Job summary
Time to Talk has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (SPWP) to join its expanding service in West Sussex. You may already be working as a Senior PWP, or you may be a PWP with significant post-qualification experience wanting to progress your career within Low Intensity Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).
The successful applicant will be expected to provide case management and clinical skills supervision to a team of PWPs and trainee PWPs based in Chichester, West Sussex, with a strong emphasis on developing trainees. You will also be required to manage a patient caseload offering high quality, evidence-based low intensity interventions including telephone, face to face, group and online and you will help to ensure the effective delivery of the low intensity programme.
Being a senior team member you will be able to use your skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to providing psychological therapies in a role where you can influence the development of both clinicians and services in addition to holding your own caseload.
As part of the West team, working out of the Chichester base, you must be willing and able to travel across the locality and throughout West Sussex as required.
Main duties of the job
Provide assessment and evidenced based Low intensity interventions egpsycho-educational interventions, Guided Self Help, computerised CBT topatients who access Time to Talk drawing from CBT theories and techniques.
Provide in depth risk assessment and management of patients referred toservice, managing Safeguarding Children and Protection of Vulnerable Adults referrals, and liaising with GPs and Specialist secondary care services to ensure the safety of the patient or others.
Provide case management and group based clinical supervision to Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.
Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process.
Work with the more complex / severe patients accessing Step 2 level ofinterventions.
Provide a service that is equitable, non-discriminatory and accessible to a broad range of patients who have common mental health problems and who are over 18 years of age.
Support GPs and other primary care workers in making appropriate referrals
About us
We are a highly successful, established team of psychological therapists working in GP practices and community venues providing the complete range of NICE compliant psychological therapies, including Step 2 Low Intensity and Step 3 High Intensity Psychological Interventions across the West area of West Sussex. Time To Talk is an IAPT service, nationally recognised as one of the high performing services and has a reputation for clinical excellence, innovation and collaborative working with secondary care and voluntary services.
The multi-disciplinary team consists of CBT Therapists, Counsellors, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Administrators & Employment Advisors. We are commissioned to provide services from 8am to 8pm and all staff are required to contribute to providing 7.5 hours cover over this daily time frame.
We have introduced a hybrid working model, so you will be working from the base in Chichester aswell as some working from home.
This is a team that supports each other in and between each of the disciplines, we value the team spirit and encourage all staff to be as mindful of their colleagues as they are of our clients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Make appropriate referrals to other service providers in the statutory and voluntary sectors and redirect patients to other sources of appropriate support within the local community as required.
To promote and develop psycho educational courses to all areas of the Locality.
Develop a local knowledge of the locality and its services and facilities,particularly in relation to mental health issues.
Provide a service that is flexible as far as possible in terms of clinic hours,enabling, at least one clinic to be run outside normal working hours following discussion with Clinical Service Manager/Deputy Service Manager.
Develop an area of interest, to the level whereby the post-holder could become a resource of information for the whole service. ( eg: Post Natal Depression, Older age patients, Long Term Conditions, BME groups within Locality)
Participate in activities of continuing professional development (CPD) on an annual basis.
Identifying training needs for PWPs and provide the in-service training.Participate in audits of clinical activity and evaluative research as required.
Offer training to other primary care colleagues in CBT based interventions and mental health awareness.
Attend local and national training appropriate to the work role.Maintain standards of practice according to Sussex Community NHS Trust and any regulating body, and keep up to date on new recommendations /guidelines.
Maintain appropriate clinical records in keeping with service and SussexCommunity NHS Trust policy.
Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times
Co-ordinate and liaise between different staff groups within Time to Talk service
Proactively take responsibility for attending supervision, case management and management meetings regularly, participate in objective setting, performance reviews and respond to agreed objectives.
Promote and contribute to the development and maintenance of a healthy therapeutic culture within Time to Talk amongst colleagues and with patients.
To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.Promote and develop MH awareness and psychological mindedness through contact with the general public and other clinical staff, and through training and events/conferences.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Make appropriate referrals to other service providers in the statutory and voluntary sectors and redirect patients to other sources of appropriate support within the local community as required.
To promote and develop psycho educational courses to all areas of the Locality.
Develop a local knowledge of the locality and its services and facilities,particularly in relation to mental health issues.
