Job summary
Our NHS Talking Therapies, TALKWORKS service, is expanding, and we're looking for enthusiastic and passionate Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners to join our teams across Devon. Whether you're newly qualified or an experienced Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, we want to hear from you.
If you're newly qualified, you'll have the opportunity to enroll in our well-established and highly-praised Preceptorship Programme, which provides a supportive transition into your qualified role and helps you find your therapeutic style.
As part of the NHS Talking Therapies service, you'll be responsible for delivering evidence-based CBT self-management interventions to individuals with mild to moderate mental health difficulties, ensuring fidelity to NICE guidance and the latest evidence.
TALKWORKS values long-term success and offers learning and development opportunities, with potential progression to roles such as Senior PWP, PWP Practice Lead, and HI Therapist. We embrace the unique skills and backgrounds of our team members to enhance the Devon communities we serve.
We also have close ties with Exeter University, providing continued professional development, including training in Long Term Health Condition, Supervisor, and Enhanced Practice.
You will receive benefits of an NHS role, we offer flexible working hours, pension, discounts, and various other schemes. A refer a friend scheme is applicable to this vacancy (see supporting documents for further information).
Main duties of the job
TALKWORKS covers the whole of Devon (except Plymouth) and has teams based in Exeter, East Devon, Torbay, North Devon, and South & West Devon. During the interview process, you'll have the opportunity to discuss your team preference.
The primary purpose of this role is to improve the psychological health and wellbeing of the people of Devon. As part of the NHS Talking Therapies service, you'll be responsible for providing high volume, low-intensity interventions, which will include a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions at Step 2 for clients with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression.
Our service operates in a hybrid model, with appointments taking place in our own offices and clinics, as well as at joined clinics such as GP surgeries and remote appointments.
Depending on your experience, you may also be involved in providing supervision to other team members. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to participate in reflective practice, clinical skills development, in-house CPD, training days, and team away days to fully integrate into the TALKWORKS support network.
Join our team at TALKWORKS, where we provide support from day one, enabling you to reach your potential and make a positive impact on lives. Please refer to our helpful FAQ document, which can be found alongside this advert.
Start dates are flexible, and please note that remote-only positions are not available.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health & learning disability services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
Our values
We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Applications are reviewed on a regular basis with shortlisting and interviews taking place on a monthly basis so please do not delay in submitting your application
Job Purpose
The principal purpose of the job is to improve
the psychological health & wellbeing of people served.
The post-holder will work within the NHS Talking Therapies service providing high volume low intensity interventions which will be a range
of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions at
Step 2 for clients with mild to moderate anxiety and/or 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.
This will be
achieved in this post by:
1.
Clinical
- Accept referrals
via agreed protocols within the service.
- Educate and
involve family members and others in treatment as necessary.
- Adhere to an
agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of client contacts
offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise
waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and
convenient.
- Attend
multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment,
where appropriate.
- Complete all
requirements relating to data collection within the service.
- Keep coherent
records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use
these records and clinical outcome
data in clinical decision making.
- Work closely with
other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down
arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
- Assess and
integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy
process.
- Operate at all
times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises
and respects diversity.
2.
Training and Supervision
- Prepare and
present clinical information for all patients on their caseload to
clinical case management supervisors within the service on an agreed and
scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the clinical
governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are
delivered.
- Respond to and
implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in clinical practice.
- Engage in and respond
to personal development supervision to improve competences and clinical
practice.
3.
Professional
- Ensure the
maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any
regulating, 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).
- Ensure that client
confidentiality is protected at all times.
- Be aware of, and
keep up to date with advances in the spheres of treatment for common
mental health problems.
- Ensure clear
objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists
on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
- Participate in
individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
- 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.
- Attend relevant
conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
- To work
independently within a defined managed and occupational context. To work
within professional guidelines and Trust procedures and protocols.
- The post holder
will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance
to Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the
British Psychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body.
4.
General
- To contribute to
the development of best practice within the service.
- To maintain
up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and
procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.
- All employees have
a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health
of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.
- All employees have
a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information
processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential,
secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and
Confidentiality Policies.
- It is the
responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position
for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other
interests in the course of their official duties.
Duties and Responsibilities
Communication
and Working Relationship Skills
- Clients, family and carers: To communicate in a skilled and
sensitive manner with clients who may have specific difficulties in understand
and/or communicating and who may be distressed.
- Multidisciplinary team colleagues: To liaise/work with colleagues in the
multi-professional integrated mental health and wellbeing service and the step
4 psychological therapies team as required.
