Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
The closing date is 18 November 2025
2 x 37.5 hour training posts - fixed term 12 months
This is an excellent opportunity to work within Barnsley NHS TalkingTherapies Service whilst receiving training and developing skills in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and depression. You will also be given the opportunity to develop group work skills, promote the service in the community and develop an awareness of what other community services are available. This is a supported fast paced work environment and a very rewarding job as you will see the positive impact that evidenced based treatment can have on clients lives as well as learning personal skills for life.
While this role meets the eligibility requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship, due to the short-term nature of the contract, the Trust will not be offering sponsorship for this post.
We welcome applications from individuals who already have the right to work in the UK or are on a visa route that permits employment without sponsorship. Such applications will be considered alongside all others.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.
Main duties of the job
As a trainee PWP you will attend University of Sheffield one day per week and the remainder of the week work within Barnsley Talking Therapies service. We offer a supportive working environment, where you will develop a range of clinical skills, delivered via face to face, telephone and video calls. We encourage all staff to become involved in service development and champion roles.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
To work collaboratively with primary health care staff to extend the range of effective treatment and support available to people of all ages with common mental health problems. To actively promote positive mental health and the importance of mental well‑being. To support primary health care staff in developing skills and resources to address mental health issues.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
* You will be expected to take up the first available training place and successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Low Intensity Therapies (IAPT). This is a development post and on successfully completing the course, you will then transfer to a permanent Band 5 Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner post. The extension to your contract is conditional upon you successfully achieving the IAPT Qualification. Should you be excluded from the IAPT course or fail in part or fail any of the required module(s), allowing for one re‑sit only. You will be served with the appropriate statutory notice to terminate your employment with the Trust.
* To provide information and support to Primary Health Care colleagues to facilitate the provision of evidence based interventions for those experiencing common mental health problems.
* To work to overcome social exclusion by promoting access to mental health services for individuals and groups experiencing discrimination and deprivation.
* To support the development of joint working between primary care, carers, service users, voluntary and self–help groups in the local community to address the promotion of good mental health and address issues contributing to mental health problems.
* To support clinical audits and research projects providing data collection, entry and analysis as requested by the service.
* To support links between primary health care and specialist mental health services, appreciating the limits of skills and responsibilities appropriate to primary care and facilitating timely access to specialist services as required.
* To deliver brief interventions and treatments taking into account risk issues on a group or individual basis as appropriate under the supervision of a qualified mental health practitioner.
* To proactively participate in professional development opportunities, training and supervision. Initially this will involve attainment of the Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Care Mental Health.
* To conduct oneself in a manner that will ensure that services are provided on an equitable basis and be sensitive to individual circumstances and beliefs.
* To conduct oneself in line with Trust policies and procedures.
Trust Values:
The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g., service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc., with dignity and respect at all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:
Honest, open, transparent
Respectful
Person first and in the centre
Improve and be outstanding
Relevant today, ready for tomorrow
Families and carers matter
Safeguarding:
Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc., in accordance with Trust Policy.
Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.
Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:
All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:
ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;
maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;
understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Trust Data Protection Policy;
comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;
receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;
understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;
recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;
ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participating in relevant training;
comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);
demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;
abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;
work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.
adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;
being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;
Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly;
In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.
Person Specification
Special Knowledge/Skills
* Commitment to social inclusion.
* Ability to work in partnership with service users, carers and community organisations.
* Basic work processing and computer skills.
* Ability to take responsibility for own learning and commitment to professional development.
* Commitment to equal opportunities/anti‑oppressive practice/valuing diversity.
* Good written and verbal communication skills.
Experience
* Experience of working with people with mental health problems.
* Experience of working with people with communication difficulties.
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Qualifications
* An honours degree in health & social care, sociology, psychology or other closely related subject.
Personal Attributes
* Ability to work on own initiative.
* Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
* A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
* Ability to work flexibly to meet service user and carer need.
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.
Employer name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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