Job summary
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) NHS Foundation Trust is hosting a centralised recruitment on behalf of all the services listed in the Services Description document.
You will provide treatment for adults from many different backgrounds and will collaborate with a range of professionals in physical health, mental health and social care as well as with community organisations.
*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.
To find out more join us for one of the upcoming Virtual Open Day Session where you will learn more about:
NHS Talking Therapies Services
The Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Role
Application / Interview Process
You will hear from Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Managers from local services, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions.
If you would like to attend, then please register for a place at one of the following Open Day Sessions:
25 June 2025 - 12:00 - 13:00
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4328de53-dc38-4291-9748-6e3fb506a3d8@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3
25 June 2025 - 17:00 - 18:00
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5b8651aa-cefc-4bb3-b84a-e85d033d7a5e@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3
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 Autumn 2025 cohort is provided in your 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 Autumn 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.
https://babcp.com/Wellbeing-Registrations/About
https://www.bps.org.uk/wider-psychological-workforce
Job description
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 post requires you to be able to provide evidence of successful study at level 5 or above. If you do not have the required level 5 qualification, have you considered the PWP apprenticeship route? Some of our Talking Therapies services are now offering this route.
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.
Job description
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 post requires you to be able to provide evidence of successful study at level 5 or above. If you do not have the required level 5 qualification, have you considered the PWP apprenticeship route? Some of our Talking Therapies services are now offering this route.
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
Essential
- Evidence of successful study at level 5 or above OR Evidence of study at an equivalent level
Desirable
- Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy
- Psychology or other health-related undergraduate degree
- Psychology or other health-related post-graduate degree
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working or volunteering in a health or social care setting
Desirable
- Experience of working with people who have experienced mental ill health
- Experience of working in Primary Care services
- Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place which demonstrate clinical outcomes
- Experience of presenting in a group setting
- Experience of delivering interventions to people with Mental ill health
Knowledge
Essential
- 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
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS Talking Therapies model and application to treat common mental health conditions
Desirable
- Received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
- Knowledge of the impact of physical conditions on aspects of mental health
- Some understanding of the demographics of the area(s) you will be working within
Skills
Essential
- 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 and IT-based communication
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
- Ability to function well as part of a multi - disciplinary team
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
Training / Other
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability and willingness to travel to locations in the community and throughout the organisation, as part of the trainee PWP role
Desirable
- An ability to speak a language other than English
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Evidence of successful study at level 5 or above OR Evidence of study at an equivalent level
Desirable
- Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy
- Psychology or other health-related undergraduate degree
- Psychology or other health-related post-graduate degree
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working or volunteering in a health or social care setting
Desirable
- Experience of working with people who have experienced mental ill health
- Experience of working in Primary Care services
- Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place which demonstrate clinical outcomes
- Experience of presenting in a group setting
- Experience of delivering interventions to people with Mental ill health
Knowledge
Essential
- 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
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS Talking Therapies model and application to treat common mental health conditions
Desirable
- Received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
- Knowledge of the impact of physical conditions on aspects of mental health
- Some understanding of the demographics of the area(s) you will be working within
Skills
Essential
- 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 and IT-based communication
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
- Ability to function well as part of a multi - disciplinary team
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
Training / Other
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability and willingness to travel to locations in the community and throughout the organisation, as part of the trainee PWP role
Desirable
- An ability to speak a language other than English
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
