies model and its application for treating common mental health conditions.
- - Strong computer literacy, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to build effective therapeutic relationships are essential.
- - The ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, manage a caseload, and meet travel requirements are also key.
- - Candidates must be able to complete academic components of the course, integrate training into practice, and demonstrate high levels of enthusiasm and motivation.
- - Additional skills include using clinical supervision effectively, managing pressure, respecting confidentiality and individual autonomy, and being self-reflective in personal and professional development.
- - Willingness to travel to various locations is also required.
Desirable
- - Working with individuals who have experienced mental ill health, particularly in Primary Care services.
- - A background in working within services where agreed targets demonstrate clinical outcomes
- - Experience presenting in group settings and delivering interventions to those with mental health issues.
- - Experiencing carrying out risk assessments, either formal or gained through experience.
- - A strong understanding of evidence-based psychological therapies and the role of the PWP
- - Knowledge of medications used for anxiety, depression, and other common mental health conditions.
- - An understanding of how physical conditions can impact mental health
- - Knowledge of the demographics of the area(s) where they will work.
- - The ability to speak a language other than English would be an advantage.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- It is a programme requirement that apprentices must provide evidence of achievement of an English qualification such as GCSE English grade C/grade 4 and above, or level 2 functional skills
Experience
Essential
- - Experience in a health or social care setting, along with an understanding of anxiety and depression and their presentation in Primary Care, is necessary.
- - Applicants should also have knowledge of the impact of work on mental health, as well as familiarity with the NHS Talking Therapies model and its application for treating common mental health conditions.
- - Strong computer literacy, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to build effective therapeutic relationships are essential.
- - The ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, manage a caseload, and meet travel requirements are also key.
- - Candidates must be able to complete academic components of the course, integrate training into practice, and demonstrate high levels of enthusiasm and motivation.
- - Additional skills include using clinical supervision effectively, managing pressure, respecting confidentiality and individual autonomy, and being self-reflective in personal and professional development.
- - Willingness to travel to various locations is also required.
Desirable
- - Working with individuals who have experienced mental ill health, particularly in Primary Care services.
- - A background in working within services where agreed targets demonstrate clinical outcomes
- - Experience presenting in group settings and delivering interventions to those with mental health issues.
- - Experiencing carrying out risk assessments, either formal or gained through experience.
- - A strong understanding of evidence-based psychological therapies and the role of the PWP
- - Knowledge of medications used for anxiety, depression, and other common mental health conditions.
- - An understanding of how physical conditions can impact mental health
- - Knowledge of the demographics of the area(s) where they will work.
- - The ability to speak a language other than English would be an advantage.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
