Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

BAND 4

To work collaboratively with primary health care staff to extend the range of effective treatment and support available to people of all ages with common mental health problems. To actively promote positive mental health and the importance of mental well being. To support primary health care staff in developing skills and resources to address mental health issues.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1. You will be expected to take up the first available training place and successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Low Intensity Therapies (IAPT). This is a development post and on successfully completing the course, you will then transfer to a permanent Band 5 Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner post. The extension to your contract is conditional upon you successfully achieving the IAPT Qualification. Should you be excluded from the IAPT course or fail in part or fail any of the required module(s), allowing for one re-sit only. You will be served with the appropriate statutory notice to terminate your employment with the Trust.
2. To provide information and support to Primary Health Care colleagues to facilitate the provision of evidence based interventions for those experiencing common mental health problems.
3. To work to overcome social exclusion by promoting access to mental health services for individuals and groups experiencing discrimination and deprivation.
4. To support the development of joint working between primary care, carers, service users, voluntary and self help groups in the local community to address the promotion of good mental health and address issues contributing to mental health problems.
5. To support clinical audits and research projects providing data collection, entry and analysis as requested by the service.

BAND 5

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.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1. Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
2. Assess and supports people with a common mental health problem in the self management of their recovery.
3. 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.
4. Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the departments referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-ups the persons treatment to high intensity.
5. 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.

For full job description please see attached supporting documents

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Band 4:
• An honours degree in health & social care, sociology, psychology or other closely related subject
• -
• Band 5:
• Post Graduate Certificate for Low Intensity Therapies (IAPT) and Psychology degree or other related degree

Desirable

• Band 5:
• Post Graduate Mental Health Certificate or Mental Health Professional qualification (nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, etc)

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Band 4 & 5:
• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post
• A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy)

Experience

Essential

• Band 4:
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems
• -
• Band 5:
• Substantial mental health working experience including voluntary work or expertise gained by experience of mental health problems
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication
• Able to write clear reports and letters

Desirable

• Band 4:
• Experience of working with people with communication difficulties
• -
• Band 5:
• Experience of working in Primary Care Services
• Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• Evidence of working in the local community

Special Knowledge/Skills

Essential

• Band 4:
• Commitment to social inclusion
• Ability to work in partnership with service users, carers and community organisations
• Basic work processing and computer skills
• Ability to take responsibility for own learning and commitment to professional development
• Commitment to equal opportunities/anti-oppressive practice/valuing diversity
• Problem solving skills
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Good presentation skills
• -
• Band 5:
• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
• Computer literate
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
• Applicants should demonstrate evidence of interpersonal skills to engage and develop working alliances with colleagues and patients
• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
• High level of enthusiasm and motivation
• Advanced communication skills
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Ability to be self reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision

Desirable

• Band 5:
• Received risk assessment training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work/employment 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

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Band 4:
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
• Ability to work flexibly to meet service user and carer need
• -
• Band 4 & 5:
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)

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.

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Cudworth Health Centre,

Rose Tree Avenue,

Cudworth,

South Yorkshire,

S72 8UA

Employer's website

https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)