Job summary
Would you like to help people manage their mental health with tried and tested psychological interventions?
Perhaps your lived experience of mental health problems is putting you in a unique position to support others going through similar challenges.
Are you looking for a career change and are enthusiastic about caring and supporting people?
Our Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) apprenticeship could be the role for you! Open the 'Find out more about our PWP apprenticeship programme!' pdf to find out more.
We're looking for people who are compassionate, work well in a team, are enthusiastic, highly motivated and have excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experience of working in a mental health setting would be beneficial. However, you may instead have relevant life experience or transferable skills that would enable you to effectively support people with mental health challenges.
The PWP apprenticeship programme is approximately 15 months in duration, delivered by Oxford Health Apprenticeship & Development Centre, Learning & Development; the next programme is due to start April 2025. The programme combines both academic and work-based learning through close collaboration between employers and education providers. Successful applicants will need to commit to the academic requirements of the course and will be unable to participate in any other education courses alongside the PWP programme.
Main duties of the job
Please note that the apprenticeship programme has strict attendance requirements. You must attend 100% of the programme in order to be able to successfully complete the programme. Therefore, annual leave cannot be taken on allocated programme days. The programme is expected to run from April 2025 to April 2026. You will need to ensure you can commit to the programme during this time. Exceptional circumstances will be accounted for and discussed on an individual basis.
As a Trainee PWP, you will be a full time Oxford Health NHSFT employee based within Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies (BTT). During the apprenticeship programme, for module 1 three days per week are protected learning time - taken up as classroom learning, online learning, research, shadowing, project work, self-learning or directed study. The remaining two days will be spent on-the-job training within BTT. Following module 1, this will change to one day protected learning per week and four days in service. You will be trained to deliver effective, evidence-based psychological therapies either by telephone, online, via digital platform or face-to-face (subject to covid-19 guidance). This will be both on a one-to-one basis and in groups.
PWPs at BTT receive weekly case management supervision, clinical skills supervision, and training in addition to regular line management. There are clear progression routes and a wealth of opportunities for career development within Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies.
About us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible.
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team".
Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent".
At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
Want to know what its like to work for Bucks Talking Therapies? Open theWhat its like to work for Buckinghamshire Talking Therapiespdf to see what our team members have to say!
We are a nationally recognized, high-performing, and innovative Talking Therapies service. Visit our website (Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies - BuckinghamshireNHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies (oxfordhealth.nhs.uk)) to find out how we support over 12,000 adults to manage their common mental health difficulties.
Staff wellbeing is a top priority - We have a very active, award winning, in- service wellbeing team and take a pride in our supportive, collaborative, and productive culture.
The Trust hosts the Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and Research and the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre. Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies is actively involved in research, and the service benefits from being a member of the Oxford Academic Health Science Network Anxiety and Depression Network led by Professor David Clark.
The Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies service follows a hybrid working pattern. Until successful completion of module 1 (approximately weeks 12-13), your learning will be in person 3 days a week in Oxford for your Apprenticeship teaching days and 2 days in person at your allocated office base. Following this, the apprenticeship learning will be 1 day a week in person and then an office base for 3 days per week. At this stage, you will have the opportunity to work from home one day a week. Upon completion of the course, you will be entitled to the same hybrid working opportunities as the rest of the qualified staff.
Our two main bases are centrally located within Aylesbury and High Wycombe, and we use additional clinic space around the county. Ability and willingness to travel for work purposes is essential. There are currently vacancies for trainee PWPs in both High Wycombe and Aylesbury. If you wish to be considered for both locations,you only need to apply oncebut please make it clear in your personal statement that you wish to be considered for either base.
Apprenticeship Course Eligibility
To apply for this role you must ensure that you meet the requirements for the accompanying apprenticeship programme.
The eligibility requirements for the apprenticeship programme are as follows:
- Right to work in the UK.
- Resident in the UK for the previous 3 years. If you are not a UK citizen, all of this 3 year period must not have been for full-time education.
- Level 2 maths & English qualifications (i.e. GCSE grade C or 4 and above, or Functional Skills level 2, or equivalent). Please note: if you do not hold these qualifications, you may be able to undertake these alongside the apprenticeship this will be reviewed on an individual basis during the recruitment process.
- Minimum level 5 qualification (or evidence of ability and commitment to study at level 6).
- Not undertaking any other courses/programmes during the period of the apprenticeship.
- Have not started an NHS-funded psychological professions training programme within the previous 2 years.
Please note, your eligibility will be checked during the shortlisting process. You will be emailed with an eligibility checklist which you will need to complete and return, alongside accompanying documentation, within 3 working days so that your eligibility for the apprenticeship can be reviewed.
In order to apply for the course, we need to ensure that you have met the criteria, please see attached link for information about right to work / remain in UK and residency status. Please can you read through this to ensure that you meet the criteria before applying for the post.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1155957/Apprenticeship_funding_rules_2324_Version_1.pdf
Please be aware as a part of our recruitment and onboarding there will be an eligibility screening process which will involve a form being sent to you for us to evaluate and ensure you meet the criteria for funding. If you have any questions regarding the funding criteria, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
On successful completion of the programme, apprentices will be equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes, and behaviours relevant to employment as a qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner within an Adult Talking Therapies service.
Upon qualification, PWPs will be expected to comply with the national requirement, for PWP registration with the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). Registration must be maintained annually, at the practitioners expense. Receipt of registration will enable you to progress from a Band 4 Trainee PWP contract to a permanent Band 5 Qualified PWP contract.
