Apprentice Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Otley; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is offering an Apprentice Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner role as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme. The apprenticeship trains you to deliver low intensity CBT-based interventions (Step 2) while you complete the Certificate in Psychological Wellbeing Practice Level 6.

The post involves various delivery methods (telephone, video, webinars, online platforms, face-to-face) and may include group work.

Qualifications

• Level 4 qualification or below.
• Demonstrates understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care.
• Demonstrates understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post?
• Knowledge of the Talking Therapies model and application to treat common Mental Health conditions.
• Knowledge of local communities in Cheshire and Merseyside.

Responsibilities

• Provide Step 2 Guided Self-Help low intensity interventions whilst undertaking studies.
• Support PWPs and provide guided low intensity interventions with progress to autonomy.
• Enrol with allocated university and complete academic components.
• 100% attendance and completion of pre-employment checks.
• Be available in person for the training course andTravel to locations in the community as part of the role.

Skills

Communication skills

Verbal & written communication

Relationship building

Teamwork

Time management

Evaluate training impact

Education

Level 4 qualification or below

Job description

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Apprentice Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

The closing date is 25 October 2026

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) NHS Foundation Trust is hosting a centralised recruitment on behalf of the following services, listed in the Services Description document:

• CWP (Central Cheshire)
• Everyturn Mental Health (Wirral)

This PWP apprenticeship is a developmental post within the 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapies' Programme (Talking Therapies).

The post-holder will work within the Talking Therapies service providing low intensity interventions at Step 2, whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role. The apprenticeship programme will equip the post-holder to provide a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self- management interventions to patients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression.

The method of delivery may include any of the following: Telephone, video calling, webinars, online digital platforms and face to face therapy. There may be a mix of both individual and group work.

The PWP apprenticeship leads to a Certificate in Psychological Wellbeing Practice Level: 6 (non-degree qualification).

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.

*Please note that sponsorship is not currently available for this position, with any of the service providers. If you will require sponsorship in order to undertake this role, we will be unable to progress your application.

Main duties of the job

In this training role, you will provide Step 2 Guided Self-Help low intensity interventions whilst undertaking studies at the allocated education provider (please refer to the information in the supporting documents section). Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) support people experiencing depression and / or anxiety disorders, including people with long term physical health conditions such as diabetes and respiratory problems. This training post will equip you to provide guided low intensity interventions and progress to working with a high degree of autonomy. You will be supported in the completion of both your academic study and clinical delivery by skilled and experienced supervisors.

We are looking for people with a commitment to deliver high quality evidence-based assessments and interventions, a willingness to learn new skills and a desire to improve the health and wellbeing of people anxiety and/or depression disorders. Both trainee and qualified PWPs play a critical role in helping shape the future direction of the Talking Therapies service.

Successful candidates will be motivated, resilient, efficient, empathic, supportive and will be required to have a good understanding of the needs of local populations and familiarise themselves with local knowledge of services.

About us

Talking Therapies Liverpool (Central, North & South), Halton, St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton, Warrington, Wirral, Cheshire West and Central Cheshire are services delivering psychological therapies as part of the national Talking Therapies initiative and are working together in a collaborative approach to the recruitment of the trainee Talking Therapies workforce across Cheshire and Merseyside.

These services are provided by different organisations, some of which are not NHS employers. A list of the employing services recruiting for the upcoming cohort is provided in the application form.

Please contact the individual service(s) for more specific information to support you in your application and choice of service.

*Not all Talking Therapies services are recruiting for the apprentice training programme.

The completed application form will be shared with the Cheshire & Merseyside recruiting services and the higher education institutions providing the training. In submitting your application, you are agreeing to your information being shared.

It will be compulsory to register with the British Psychological Society or the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies if you are a qualified PWP providing a service to NHS patients and are working within an appropriate system of care for the role.

Job responsibilities

Please take time to read the full job advert and the job description / person specification. In your application, please include how you meet the person specification criteria you will be shortlisted against at the application stage. Within the application form you will be asked for your first, and second choice of service. The supporting information includes a description about each Talking Therapies service and their contact details.

You must be available in person for the entirety of the training course because 100% attendance is required, along with the relevant pre-employment checks.

The application form asks for experience of working or volunteering in a health or social care setting. If you proceed with your application on this basis, please provide practical examples of how your experience and skills relate to the PWP role.

Successful applicants will enrol with the allocated university. There will be self-directed study outside of the working hours. Successful completion of the training programme will result in a minimum of a level 6 PWP Talking Therapies Practitioner qualification and the offer of a permanent PWP position in a Cheshire & Merseyside Talking Therapies Service.

As a qualified and experienced PWP you can apply for more senior posts at bands 6, 7 and 8a with additional management and leadership responsibilities or a clinical specialism.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Level 4 qualification or below

Knowledge & Expertise

• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
• Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
• Knowledge and understanding of the Talking Therapies model and application to treat common Mental Health conditions
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
• Knowledge of the impact of physical conditions on aspects of Mental Health
• Knowledge of local communities in Cheshire and Merseyside

Experience

• Evidence of working or volunteering in a health/social care setting with people who have experienced a mental health problem
• Evidence of transferable skills through employment or life experience, and how you could apply this to supporting people with mental health problems
• Experience of delivering interventions to people with Mental Health issues
• Experience of evaluation of the outcomes of interventions used in role
• Experience of working in Primary Care Services
• Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place and demonstrating clinical outcomes
• Experience of presenting in a group setting

Skills

• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
• Computer literate & ability to use a range of programmes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
• Able to develop good relationships with people
• Ability to function well as part of a multi - disciplinary team
• Ability to manage own time

Training

• Able to meet the travel needs of the training
• Able to complete academic components of the course

Other

• High level of enthusiasm and motivation
• Advanced communication skills
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Willingness 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
• Willingness to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Ability and willingness to travel to locations in the community, as part of the PWP apprenticeship role

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.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

£28,392 to £31,157 a yearper annum (pro rata)