- Health & social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of
health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a
skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the
assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the services care.
To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological
principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
-
Senior
managers & professional staff: To maintain and
build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in
the specialist setting and in DPT, to foster a positive approach to the
integrated mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective
negotiation.
Planning
and Organisational Skills
- The psychology and psychological
therapies service:
To plan and prioritise own workload.
-
The
multidisciplinary service: To provide psychology knowledge to the
multi-professional planning, development and marketing of mental health and
wellbeing services.
Responsibility
for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
- Assessment & intervention: To make assessments, and deliver
treatment interventions within a supervised context for individuals, carers,
families and groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
- Assess and supports people with a common mental health
problem in the self-management of their recovery.
- Undertakes patient-centred interviews which identifies areas
where the person wishes to see change and or recovery and makes an accurate
assessment of risk to self and others.
- Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to
the departments referral protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the
relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-up the
persons treatment to high intensity psychological therapy.
-
Provide
a range of information and support for evidence based high-volume low-intensity
psychological treatments. This may include guided self-help computerised CBT,
information about pharmacological treatments. This work may be face to face,
telephone or via other media.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development
Implementation
- The post holder is responsible for their own professional
actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice
Guidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
-
Policy
& service: To follow policy guidance in own role and to
comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.
Responsibility
for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources
- Careful use of equipment.
Responsibility
for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management
- Leadership & supervision: To assist the work of less
experienced assistants &/or trainees as required. To provide supervision to
health and social care colleagues.
-
To
ensure all clinical care and treatment they provide is carried out under
appropriate supervision and leadership.
Responsibility
for Information Resources and Administrative Duties
- To maintain accurate records.
-
To
be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and respond to
the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much of its internal
communication.
Responsibility
for Research and Development
- To undertake service-relevant research and development
activity agreed within the service, and to organise personal or service led R
& D activities as required.
-
To
continuously update the skills and techniques relevant to their clinical work.
Freedom
to Act
- Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
-
To
ensure all clinical care and treatment they provide is carried out under
appropriate supervision and leadership.
Any
Other Specific Tasks Required
- To ensure all clinical care and treatment they provide is
carried out under appropriate supervision and leadership.
-
To
continuously update the skills and techniques relevant to their clinical work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Applications are reviewed on a regular basis with shortlisting and interviews taking place on a monthly basis so please do not delay in submitting your application
Job Purpose
The principal purpose of the job is to improve
the psychological health & wellbeing of people served.
The post-holder will work within the NHS Talking Therapies service providing high volume low intensity interventions which will be a range
of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions at
Step 2 for clients with mild to moderate anxiety and/or 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.
This will be
achieved in this post by:
1.
Clinical
- Accept referrals
via agreed protocols within the service.
- Educate and
involve family members and others in treatment as necessary.
- Adhere to an
agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of client contacts
offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise
waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and
convenient.
- Attend
multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment,
where appropriate.
- Complete all
requirements relating to data collection within the service.
- Keep coherent
records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use
these records and clinical outcome
data in clinical decision making.
- Work closely with
other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down
arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
- Assess and
integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy
process.
- Operate at all
times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises
and respects diversity.
2.
Training and Supervision
- Prepare and
present clinical information for all patients on their caseload to
clinical case management supervisors within the service on an agreed and
scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the clinical
governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are
delivered.
- Respond to and
implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in clinical practice.
- Engage in and respond
to personal development supervision to improve competences and clinical
practice.
3.
Professional
- Ensure the
maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any
regulating, 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).
- Ensure that client
confidentiality is protected at all times.
- Be aware of, and
keep up to date with advances in the spheres of treatment for common
mental health problems.
- Ensure clear
objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists
on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
- Participate in
individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
- 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.
- Attend relevant
conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
- To work
independently within a defined managed and occupational context. To work
within professional guidelines and Trust procedures and protocols.
- The post holder
will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance
to Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the
British Psychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body.
4.
General
- To contribute to
the development of best practice within the service.
- To maintain
up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and
procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.
- All employees have
a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health
of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.
- All employees have
a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information
processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential,
secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and
Confidentiality Policies.
- It is the
responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position
for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other
interests in the course of their official duties.
Duties and Responsibilities
Communication
and Working Relationship Skills
- Clients, family and carers: To communicate in a skilled and
sensitive manner with clients who may have specific difficulties in understand
and/or communicating and who may be distressed.