Provide a service that is flexible as far as possible in terms of clinic hours,enabling, at least one clinic to be run outside normal working hours following discussion with Clinical Service Manager/Deputy Service Manager.
Develop an area of interest, to the level whereby the post-holder could become a resource of information for the whole service. ( eg: Post Natal Depression, Older age patients, Long Term Conditions, BME groups within Locality)
Participate in activities of continuing professional development (CPD) on an annual basis.
Identifying training needs for PWPs and provide the in-service training.Participate in audits of clinical activity and evaluative research as required.
Offer training to other primary care colleagues in CBT based interventions and mental health awareness.
Attend local and national training appropriate to the work role.Maintain standards of practice according to Sussex Community NHS Trust and any regulating body, and keep up to date on new recommendations /guidelines.
Maintain appropriate clinical records in keeping with service and SussexCommunity NHS Trust policy.
Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times
Co-ordinate and liaise between different staff groups within Time to Talk service
Proactively take responsibility for attending supervision, case management and management meetings regularly, participate in objective setting, performance reviews and respond to agreed objectives.
Promote and contribute to the development and maintenance of a healthy therapeutic culture within Time to Talk amongst colleagues and with patients.
To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.Promote and develop MH awareness and psychological mindedness through contact with the general public and other clinical staff, and through training and events/conferences.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner qualification
- Training in Risk assessment and management
Desirable
- A qualification or substantial experience in Professional clinical supervision
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of different mental health presentations / problems
- Knowledge of NHS polices, procedures and guidelines
- Knowledge of clinical governance
- Models of assessment, screening, referral, record - keeping and evidence based brief psychological interventions.
- Knowledge of outcome measures and their use for clinical and audit purposes
- Knowledge of Safeguarding Children and Protection of Vulnerable Adults legislation
- Knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
- Awareness of serious mental health presentations [psychosis, bi-polar]
Desirable
- Evidence of further training in psychological interventions.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working with people with common mental health problems [minimum 2 years]
- Ability to demonstrate a range of post qualifying experience [minimum 1 year] in delivering the full range of evidence based IAPT low intensity interventions
- Consolidated and reflective supervised post qualification experience of 1 year minimum preferably in an NHS, primary care or community setting.
- Evidence of working within a Stepped Care model of service providing NICE compliant interventions for Anxiety / Depression. [ 2 year minimum]
- Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of working within set criteria and referring to other services as appropriate
- Experience of delivering training to a range of professionals
- Experience of "partnership" working.
- Experience of working with suicidal clients and of risk management
- Experience in drug/alcohol management
- Experience of working with clients and families subject to Safeguarding Children or Protection of Vulnerable Adults legislation and policy.
- Experience of working with primary care staff [Practice Nurses, health Visitors, Community Matrons]
- Experience of screening, assessing and working with a wide spectrum of mental health issues and working with moderate severity of common mental health problems.
- Experience of audit and research
- Experience of and ability to provide leadership / mentorship / supervision
Desirable
- Experience of working within the IAPT program.
- Experience of working in Primary Care setting
- Experience of working in 3rd sector mental health setting
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries, liaison and networking.
Key Skills/Abilities
Essential
- The capacity to develop and utilise core psychological approaches within the primary care culture, incorporating a range of skills to meet a broad spectrum of presenting issues.
- Clinical risk assessment
- Ability to be self reflective, whilst working with patients, in own personal and professional development and in supervision.
- Able to develop a good therapeutic relationship with patients
- Ability to listen to sensitive, emotional and distressing accounts from patients within the context of therapeutic intervention.
- Ability to communicate difficult and potentially distressing information to patients in a sensitive, empathetic manner.
- Ability to remain focused and concentrate intensely for prolonged periods of time whilst working with vulnerable and distressed patients.
- Ability to teach large groups of patients and relatives, as part of psycho educational workshops.
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
- Ability to manage own caseload and time effectively.
- Ability to maintain a healthy work - life balance to ensure own wellbeing.
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
- Ability to work under pressure
- Regard for others and respect for the individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, both verbally, in writing and over the telephone
- Ability to liaise and network with a wide range of organisations and members of the public
- Competent IT skills including word processing and database packages
- Ability to use outcome measures for clinical and audit purposes.
Desirable
- Fluency in a community language other than English
- Ability to support and develop trainee and junior staff through case management supervision, skills training and reflective practice groups.
