Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

NHS; Horsham, Worthing; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Horsham is seeking a Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to supervise a team and deliver evidenced-based care to patients with anxiety and depression. This role includes leadership responsibilities and working collaboratively across various health care services. The ideal candidate will have experience in mental health interventions and be passionate about patient care, with opportunities for professional development and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Excellent training and development opportunities

Positive supportive work environment

Qualifications

• IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner qualification required.
• Must hold registration with the BABCP or BPS.
• Significant experience with common mental health problems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a small team of PWPs.
• Coordinate individual and group treatment options.
• Provide direction for clinical activities and support team wellbeing.

Skills

Knowledge of different mental health presentations/problems

Ability to develop a good therapeutic relationship with patients

Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively

Competent IT skills

Self-motivated, proactive approach

Education

IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner qualification

Hold registration with the BABCP or BPS

Training in risk assessment and management

Job description

Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a skilled, BABCP registered, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner interested in working with patients who experience anxiety and/or depression associated with their physical health care condition(s). This is a rare opportunity for someone to take the next step in their supervisory role and develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of working therapeutically with co‑morbid patients in West Sussex. If you’re keen to develop your Step 2 experiences and skills, then we’d like to hear from you.

Working as part of our dedicated Long Term Conditions team within NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies (WSTT), this is a varied and interesting role for an experienced PWP with a commitment to delivering evidenced‑based patient care. You’ll work closely with another Senior PWP, the Deputy Clinical Lead and with a Senior Therapist to maximise Step 2 interventions across West Sussex. We currently have 7 dedicated care pathways where our long‑term conditions (LTC) Talking Therapies team works only with patients with mild to moderate anxiety/depression who are diagnosed with one or more of the following: asthma, COPD, COVID‑19, cardiac events, Diabetes, IBS, and/or musculoskeletal conditions. Working in this way means we regularly feel proud of our recovery and reliable improvement outcomes and we receive fantastic feedback from our patients.

Main duties of the job

Holding a small caseload of patients, you’ll work in collaboration with physical healthcare services for which we’ll support and guide you as required. Our Snr PWPs lead a small S2 team of qualified and trainee PWPs providing direction and advice for their day‑to‑day clinical activities, utilising your supervisory skills, and working alongside our managers you’ll provide support for their wellbeing. As key members of our senior leadership team our Snr PWPs guide the development of our Step 2 clinical programme, coordinate individual and group treatment options, draft associated materials and identify opportunities to promote the service.

In addition to having a sound background in Step 2 interventions, to make the most of the role you’ll need to be personable, organised and a real team‑player. You’ll be comfortable working in partnership with other health care teams and will be excited to help develop our service. While we welcome applications from those with NHS England Long Term Conditions Training, for the right applicant we’ll support you until you’ve passed the course, which we’ll allocate one day per week for you to attend.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part‑time, flexi‑time, annualised hours, and flexi‑retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost‑effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton plus Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Job responsibilities

You’ll enjoy a comprehensive induction programme as well as continued support through regular clinical supervision, protected time for clinical skills sessions, continued professional development and opportunity to enhance your leadership skills. Based in Horsham or Worthing, with some travel required across West Sussex, our flexible working includes opportunities for work from home. As part of the wider NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies service, you’ll work alongside other Snr PWPs working in our core sister services with opportunities for career progression.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled, LGBT+ and BAME candidates as we would like our WSTT LTC team to reflect the diverse communities we serve. As a Trust, we recognise the positive value of diversity in providing high quality and culturally competent care; we are a Disability Confident Employer, and benefit from thriving and supportive BAME, Disability, LGBT+, and Religion and Belief Staff Networks.

Please see the attached job description and personal specification for more information regarding this vacancy.

Person Specification

Qualifications and/ or Professional Registration

• IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner qualification
• Hold registration with the BABCP or BPS
• Training in risk assessment and management
• A qualification or substantial experience in professional clinical supervision
• Successful completion of Long Term Conditions training

Experience

• Significant experience of working with people with common mental health problems
• Ability to demonstrate a range of post‑qualifying experience in delivering the full range of evidence based IAPT low intensity interventions
• Consolidated and reflective supervised post‑qualification experience, preferably in an NHS primary care or community setting
• Experience of and ability to provide leadership / mentorship / supervision
• Evidence of working within a Stepped Care model of service providing NICE compliant interventions for Anxiety / Depression
• Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
• Experience of working within set criteria and referring to other services as appropriate
• Experience of delivering training to a range of professionals
• Experience of working with suicidal clients and of risk management
• Experience in drug/alcohol management
• Experience of working with clients and families subject to Safeguarding Children or Protection of Vulnerable Adults legislation and policy
• Experience of working with primary care staff (Practice Nurses, Health Visitors, Community Matrons)
• Experience of screening, assessing and working with a wide spectrum of mental health issues and working with moderate severity of common mental health problems
• Experience of working within Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT)
• Experience of working in Primary Care setting
• Experience of working in 3rd sector mental health setting
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries, liaison and networking
• Experience of audit and research

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of different mental health presentations/problems
• Knowledge of NHS policies, procedures and guidelines
• Knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of models of assessment, screening, referral, record‑keeping and evidence based brief psychological interventions
• Knowledge of outcome measures and their use for clinical and audit purposes
• Knowledge of safeguarding children and protection of vulnerable adults legislation
• Knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
• Awareness of serious mental health presentations (psychosis, bi‑polar etc)
• The capacity to develop and utilise core psychological approaches with the primary care culture, incorporating a range of skills to meet a broad spectrum of presenting issues
• Clinical risk assessment
• Ability to be self‑reflective whilst working with patients, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Able to develop a good therapeutic relationship with patients
• Ability to listen to sensitive, emotional and distressing accounts from patients within the context of therapeutic intervention
• Ability to communicate difficult and potentially distressing information to patients in a sensitive, empathic manner
• Ability to remain focused and concentrate intensely for prolonged periods of time whilst working with vulnerable and distressed patients
• Ability to teach large groups of patients and relatives as part of psycho‑educational workshops
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to manage own caseload and time effectivelyAbility to maintain a healthy work/life balance to ensure own wellbeing.
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Regard for others and respect for the individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively both verbally, in writing and over the telephone.
• Ability to liaise and network with a wide range of organisations and members of the public
• Competent IT skills including word processing and database packages
• Ability to use outcome measures for clinical and audit purposes
• Ability to support and develop trainee and junior staff through case management supervision, skills training and reflective practice groups.
• Evidence of further training in psychological interventions
• Fluency in a community language other than English

Other requirements

• High level of enthusiasm and motivation and ability to work within a variety of team settings
• Willingness to work flexible hours, which may include before 9am and evening work
• Self‑motivated, proactive approach to work
• Be committed to the concept of recovery and mental resilience
• Willingness and ability to travel across West Sussex

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.