- Multidisciplinary team colleagues: To liaise/work with colleagues in the
multi-professional integrated mental health and wellbeing service and the step
4 psychological therapies team as required.
- Health & social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of
health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a
skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the
assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the services care.
To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological
principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
-
Senior
managers & professional staff: To maintain and
build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in
the specialist setting and in DPT, to foster a positive approach to the
integrated mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective
negotiation.
Planning
and Organisational Skills
- The psychology and psychological
therapies service:
To plan and prioritise own workload.
-
The
multidisciplinary service: To provide psychology knowledge to the
multi-professional planning, development and marketing of mental health and
wellbeing services.
Responsibility
for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
- Assessment & intervention: To make assessments, and deliver
treatment interventions within a supervised context for individuals, carers,
families and groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
- Assess and supports people with a common mental health
problem in the self-management of their recovery.
- Undertakes patient-centred interviews which identifies areas
where the person wishes to see change and or recovery and makes an accurate
assessment of risk to self and others.
- Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to
the departments referral protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the
relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-up the
persons treatment to high intensity psychological therapy.
-
Provide
a range of information and support for evidence based high-volume low-intensity
psychological treatments. This may include guided self-help computerised CBT,
information about pharmacological treatments. This work may be face to face,
telephone or via other media.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development
Implementation
- The post holder is responsible for their own professional
actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice
Guidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
-
Policy
& service: To follow policy guidance in own role and to
comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.
Responsibility
for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources
- Careful use of equipment.
Responsibility
for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management
- Leadership & supervision: To assist the work of less
experienced assistants &/or trainees as required. To provide supervision to
health and social care colleagues.
-
To
ensure all clinical care and treatment they provide is carried out under
appropriate supervision and leadership.
Responsibility
for Information Resources and Administrative Duties
- To maintain accurate records.
-
To
be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and respond to
the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much of its internal
communication.
Responsibility
for Research and Development
- To undertake service-relevant research and development
activity agreed within the service, and to organise personal or service led R
& D activities as required.
-
To
continuously update the skills and techniques relevant to their clinical work.
Freedom
to Act
- Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
-
To
ensure all clinical care and treatment they provide is carried out under
appropriate supervision and leadership.
Any
Other Specific Tasks Required
- To ensure all clinical care and treatment they provide is
carried out under appropriate supervision and leadership.
-
To
continuously update the skills and techniques relevant to their clinical work.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of working with people who have experienced a mental health problem.
- Experience of working in Primary Care Services.
Desirable
- Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
- Evidence of working in the local community.
- Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of Patient Case Management systems.
- Knowledge of IAPT data requirements.
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care.
- Demonstrates a 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.
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
- Computer literate.
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
Desirable
- Knowledge and skills in the practical applications of all MS Office products.
- Knowledge of mandatory NHS reporting requirements.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills.
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients.
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality.
- Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training.
- Ability to integrate information; make evaluations, formulations and decisions.
- Organisation and time management skills.
- Ability to manage own caseload and time.
Desirable
- Received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.
- Fluent in languages other than English.
- Small-scale project management.
- Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation.
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification from PWP Training Course (Post Graduate Certificate or Level 3 undergraduate course), or recognised PWP top up training.
- Membership of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, or registration with a professional body.
Desirable
- Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, or within a psychological therapy.
- Psychology or other health related undergraduate degree.
- Psychology or other health related postgraduate degree.
Supporting Information / Personal Statement
Essential
- Please use this space to include a personal statement or any other supporting information you may have.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of working with people who have experienced a mental health problem.
- Experience of working in Primary Care Services.
Desirable
- Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
- Evidence of working in the local community.
- Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of Patient Case Management systems.
- Knowledge of IAPT data requirements.
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care.
- Demonstrates a 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.
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
- Computer literate.
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
Desirable
- Knowledge and skills in the practical applications of all MS Office products.
- Knowledge of mandatory NHS reporting requirements.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills.
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients.
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality.
- Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training.
- Ability to integrate information; make evaluations, formulations and decisions.
- Organisation and time management skills.
- Ability to manage own caseload and time.
Desirable
- Received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.
- Fluent in languages other than English.
- Small-scale project management.
- Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation.
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification from PWP Training Course (Post Graduate Certificate or Level 3 undergraduate course), or recognised PWP top up training.
- Membership of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, or registration with a professional body.
Desirable
- Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, or within a psychological therapy.
- Psychology or other health related undergraduate degree.
- Psychology or other health related postgraduate degree.
Supporting Information / Personal Statement
Essential
- Please use this space to include a personal statement or any other supporting information you may have.