Equal Opportunities
Essential
- Ability to work cross-culturally
- Knowledge of working with diversity and knowledge of working with black, minority ethnic groups
Desirable
- Ability to work through interpreters
- Experience of Black and Minority Ethnic communities, and / or the Hard to Reach communities
Other Requirements
Essential
- High level of enthusiasm and
- Willingness to work flexible hours, which may include before 9am and evening work.
- Self motivated, pro-active approach to work
- Excellent administrative skills
- Be committed to the concept of recovery and mental resilience
- Willingness and ability to travel across Locality and throughout West Sussex.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner qualification
- Training in Risk assessment and management
Desirable
- A qualification or substantial experience in Professional clinical supervision
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of different mental health presentations / problems
- Knowledge of NHS polices, procedures and guidelines
- Knowledge of clinical governance
- Models of assessment, screening, referral, record - keeping and evidence based brief psychological interventions.
- Knowledge of outcome measures and their use for clinical and audit purposes
- Knowledge of Safeguarding Children and Protection of Vulnerable Adults legislation
- Knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
- Awareness of serious mental health presentations [psychosis, bi-polar]
Desirable
- Evidence of further training in psychological interventions.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working with people with common mental health problems [minimum 2 years]
- Ability to demonstrate a range of post qualifying experience [minimum 1 year] in delivering the full range of evidence based IAPT low intensity interventions
- Consolidated and reflective supervised post qualification experience of 1 year minimum preferably in an NHS, primary care or community setting.
- Evidence of working within a Stepped Care model of service providing NICE compliant interventions for Anxiety / Depression. [ 2 year minimum]
- Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of working within set criteria and referring to other services as appropriate
- Experience of delivering training to a range of professionals
- Experience of "partnership" working.
- Experience of working with suicidal clients and of risk management
- Experience in drug/alcohol management
- Experience of working with clients and families subject to Safeguarding Children or Protection of Vulnerable Adults legislation and policy.
- Experience of working with primary care staff [Practice Nurses, health Visitors, Community Matrons]
- Experience of screening, assessing and working with a wide spectrum of mental health issues and working with moderate severity of common mental health problems.
- Experience of audit and research
- Experience of and ability to provide leadership / mentorship / supervision
Desirable
- Experience of working within the IAPT program.
- Experience of working in Primary Care setting
- Experience of working in 3rd sector mental health setting
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries, liaison and networking.
Key Skills/Abilities
Essential
- The capacity to develop and utilise core psychological approaches within the primary care culture, incorporating a range of skills to meet a broad spectrum of presenting issues.
- Clinical risk assessment
- Ability to be self reflective, whilst working with patients, in own personal and professional development and in supervision.
- Able to develop a good therapeutic relationship with patients
- Ability to listen to sensitive, emotional and distressing accounts from patients within the context of therapeutic intervention.
- Ability to communicate difficult and potentially distressing information to patients in a sensitive, empathetic manner.
- Ability to remain focused and concentrate intensely for prolonged periods of time whilst working with vulnerable and distressed patients.
- Ability to teach large groups of patients and relatives, as part of psycho educational workshops.
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
- Ability to manage own caseload and time effectively.
- Ability to maintain a healthy work - life balance to ensure own wellbeing.
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
- Ability to work under pressure
- Regard for others and respect for the individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, both verbally, in writing and over the telephone
- Ability to liaise and network with a wide range of organisations and members of the public
- Competent IT skills including word processing and database packages
- Ability to use outcome measures for clinical and audit purposes.
Desirable
- Fluency in a community language other than English
- Ability to support and develop trainee and junior staff through case management supervision, skills training and reflective practice groups.
Equal Opportunities
Essential
- Ability to work cross-culturally
- Knowledge of working with diversity and knowledge of working with black, minority ethnic groups
Desirable
- Ability to work through interpreters
- Experience of Black and Minority Ethnic communities, and / or the Hard to Reach communities
Other Requirements
Essential
- High level of enthusiasm and
- Willingness to work flexible hours, which may include before 9am and evening work.
- Self motivated, pro-active approach to work
- Excellent administrative skills
- Be committed to the concept of recovery and mental resilience
- Willingness and ability to travel across Locality and throughout West Sussex.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
