Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Transformation Unit; Wimborne Minster, Weymouth; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Healthcare support

Job summary

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (Band 4) across Dorset, available full-time or part-time with hybrid university-based training.

The post supports mild to moderate anxiety and depression, delivering CBT-based guided self-help, with initial assessments and liaison with housing, CMHT and employment services. DBS checks are required and driving is essential for Trust business.

Qualifications

• Training year split between university study and service work (Hybrid learning)
• Gives experience in completing CBT-based Guided Self-Help interventions for mild to moderate anxiety/depression
• Trainee PWPs work on a hybrid basis with minimum two days per week in person
• Intensive supervision and workplace support during training

Responsibilities

• Provide initial patient assessments and treatment to support people
• Provide phone, online, and face-to-face support
• Carrying out risk assessments
• Liaise with other agencies, signposting and referring patients to services
• Receive regular clinical supervision

Skills

Mental health experience

CBT understanding

Ability to study at level 4/5

Liaison and signposting experience

Excellent communication

Education

Level 5 qualification for Graduate Certificate route

Level 6 qualification for Post Graduate Certificate route

GCSE Maths and English grade C or above

Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or related therapy

Psychology or health-related degree

Job description

Main area Mental Health Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (Expectation on one evening per week.) Job ref 152-M389.26

Employer Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Steps 2 Wellbeing Dorset Town Wimborne Salary £28,392 - £31,157 p.a./pro rata for part time Salary period Yearly Closing 08/11/2026 23:59

Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Band 4

Job overview

Want to join an innovative team with a strong focus on staff wellbeing, achieving good recovery rates, and developing your professional knowledge and skills?

If so, why not join the Dorset Steps 2 Wellbeing Service as a PWP. This is an exciting opportunity to join a Low-Intensity Team across Dorset, the successful candidates would be based at either:

• Purbeck and East Dorset – Oakcroft, BH21 1RR
• Weymouth and Portland – The Annexe, DT4 7TB
• North Dorset – Abby Walk, SP7 8BB
• Poole – Oakcroft, BH21 1RR
• Bournemouth East – Tower Road, BH1 4LB
• Bournemouth West – Tower Road, BH1 4LB

Please indicate your preference on the application form.

Dorset Steps2Wellbeing is a dynamic, and progressive service with a friendly and supportive team. You will work within NHS Talking Therapies, providing psychological interventions to people with mild to moderate common mental health problems, such as anxiety disorders and depression.

As a PWP, you will provide initial patient assessments and provide treatment to help support people by:

• Provide phone, online, and face-to-face support
• Carrying out risk assessments
• Liaise with other agencies, signposting and referring patients to services, such as housing, Community Mental Health Team, and employment.
• Receive regular clinical supervision

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 7th and 14 th December 2026.

Interviews will be face-to-face at The Conifers, Dorchester, DT1 2PG

Main duties of the job

You will undertake academic training provided and accredited by the University of Exeter. During the training year, your time will be split between university study and working within the service as a Trainee PWP.

The training programme includes learning how to complete person‑centred assessments, as well as developing skills in delivering CBT‑based Guided Self‑Help interventions for individuals experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety disorders, including Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and OCD.

University study is delivered using a hybrid learning model.

Trainee PWPs work on a hybrid basis within the service, with a minimum of two days per week spent delivering face‑to‑face interventions and/or working from the office.

All Trainee PWPs will receive intensive supervision and workplace support as an integral part of their training.

Experience of working in a setting with exposure to people experiencing mental health difficulties

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.

Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Please ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.

Driving is essential for this role. You are required to have a full and valid UK driving licence and to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.

Working for our organisation

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do, and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion, and expertise in all we do.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You must hold a Level 5 qualification for Graduate Certificate route or a Level 6 qualification for Post Graduate Certificate route.

Or, meet the Apprenticeship route criteria attached to this vacancy.

The training year can be completed as full-time or part-time via the Level 5 qualification for Graduate Certificate route or a Level 6 qualification for Post Graduate Certificate route ONLY.The part-time route is completed over a period of 18 months, as opposed to 12 months for the full-time route, and as either a 0.6 or 0.8 WTE.

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If we suspect you have used AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [e-mail]

Person specification

Qualifications

• Evidence of ability to study successfully at level 4 or 5
• GCSE Maths and English Grade C or above or grade 4 and above or functional skills
• Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy
• Psychology or other health related undergraduate / postgraduate degree

Skills / Experience

• Experience of working with people who have experienced a mental health problem
• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care.
• Demonstrates an understanding of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and how it relates to this post.
• Experience of working in primary Care Services
• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• Experience of working in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
• Experience of facilitating courses or groups and / or teaching experience

Personal Qualities / Aptitudes

• Ability to work under pressure to set deadlines and to work under own initiative
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
• Demonstrates a 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

Additional requirements

• High level of enthusiasm and motivation for the role
• Ability to use clinical supervision, self reflection and personal development positively and effectively
• Fluent in languages other than English

At Dorset HealthCare we want to offer all our staff the opportunity to work flexibly, putting health and wellbeing first, whilst continuing the delivery of excellent patient care. Flexible working looks different for everyone and we welcome applicants to discuss flexible working opportunities with the recruiting manager.

What working for us will provide:

• 27 days of annual leave, rising to 33 over ten years (for staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions)
• Health and wellbeing services
• Flexible working options, including family-friendly hours
• Free training and one-to-one career coaching to reach your career goals
• Preceptorship programme for newly qualified nurses and AHPs
• Access to nine staff networks – have a voice and transform our Trust
• Relocation costs where applicable
• Salary sacrifice scheme opportunities – including childcare vouchers, car lease and cycle scheme, home technology equipment, and buying annual leave
• NHS discounts to save on your shopping, gym membership and more

Visit our careers website to learn more about our culture, staff stories, benefits, development programmes and opportunities.

Regrettably, we are not able to offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you attempt to apply for a role that we do not offer sponsorship for, you will receive notification of this at the time of starting your application and you will not be able to proceed. At this point, we wish to thank you for your interest in working for us and apologise we cannot take your application any further.

Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Further guidance can be found on the gov.uk website. It is vital that you provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.