Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Key Tasks and Responsibilities of the Post-

The post-holder will offer case management and clinical supervision to both qualified and trainee PWPs, reporting to the Lead PWP.

The post holder will have a close working relationship with the NHS Talking Therapies Clinical leads and across the leadership team, reporting any operational issues in the delivery of the Low intensity model.

The post-holder will have delegated line-management responsibilities for other PWPs, under the direction of the NHS Talking Therapies Service Manager, e.g. sickness absence monitoring, undertaking appraisals, performance monitoring.

The post-holder will offer the full range of evidence-based low intensity interventions, including facilitated self-help, cCBT and psychoeducational groups.

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and may be called upon to work in various community settings (including GP surgeries and community settings).

1.0 Clinical

1.1 To provide suitability assessments for patients on entering an NHS Talking Therapies service via a range of means ie via telephone or face to face.

1.2 To provide LI interventions to patients with mild to moderate presentations of anxiety and depression.

1.3 Interventions will be via 1:1 LI sessions, cCBT (Silvercloud), and psycho-educational groups utilising a blend of face to face and virtual mediums.

1.4 To clinically work within the NHS Talking Therapies structure and guidance.

1.5 Use appropriate NICE recommended treatments for presentations of anxiety and depression.

1.6 Use appropriate outcome measures from availability within IAPTus to evidence a patients treatment outcomes.

1.7 Collect NHS Talking Therapy MDS on each clinical contact.

1.8 Provide interventions to a broad range of clients who have common mental health problems who are over 16.

1.9 To work in collaboration with other agencies and professionals.

1.10 To follow safeguarding procedures when required, ensuring accurate objective recording of information.

1.11 On completion of treatment review the patients journey and ensure appropriate signposting/referral on is provided as required for patients.

1.12 To understand the mental health network of Plymouth in order to best support patients.

1.13 To be able to assess patients who are at risk of harm to themselves or others via a recognised tool and make appropriate action plans for their needs.

1.14 Complete accurate contemporaneous records in line with Livewell SW clinical record keeping policy.

1.15 To clinically support junior PWPs in their clinical work being available to be able to support and challenge when required to embed safe, effective treatment plans for patients.

2.0 Management

2.1 Provide oversight of the PWP team alongside other post holder.

2.2 Act as a professional leader for the PWP team.

2.3 Provide information to the Service Manager/Clinical lead which may impact on Service Delivery and / or patient safety.

2.4 To provide line management to an agreed number of PWPs, including monitoring of sickness absence, performance, record keeping, and providing oversight and support for staff development by completing annual appraisal with staff. To follow Livewell SW policies and procedures in respect of Line management processes.

2.5 Facilitate team meetings for the PWP team, ensuring information is transient between the team and the Service Manager.

2.6 Have oversight of PWP provision, including volume of assessment, treatment appointments, and group/workshop facilitation.

2.7 To represent Plymouth Options in a positive manner and supporting the profile of Plymouth Options and the provisions available.

2.8 To support the ongoing change process that is inherent in a health care environment, reporting challenges to the Service Manager.

2.9 Provide feedback to the Service Manager as to training requirements for team in order to sustain safe effective delivery of interventions.

2.10 Represent the PWP team positively and proactively at relevant meetings or forums.

2.11 To support developing staff complete competencies. To report to Service Manager and concerns with clinical competence so a plan can be implemented for that individual.

2.12 Attend locality meetings as requested by the Lead PWP/ Service Manager.

2.13 To communicate concerns/risks to the Lead PWP/ Service Manager ensuring that online incident report is completed.

2.14 To provide weekly caseload management to delegated members of the PWP team in line with the national NHS Talking Therapy delivery recommendations.

3.0 Professional

3.1 Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating body and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence).

3.2 Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.

3.3 Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of treatment for common mental health problems.

3.4 Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.

3.5 Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.

3.6 Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.

3.7 Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuing Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.

3.8 Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

3.9 Act as a role model for other staff demonstrating high standards of professional conduct and clinical practice based on NICE guidance.

