Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Sunderland Counselling Service; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health support service in Sunderland is seeking a Qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner for a full-time role, with options for part-time hours. The successful candidate will engage with clients from various backgrounds, offering low intensity psychological interventions and contributing to service improvements. Must have relevant qualifications and clinical experience. Flexible working and professional development opportunities provided.

Benefits

Regular personal development opportunities

30 days annual leave (pro-rata)

Access to employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience managing a clinical caseload as a PWP.
• Willingness to work clinically in the evenings as required.
• Understanding of NICE guidelines for anxiety and depression.

Responsibilities

• Conduct triage screening assessments and make referrals.
• Provide low intensity interventions like guided self-help.
• Liaise with external agencies to promote the service.

Skills

Communication with diverse backgrounds

Clinical note recording

Using different modalities for CBT

Education

Qualified from accredited PWP Training Course

Psychology or health and care related undergraduate degree

Completion of accredited course for long-term conditions

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Sunderland Talking Therapies to appoint a Qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner. The position is for either a qualified PWP who holds a PWP accreditation or a Trainee PWP who is nearing the end of training due to be ratified, and wants to develop their skills and experience within our team. The post is full-time (37.5) however we are open to applications for part-time hours. The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.

Interviews for this post will take place on 9th October 2025.

The successful candidate should:

• Have successfully completed an academic course of study in line with the IAPT Low Intensity National Programme and be qualified as a PWP (e.g. PG Cert Low Intensity Psychological Therapies)
• We are also interested in receiving applications from current Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners who are enrolled on a PG Cert in Low Intensity Psychological Therapies and are due to qualify. If you are a current Trainee PWP you would initially be employed at Band 4 and once marks have been ratified by your university examination board, and you have gained PWP registration this would be uplifted to a Band 5.
• Have a current registration with the BABCP or BPS, or be able to immediately apply for this once in post (PWPs will remain at band 4 until registration has been submitted and confirmed).

Main duties of the job

In this role you will:

• Undertake triage screening assessments and make onward referrals
• Provide a range of low intensity interventions e.g. guided self-help (both telephone, online consultation and face-to-face), psycho-educational courses and computerised CBT
• Have the opportunity to contribute to a number of innovative service improvement projects, champion roles and specialist interest groups
• Liaise with external agencies and services to promote Sunderland Talking Therapies
• Have the opportunity to act as a mentor to trainee PWPs
• Work closely with other PWPs to support one another and utilise skills and knowledge
• Work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team and engage in team huddles

About us

What we offer:

• Regular opportunities for ongoing continuing personal development either through in house training workshops or external training events
• Monthly line management
• Weekly case management supervision
• Fortnightly clinical skills supervision
• Monthly PWP meeting
• 30 days annual leave (pro-rata) plus statutory bank holidays
• This service is an 8-8 service weekdays. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly across the shifts required.

Job responsibilities

The salary for this post is NHS comparable, and thesuccessful applicant will be employed on Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS)terms and conditions, working within Sunderland Talking Therapies as a sub-contractor.The successful candidate will be entitled to SCS benefits such as access to our24/7 employee assistance programme to support wellbeing and will be within aprobationary period for 12 months. Sunderland Talking Therapies consists of alarge multidisciplinary team including PWPs, Community Practitioners, HighIntensity Therapies (of multiple modalities) and a counsellor. A SeniorManagement Team including Team Managers, Clinical Leads, Senior PWPs, LowIntensity Service Leads and a Clinical Manager oversee the service and supportstaff. Sunderland Talking Therapies also works as a single point of access forpatients entering Talking Therapies or Counselling via Sunderland CounsellingService, Sunderland Mind and Washington Mind.

Our PWP workforce is a valuable and highly respected elementof the service. The PWP role in our service is varied and will allow you togain a wide range of experience and skills.As a service we are committed to developing the skills and knowledge ofour PWPs through providing opportunities to participate in service developmentprojects and complete further training e.g. PWP supervisors course, LTCtraining and leadership training. We are also committed to enhancing andmaintaining the wellbeing of our PWP workforce.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working effectively as a PWP within a high-pressured setting (primary care or equivalent).
• Experience of managing own PWP clinical caseload.
• Evidence of communicating with people from diverse backgrounds and using an interpreter.
• Experience of adapting Low Intensity CBT approaches to work with neurodiversity.
• Experience of adapting Low Intensity CBT approaches to work with individuals with long-term conditions and/or medically unexplained symptoms.

Other requirements

• Willingness and ability to work clinically on an evening where required by the service.
• Willingness and ability to travel to various locations for patient appointments.

Qualifications

• Qualification from an accredited PWP Training Course.
• PWP registration with BPS or BABCP or being able and eligible to apply for this immediately once in post.
• Psychology or other health and care related undergraduate degree
• Completion of an accredited course relating to working with long-term conditions within Low Intensity therapy.

Knowledge

• An understanding of NICE guidelines for the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression and how these are applied in practice.
• An understanding of the importance of building good working relationships within a multidisciplinary team.
• An understanding of the role of clinical risk assessments within PWP work.
• An understanding of the role and benefits of both clinical skills and case management supervision.

Skills and Competencies

• High quality and timely clinical note recording (e.g. session notes and care plans) and ability to write reports and letters
• Ability to build a rapport with service users.
• Experience of using different modalities to deliver Low Intensity CBT, including face-to-face, and telephone guided self-help, online support and psychoeducational classes.

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.