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Job summary

Main area
Community MH
Grade
Band 4
Contract
18 months (Fixed term)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
350-CC7175931
Employer
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Harry Blackman House
Town
St Helens
Salary
£26,530 - £29,114 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/05/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust logo

Trainee Apprentice Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Band 4

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Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnic minorities, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.

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Job overview

This is an apprentice trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner role within the NHS Talking therapies programme. Please note that there are specific requirements for this training route. Applicants must be 18+.  

Specifically the post-holder will have GCSE Maths and English grade C/4 or above, and will have studied and achieved a Level 3 qualification OR possess the relevant skills and experiential knowledge to demonstrate your ability to study at Level 6

However; applicants with qualifications beyond level 3 will not be eligible for the apprenticeship route.  

 

The training post will equip the post -holder to provide a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self- management interventions to clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression.

The post- holder will attend all taught and self-study days required by the education provider (Liverpool John Moores University), and submit the required work as specified. They will work in the service for the remaining days of the week, developing their clinical skills.

You will be supported in the completion of both your academic study and clinical delivery by skilled and experienced supervisors.

The training posts are available within the St Helens Talking Therapies service. Please note; upon qualifying however the post-holder will work within whichever team holds vacancies.  

Main duties of the job

Clinical
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. Undertake 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 department’s referral protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-up the person’s treatment to high intensity psychological therapy.
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.
7. 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.

 

 

Working for our organisation

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES


Clinical
1.
Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
2.
Assess and support people with a common mental health problem in the self-management of their recovery.
3.
Undertake 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 department’s referral protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-up the person’s treatment to high intensity psychological therapy.
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.
6.
Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary. Clinical Lead Service Lead
Operations Lead
Clinical Team
Manager
Team Lead
Senior PWPs
Qualified PWP
Trainee
Apprentice PWP
IAPT Lead
Clinicians
27/11/2024
7.
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.
8.
Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
9.
Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
10.
Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.
11.
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.
12.
Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process.
13.
Operate at all times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises and respects diversity.
Training and supervision
14.
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.
15.
Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in clinical practice.
16.
Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and clinical practice.
Professional
17.
Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g. BPS, UKCP, BABCP), 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).
18.
Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
19.
Be aware of and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of CBT.
20.
Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
21.
Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.
22.
Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
23.
Keep up to date all records in relation to CPD and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
24.
Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
IT responsibilities
25.
The post-holder will input and maintain, appropriate computer and manual clinical records and statistical data in relation to case management recording.
26.
The post-holder will engage in relevant computer and IT training as required.
27.
The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that those psychologists they are responsible for/supervise engage in relevant computer and IT training as required and will input and maintain, appropriate computer and manual clinical records and statistical data.
28.
To ensure that suitable IT systems are in place to record and audit clinical and professional activity in the relevant psychology services.


GENERIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL STAFF
All post holders will agree to:
• Commit to the vision of supporting Mersey Care in becoming a leading organisation in the provision of community services, mental health care, addiction services and learning disability care, and in doing so fully utilise their skills and experience to support the objectives of the Trust.
• Role model the values of the Trust – Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respectfulness, Enthusiasm and Support– in all activities and interactions with employees, service users and other stakeholders.
• Challenge the stigma associated with mental health and learning difficulties.
• Comply with the Duty of Candour, defined by Francis as: 'The volunteering of all relevant information to persons who have or may have been harmed by the provision of services, whether or not the information has been requested and whether or not a complaint or a report about that provision has been made.’
• Work across professional and organisational boundaries to improve services for all.
• Maintain their specific knowledge base and develop new skills.
• Value the contribution of the patient/ service user voice.
• Operate within any organisational codes of practice or those from a relevant professional body.
• Respect equality and diversity across all areas of working practice and communications with staff, service users and other stakeholders.
• Take responsibility for the accurate and timely collection and recording of data and ensuring all personally identifiable information is protected and used only for the purposes for which it was intended.
• Comply with all health and safety legislation and local policies and procedures.
• Adhere to all organisational policies.
• Have knowledge and understanding of technology in the workplace which is sufficient to maintain their efficiency and also how technology can empower service users in a digital environment.
• Comply with the NHS Constitution in relation to the staff responsibilities that it sets out for NHS employees.
• Attend a one day Just and Learning & Civility and Respect training workshop.
• Be an ambassador for Just & Learning and Civility & Respect following the training.
• Positively advocate the just and learning culture within your team.
• Be a confident supporter and implementer of the Trust CARES Values including Civility & Respect within your team.
• Support their team/ services to create a positive environment for Just and Learning Culture.
• Participate in Just and Learning Culture events.
•  Bring Just and Learning Culture updates/ information to the attention of team members and other MCT colleagues they work with.
• Support and encourage the sharing of concerns about the safety and quality of care with senior leaders with the aim of improving safety and quality.
• Actively participate in creating an open culture within your team so that concerns and difficulties can be discussed safely and respectfully.
• Speaking up in the event that they are exposed to incivility between colleagues in the workplace #iwillspeakup.
• Listening and understanding others who have concerns and taking a collaborative approach to work towards a solution to improve civility and respect.


This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be reviewed in light of the changing needs of the Trust in consultation with the postholder.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • You will have studied and achieved a Level 3 qualification OR possess the relevant skills and experiential knowledge to demonstrate your ability to study at Level 6
  • Working towards Foundation Degree Examples of ‘Level 3’ qualifications (as specified by the National Framework of Qualifications): o BTEC Level 3 o NVQ/Apprenticeship level 3 o A-Level AND • GCSE Maths and English grade C or above or grade 4 and above, or equivalent qualification • Qualifications gained overseas will be required to be checked by NARIC for equivalency You must be able to evidence all essential qualifications and experience
  • Additional academic/study support can be offered to students on the programme if required
  • GCSE Maths and English grade C or above or grade 4 and above, or equivalent qualification
  • Qualifications gained overseas will be required to be checked by NARIC for equivalency You must be able to evidence all essential qualifications and experience
Desirable criteria
  • Level 2 Health and Social Care qualification

Knowledge / Experience

Essential criteria
  • Have an understanding of anxiety and depression
  • Relevant experience of working with / being a carer for people with common mental health problems OR Evidence of transferable skills through employment or life experience, and how you could apply this to supporting people with mental health problems
  • Experience of managing own workload and time
  • Experience of working in a role where agreed targets have been in place, demonstrating performance
  • Experience of working effectively in a team
Desirable criteria
  • Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
  • Knowledge of self-help materials for managing common mental health problems
  • Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
  • Proven relevant experience of working in the local community
  • Experience of working within a Health or Social Care related environment
  • Demonstrates an understanding of psychological therapies used in the treatment of anxiety or depression

Values

Essential criteria
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High Professional Standards
  • Responsive to Service Users
  • Engaging Leadership Style
  • Strong Customer Service Belief
  • Transparency and Honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change Orientated

Skills

Essential criteria
  • High level of enthusiasm and motivation
  • Demonstrates high standards in all aspects of communication
  • Ability to understand the importance of personal development
  • Ability to be self reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
  • Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
  • Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with service users
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
  • Computer literate
  • Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the Mersey Care footprint
Desirable criteria
  • Fluent in community languages other than English

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Fair Employment Charter Status - Aspiring LevelVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardCTP The Ministry of Defence partnering with Right ManagementNavajo - Merseyside and CheshireDisability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Amna Mehboob
Job title
Team Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01744 415650
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