Job summary
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) Band 5
Permanent
4 WTE
Tower Hamlets Talking Therapies are looking to recruit full-time, enthusiastic and motivated Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners to join our dynamic and innovative service.
Based in East London we have provided psychological therapy services to general practice and the local community for over 30 years. We are a stepped care service offering evidence based interventions at Steps 2 and 3. Our team consists of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Cognitive Behaviour Therapists and Clinical & Counselling Psychologists. As a service, we actively encourage different theoretical interests and offer specialist areas of development such as LTC/Eating Disorders/Perinatal
We have a firm commitment to CPD and offer high quality supervision as well as the opportunity to participate in team initiatives. The team works closely with a variety of trained professionals across a range of therapeutic orientations including, DIT, Systemic, IPT, CBT and Psychodynamic.
We have always been a proactive and forward looking service, with a strong commitment to meeting the needs of the diverse community in which we are located and we particularly welcome applicants with fluency in Sylheti.
For more information, please contact:
Thakmina Begum
S2 PWP Lead
thakmina.begum1@nhs.net
Closing Date: 6th August 2023
Interview Date: 10th or 11th August 2023
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will work within the IAPT service providing high volume low intensity interventions which will be a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions to service to clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
About us
Psychological Well-being Practitioners provide assessment, triage, treatment and mental health promotion activities within primary care and community settings, for people experiencing common mental health problems in the self-management of their recovery. Treatment programmes are designed to aid clinical improvement and social inclusion
PWPs do this through the provision of information and support for evidence-based low-intensity psychological interventions. These interventions place a greater emphasis on patient self-management and are less burdensome then traditional psychological treatments.
PWPs workers are expected to operate in a stepped care, high volume environment carrying a significant number of active cases at any one time, with workers having a minimum of 25 hours' clinical contact per week. Low-intensity workers also provide information on common pharmacological treatments and support patients in decisions which optimise their use of such treatments.
It is the expectation of the Trust and its commissioners that clinical services will be organised so that direct clinical contact time with service users is maximised. Currently the number of contact hours per week expected of this post is 25 per week, though this may be reviewed from time to time. The number of contact hours achieved will be routinely monitored and discussed through Trust contract and performance arrangements including in supervision.
Job description
Job responsibilities
It is expected that PWPs will have a number of main roles, which include the following.
- Planning, managing, and implementing therapeutic interventions utilising a facilitated self-help approach.
- Face to face work with service users with common mental health problems such as anxiety, anger management and depression across service sites and GP surgeries.
- Telephone Low Intensity work with service users.
- Telephone liaison with other professionals to expedite signposting to other service where appropriate.
- Integrated working with other elements of the services provided by THTT.
- Work alongside practice teams including liaison with service users and carers, audit activity, and advice and support to GPs and practice staff.
- Networking with the wider health and social care system.
- Supporting and educating service users regarding medication regimes
- Mental health promotion
- To work with people from a diverse backgrounds in a culturally sensitive manner.
- Assist service users to identify and effectively manage their emotional distress and psychological disturbance.
- To organise and manage a substantial caseload of active cases, with workers completing treatment for 250 patients per year, and with an expectation of a minimum of 25 hours clinical contact per week for 1.0 WTE.
- To provide information about other local services relevant to the clients needs and or cultural preferences.
- To support and facilitate the use of the computerised cognitive behavioural therapy service and other media to support delivery of guided self-help packages of care as approved in NICE guidelines
- To attend training appropriate to the role
- Expected to innovate and be creative in terms of service delivery.
- Expected to consolidate learning from PWP Training
Job description
Job responsibilities
It is expected that PWPs will have a number of main roles, which include the following.
- Planning, managing, and implementing therapeutic interventions utilising a facilitated self-help approach.
- Face to face work with service users with common mental health problems such as anxiety, anger management and depression across service sites and GP surgeries.
- Telephone Low Intensity work with service users.
- Telephone liaison with other professionals to expedite signposting to other service where appropriate.
- Integrated working with other elements of the services provided by THTT.
- Work alongside practice teams including liaison with service users and carers, audit activity, and advice and support to GPs and practice staff.
- Networking with the wider health and social care system.
- Supporting and educating service users regarding medication regimes
- Mental health promotion
- To work with people from a diverse backgrounds in a culturally sensitive manner.
- Assist service users to identify and effectively manage their emotional distress and psychological disturbance.
- To organise and manage a substantial caseload of active cases, with workers completing treatment for 250 patients per year, and with an expectation of a minimum of 25 hours clinical contact per week for 1.0 WTE.
- To provide information about other local services relevant to the clients needs and or cultural preferences.
- To support and facilitate the use of the computerised cognitive behavioural therapy service and other media to support delivery of guided self-help packages of care as approved in NICE guidelines
- To attend training appropriate to the role
- Expected to innovate and be creative in terms of service delivery.
- Expected to consolidate learning from PWP Training
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- IAPT PWP Training or Equivalent
- BABCP Accreditations as a PWP
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience in delivering low intensity interventions such as guided self-help
- Experience of conducting risk assessment and developing risk management plans
- Experience of working in an IAPT service
- Experience of working people presenting with mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression
Knowledge
Essential
- High level of verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to carry out information gathering assessments inclusive of thorough risk assessments
- Ability to manage high volume caseload
- Ability to utilise clinical and case management supervision effectively
- Ability to keep clear and concise clinical records
- Knowledge of Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions
- Understanding of main medications used and their side effects in treatment of anxiety and depression
Desirable
- Fluent in a language other than English
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- IAPT PWP Training or Equivalent
- BABCP Accreditations as a PWP
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience in delivering low intensity interventions such as guided self-help
- Experience of conducting risk assessment and developing risk management plans
- Experience of working in an IAPT service
- Experience of working people presenting with mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression
Knowledge
Essential
- High level of verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to carry out information gathering assessments inclusive of thorough risk assessments
- Ability to manage high volume caseload
- Ability to utilise clinical and case management supervision effectively
- Ability to keep clear and concise clinical records
- Knowledge of Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions
- Understanding of main medications used and their side effects in treatment of anxiety and depression
Desirable
- Fluent in a language other than English
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.
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).
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.
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).
