Job summary
Our service offers talking therapy to residents of Swindon who may be experiencing common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
This role offers a fantastic opportunity for a psychology graduate who aims to obtain a career as a psychological wellbeing practitioner (PWP). This role specifically is for an Assistant PWP, who will be supporting the service, and working alongside qualified PWPs and further mental health practitioners.
You will spend the year in the service supporting the clinical team whilst learning and developing and will then be in a strong position to successfully apply for a PWP training post. We have training opportunities for PWPs each year. We have developed an Assistant PWP handbook to support individuals working towards gaining a place on PWP training. This handbook can be worked through, with the assistance of your line manager.
As an Assistant PWP, you will be managing your own workload alongside our qualified and trainee therapists to support the delivery of groups and workshops as well as getting involved in projects, service promotion and research.
You will have clinical and management supervision and will participate in regular training events to promote your development.
We are currently operating a hybrid working arrangement, where you will be based at Old Town Surgery, with opportunities for some remote working from home.
Main duties of the job
- To support with the delivery of psychoeducational groups to patients under the direction and guidance of Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and supervisor(s)
- To support Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners with general administration tasks and patient related administration. To support with planning and organization of psycho-educational groups and any administration linked to courses.
- To undertake research and development activities under the guidance of head of service.
- To undertake continuing professional development and personal clinical supervision.
- The role may require the candidate to be available for occasional weekend or evening working.
- Under direction and guidance of senior staff to develop initiatives around self help and community engagement, including supporting the role of volunteer or helper.
- Opportunity to work as a champion within the service within a particular specialty (e.g. LGBTQ+, Wellbeing, young people champion etc).
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description for full details.
Clinical:
- To support the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, High Intensity Therapists and admin team within the Swindon Talking Therapy Service.
- To support the Swindon Talking Therapy administration team. (occasional support with daily tasks, booking patient appointments, printing letters, when and where needed).
- To support Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners with administration tasks linked to the on line and face-to-face delivery of psychological courses to patients.
- To work alongside other team members and ensure close liaison and communication within the primary care team.
- To work independently on a day-to-day basis. Goals to be agreed and reviewed in clinical line management/supervision.
- To maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times when working with distressed people.
- To maintain clinical records and statistics as appropriate.
Teaching and Training:
- To undertake such training as might be required to maintain an appropriate level of expertise.
Research and Audit
- To assist with the audit and evaluation of the service including focus groups as required in collaboration with qualified clinical staff in the team.
- To participate in audit and personal review activity as required.
- To compile and return statistics and activity levels as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description for full details.
Clinical:
- To support the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, High Intensity Therapists and admin team within the Swindon Talking Therapy Service.
- To support the Swindon Talking Therapy administration team. (occasional support with daily tasks, booking patient appointments, printing letters, when and where needed).
- To support Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners with administration tasks linked to the on line and face-to-face delivery of psychological courses to patients.
- To work alongside other team members and ensure close liaison and communication within the primary care team.
- To work independently on a day-to-day basis. Goals to be agreed and reviewed in clinical line management/supervision.
- To maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times when working with distressed people.
- To maintain clinical records and statistics as appropriate.
Teaching and Training:
- To undertake such training as might be required to maintain an appropriate level of expertise.
Research and Audit
- To assist with the audit and evaluation of the service including focus groups as required in collaboration with qualified clinical staff in the team.
- To participate in audit and personal review activity as required.
- To compile and return statistics and activity levels as required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in Psychology, Social Sciences or Health
Desirable
- Basic counselling qualification
- Teaching qualification
- IT qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in mental health
Desirable
- Research experience
- Experience of working with the voluntary sector
- Experience of working in a caring role
- Teaching/training experience
Knowledge
Essential
- IT skills related to data handling and analysis
- Statistical knowledge
- Understanding of behavioural programme design
- Knowledge of community care
- Word processing skills
Desirable
- Training in brief therapy
- Awareness of stepped care approaches
- Understanding of common mental health problems
Skills
Essential
- Able to work collaboratively
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Able to work independently and prioritise own workload
- Good organisational skills
- Able to travel
- Flexibility and capacity to embrace change
Desirable
- Group skills
- Available for flexible working hours
- Experience of working with diversity
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in Psychology, Social Sciences or Health
Desirable
- Basic counselling qualification
- Teaching qualification
- IT qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in mental health
Desirable
- Research experience
- Experience of working with the voluntary sector
- Experience of working in a caring role
- Teaching/training experience
Knowledge
Essential
- IT skills related to data handling and analysis
- Statistical knowledge
- Understanding of behavioural programme design
- Knowledge of community care
- Word processing skills
Desirable
- Training in brief therapy
- Awareness of stepped care approaches
- Understanding of common mental health problems
Skills
Essential
- Able to work collaboratively
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Able to work independently and prioritise own workload
- Good organisational skills
- Able to travel
- Flexibility and capacity to embrace change
Desirable
- Group skills
- Available for flexible working hours
- Experience of working with diversity
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.
