Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Train to retain on successful completion of course and application for registration to BABCP (can take up to 4 months following completion))
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 354-PC-20732
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- East Brighton Community Mental Health Centre
- Town
- Brighton
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 p/annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 14/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 4
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.
Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
We are recruiting for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners to join Sussex Partnership Trust working in the Brighton and Hove NHS Talking Therapies service (Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service).
NHS TT services provide evidence-based treatments for people with depression and/or a range of anxiety-based difficulties within primary care.
Please see our website for further information www.brightonandhovewellbeing.org/
Main duties of the job
As a Trainee PWP you will be responsible for your own caseload, offering high quality, evidence-based low intensity interventions including telephone, face to face, groups, and online sessions.
You will receive support from our Senior PWPs and your Team Lead in the form of case management and clinical supervision. Alongside your clinical work, you will be studying with the University of Exeter working toward a PGCert or GradCert in Psychological Therapies Practice.
The course itself consists of 45 training days, 30 of which are ‘taught’ and 15 of which are directed study days. The University will be using a mixed model of delivery including remote online lectures, workshops and tutorials. The University are also aiming to deliver some face-to-face teaching as part of the course, which will be based in London.
To succeed in this role, you will have excellent interpersonal skills and proven experience of working with people to improve their mental health and wellbeing. You will also be educated to degree level, preferably in a related field (e.g. psychology) but there is also the opportunity to access the undergraduate route if you do not have a degree level education.
Successful candidates will be employed full time by Sussex Partnership NHS Trust and will attend University 2 days per week during the academic year and the remainder of the working week in service delivering LI-CBT treatments and assessments to the Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service service users.
Working for our organisation
All candidates will be employed on a fixed term 1 year contract, however this is a train to retain position. This means that if candidates successfully complete and pass the PGCert or GradCert Psychological Therapies Practice and complete all requirements needed for BABCP registration they will be offered a permanent Band 5 PWP role within the NHS Talking Therapies services.
- The opportunity to work in a highly successful service, to be an integral part of our current NHS Talking Therapies expansion and to be part of our team
- The opportunity to gain a recognised qualification and accreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
- A dedicated team who will support you through your training year
- High quality supervision both within your service and with the University
- All the autonomy and responsibility you need to manage your caseload
- Access to numerous wellbeing and support programmes, run by our internal Health and Wellbeing team
- Access to a host of discount schemes (including gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars)
- A position within a trust rated as ‘Outstanding’ for caring and ‘Good’ overall by the CQC
- The opportunity to move to a B5 substantive post following successful completion of the training course and application for registration with the BABCP.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be expected to attend University for some of the time in person (London), and the rest remotely, and required to work a minimum of 2 days at a base in Brighton and Hove.
We strongly encourage you to check the job description and the core profession criteria carefully before applying for this post. Please explicitly state how you meet these criteria in your supporting information as this plays a significant role in our shortlisting process.
Please be aware due to the high volume of emails we receive regarding these vacancies, we unfortunately cannot answer questions that are related to your eligibility for the course. We ask you to complete your own research using the information provided within this advert, job description and person specification.
Entry requirements
Skilled Worker visa sponsorship
This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for at least 15 months from the expected start date to allow completion of the training programme and professional registration. Once the training programme has been successfully completed and professional registration obtained, the substantive Band 5 role may meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship, subject to the immigration rules in force at that time.
Can I reapply for this course if I have withdrawn previously?
Yes, you can. However, your re-entry into an NHS Talking Therapies (e.g., PWP or HI) trainee post will be governed by these factors:
1. The 2-Year Psychological Professions Funding Rule
- NHS England has a strict policy that once you start an NHS-funded psychological professions training programme, you cannot receive NHS funding for another one for two years from your expected completion date.
- This timeframe is generally calculated from the date of the qualifying exam board of the first programme. It applies regardless of how your previous enrolment ended (whether you passed, failed, or withdrew).
2. University/HEI Discretion
Because these are dual-requirement roles (you must be employed by an NHS service and accepted by a university), the university has a say in who they admit.
- Withdrawal in good standing: If you withdrew for personal, medical, or other valid reasons, you generally have a strong chance of reapplying.
- Dismissal for academic failure: Some universities have strict policies preventing candidates who previously enrolled and failed on a funded course from re-enrolling, though you may be able to appeal with extenuating circumstances.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Evidence of working with people, for at least 1 year, who have suffered with a mental health problem
- Evidence of ability to study successfully at undergraduate year 1 level or the equivalent
Desirable criteria
- Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy.
- Psychology or other health related undergraduate degree.
- Psychology or other health related postgraduate degree
Experience
Essential criteria
- Evidence of working with people who have experienced a mental health problem
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to write clear reports and letters.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in Primary Care Services
- Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Ability to manage own caseload, diary, administration, and time
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Faye Oxley
- Job title
- Trainee Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 002 0060
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