3.10 Positively promote the model of NHS Talking Therapies to other service areas, and referrers.

4.0 Communication

4.1 To demonstrate excellent communication skills, with clients, staff, family members, and wider health network.

4.2 To ensure information about individuals assessments and treatment is accurately recorded using the clinical record system - IAPTus.

4.3 Provide support to team members to develop efficient record keeping.

4.4 Is able to impart complex and sensitive information to patients and families/carers and related health care professionals.

4.5 To escalate areas of concern to relevant Line Manager/Supervisor.

4.6 To report incidents according the Livewell policy.

5.0 Education and Training

5.1 To assume responsibility for own personal development.

5.2 To provide support to new post holders, and identify training needs via mode of PDP.

5.3 To ensure Livewell SW mandatory training is completed at scheduled times.

5.4 To have oversight of teams training schedule.

6.0 Human resources

6.1 To support in conjunction with the other postholder to deliver case management to the PWP team.

6.2 To support the recruitment and selection of new post holders.

6.3 To ensure Health Rostering is maintained.

6.4 To ensure staff are supported to access staff wellbeing and support services.

7.0 Physical Effort

7.1 Role will involve a lot of sitting with clients in therapy rooms. May require some standing for 2 hours at a time whilst delivering groups.

8.0 Mental Effort

8.1 Frequent requirement for intense concentration in the delivery of high quality low intensity intervention by being closely attuned to the Service Users psychological state, assessing this and responding appropriately.

9.0 Emotional Effort

9.1 Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances arising from therapeutic contact with Service Users (including relatives and carers) requiring emotional engagement with the material discussed, emotional self-regulation by the therapist and the delivery of a therapeutic response within professional boundaries.

Additional information for all posts

The post holder is required to comply with all relevant policies and procedures pertinent to their post. Current versions can be found on Healthnet or via your manager. The areas listed below are those Livewell South-West currently places particular emphasis on. Failure to follow correct policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action.

Risk Management:

Health and Safety at Work:

Infection Control:

Safeguarding Children and Adults

Please refer to the attached documentation for full details

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level education or evidence of educational qualifications plus experience equivalent to degree level
• and
• NHS Talking Therapies Post Graduate Certificate in Psychological Well-being Practitioner or equivalent.
• Accreditation with British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).
• PWP Long Term Conditions training.
• Training and experience in risk management.

Desirable

• Supervision training

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working within an NHS Talking Therapy service.
• Experience of working in a Primary Care Mental Health setting.
• Significant experience of assessing and working with people with common mental health problems, across a wide range of presenting problems.
• Ability to demonstrate a wide range of experience in offering and delivering the range of evidence-based NHS Talking Therapies low intensity interventions including computerised CBT and guided self-help and group psycho-education.
• Consolidated and reflective supervised post-qualifying experience.
• Experience of delivering training / psycho-educational material.
• Experience of partnership working.
• Experience of working with clients who self-harm.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary teamwork.
• Experience of working with suicidal clients and of risk management.
• Experience of dealing with clients whose children are subject to Child Protection legislation.
• Experience in drug/alcohol management.
• Experience of working with interpreting services.
• Able to prioritise workload for self and support others to.

Desirable

• Experience of supervising / mentoring others within a therapy setting or helping profession such as social work, nursing.
• Experience of working in a 3rd Sector Mental Health setting.
• Experience in more than one NHS Talking Therapies service.

Specific Skills

Essential

• A self-reflective practitioner, able to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
• Ability to take a responsible position within the PWP group, supervising and line managing others, with support from the NHS Talking Therapies Service Manager and Clinical Leads.
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality.
• Ability to work cross-culturally.
• Able to communicate clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to liaise and network with a wide range of organisations and members of the public.
• Proficient IT skills, including word processing and database packages demonstrating ability to interpret data to appraise performance and inform operational changes as required.
• Ability to use outcome measures for both clinical and audit purposes.
• Evidence of supporting a change process.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).