Please note that this advert will close early if a high number of applications are received.
If shortlisted, we are hoping to have in-person interviews on the 10th December 2024, date and location to be confirmed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Want to know what its like to work for Bucks Talking Therapies? Open theWhat its like to work for Buckinghamshire Talking Therapiespdf to see what our team members have to say!
We are a nationally recognized, high-performing, and innovative Talking Therapies service. Visit our website (Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies - BuckinghamshireNHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies (oxfordhealth.nhs.uk)) to find out how we support over 12,000 adults to manage their common mental health difficulties.
Staff wellbeing is a top priority - We have a very active, award winning, in- service wellbeing team and take a pride in our supportive, collaborative, and productive culture.
The Trust hosts the Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and Research and the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre. Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies is actively involved in research, and the service benefits from being a member of the Oxford Academic Health Science Network Anxiety and Depression Network led by Professor David Clark.
The Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies service follows a hybrid working pattern. Until successful completion of module 1 (approximately weeks 12-13), your learning will be in person 3 days a week in Oxford for your Apprenticeship teaching days and 2 days in person at your allocated office base. Following this, the apprenticeship learning will be 1 day a week in person and then an office base for 3 days per week. At this stage, you will have the opportunity to work from home one day a week. Upon completion of the course, you will be entitled to the same hybrid working opportunities as the rest of the qualified staff.
Our two main bases are centrally located within Aylesbury and High Wycombe, and we use additional clinic space around the county. Ability and willingness to travel for work purposes is essential. There are currently vacancies for trainee PWPs in both High Wycombe and Aylesbury. If you wish to be considered for both locations,you only need to apply oncebut please make it clear in your personal statement that you wish to be considered for either base.
Apprenticeship Course Eligibility
To apply for this role you must ensure that you meet the requirements for the accompanying apprenticeship programme.
The eligibility requirements for the apprenticeship programme are as follows:
- Right to work in the UK.
- Resident in the UK for the previous 3 years. If you are not a UK citizen, all of this 3 year period must not have been for full-time education.
- Level 2 maths & English qualifications (i.e. GCSE grade C or 4 and above, or Functional Skills level 2, or equivalent). Please note: if you do not hold these qualifications, you may be able to undertake these alongside the apprenticeship this will be reviewed on an individual basis during the recruitment process.
- Minimum level 5 qualification (or evidence of ability and commitment to study at level 6).
- Not undertaking any other courses/programmes during the period of the apprenticeship.
- Have not started an NHS-funded psychological professions training programme within the previous 2 years.
Please note, your eligibility will be checked during the shortlisting process. You will be emailed with an eligibility checklist which you will need to complete and return, alongside accompanying documentation, within 3 working days so that your eligibility for the apprenticeship can be reviewed.
In order to apply for the course, we need to ensure that you have met the criteria, please see attached link for information about right to work / remain in UK and residency status. Please can you read through this to ensure that you meet the criteria before applying for the post.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1155957/Apprenticeship_funding_rules_2324_Version_1.pdf
Please be aware as a part of our recruitment and onboarding there will be an eligibility screening process which will involve a form being sent to you for us to evaluate and ensure you meet the criteria for funding. If you have any questions regarding the funding criteria, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
On successful completion of the programme, apprentices will be equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes, and behaviours relevant to employment as a qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner within an Adult Talking Therapies service.
Upon qualification, PWPs will be expected to comply with the national requirement, for PWP registration with the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). Registration must be maintained annually, at the practitioners expense. Receipt of registration will enable you to progress from a Band 4 Trainee PWP contract to a permanent Band 5 Qualified PWP contract.
Please note that this advert will close early if a high number of applications are received.
If shortlisted, we are hoping to have in-person interviews on the 10th December 2024, date and location to be confirmed.
Person Specification
Qualfication/Skills/Experience
Essential
- Level 5 qualification OR equivalent experience
- GCSE Maths & English Grade C or above
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of clinical experience of working with people directly who have experienced a mental health problem such as depression or anxiety disorders for example Health Care Assistant in clinical setting, assistant psychologist, OT Assistant, volunteer with mental health charities etc. OR Evidence of transferable skills through employment or life experience, and how you could apply this to supporting people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a health or social care setting. This could be in an adminstration or clerical role.
Availability
Essential
- Not undertaking any other training and available to attend training combined with clinical work
Skills
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Demonstrates the ability to be self-reflective with examples in a professional or personal context.
Desirable
- Fluent in languages other than English
Question Response
Essential
- Response to 'Briefly share an example from your life where you have influenced a community you felt part of in a way that has positively impacted upon the wellbeing of those it includes.'
Person Specification
Qualfication/Skills/Experience
Essential
- Level 5 qualification OR equivalent experience
- GCSE Maths & English Grade C or above
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of clinical experience of working with people directly who have experienced a mental health problem such as depression or anxiety disorders for example Health Care Assistant in clinical setting, assistant psychologist, OT Assistant, volunteer with mental health charities etc. OR Evidence of transferable skills through employment or life experience, and how you could apply this to supporting people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a health or social care setting. This could be in an adminstration or clerical role.
Availability
Essential
- Not undertaking any other training and available to attend training combined with clinical work
Skills
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Demonstrates the ability to be self-reflective with examples in a professional or personal context.
Desirable
- Fluent in languages other than English
Question Response
Essential
- Response to 'Briefly share an example from your life where you have influenced a community you felt part of in a way that has positively impacted upon the wellbeing of those it includes.'
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.
