Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

You’ll offer assessments for mild to severe common mental health problems on a psychological wellbeing practitioner apprenticeship course.

Psychological wellness practitioners work as part of the NHS England Improving Access to Psychological Therapies initiative, a world-class psychological healthcare programme. This is an intriguing job in which practitioners have the potential to make a difference in people’s lives.

A psychological wellness practitioner works in primary care with adult patients, providing a variety of treatments and venues.

You will perform risk assessments and offer safeguarding recommendations while evaluating moderate to severe common mental health disorders. 

In this role, you will administer evidence-based therapy to people suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety, depression, and other common mental health problems.

You’ll work within a tiered care delivery model that delivers the least intrusive and effective psychological counselling. Patients may be’stepped up’ to a more intensive treatment if required.

What you’ll learn

On a psychological wellbeing practitioner apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

• Create solid and caring ties with patients and colleagues by communicating effectively vocally and in writing while keeping information confidential.
• Evaluate and respond to people’s needs while being sensitive to all aspects of diversity.
• Record interviews and questionnaire assessments correctly and on time using paper and electronic documentation procedures.
• Communicate via several methods, including face-to-face meetings, phone calls, presentations, and electronic platforms.
• Communicate with and refer to other agencies effectively with informed authorisation—for example, employment, occupational, and other advisory services.
• Choose and employ a range of tests to aid in identifying and characterising issues, such as psychometric assessments, problem-focused assessments, and intervention planning assessments.
• Recognise and analyse patterns of symptoms linked with illnesses such as anxiety disorders and depression, as well as estimate patient needs and the level of ongoing risk to themselves and others.
• Allow for collaborative decision-making and empower patients by working together to provide patient-centred care.
• Create and develop a therapeutic relationship with patients to handle emotional distress in sessions and understand their points of view.
• Create and provide evidence-based low-intensity, psychological therapy. Encourage patients, for example, to employ indicated treatments for problem-solving, panic, and sleep management and to evaluate treatment plans frequently.
• Assist patients in taking medication to optimise drug consumption and minimise adverse effects in coordination with the patient’s primary care physician.
• Manage a caseload of patients with common mental health issues safely and efficiently, including risk and vulnerability assessment.
• Actively participate in clinical skills supervision to assist in the execution of low-intensity treatments, as well as case management supervision for specific case discussion and skill growth.
• Reflect on and evaluate your performance, keep your knowledge and talents up to date, and react appropriately to appraisal/feedback.
• Respond professionally to supervisor advice and change promptly to provide high-quality patient care.
• Recognise, respect, and engage with people from diverse backgrounds, including personal, family, societal, and spiritual values held by the communities served by the service.
• Practice autonomously within your field while being responsible and accountable for providing safe, compassionate, patient-centred, evidence-based treatment.
• Work within the parameters of your own practice boundaries and levels of experience.
• Establish and maintain professional and personal boundaries with patients.
• Recognise your competence and job restrictions, and link them to resources, such as step-up to high-intensity therapy and forward referral.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• GCSEs in maths and English, or functional skills level 2 in maths and English. Previous experience of working in mental health.
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment comprises two distinct assessment methods: 

• Demonstration of Practice with Question and Answer Session
• Presentation of Practice

Restrictions and requirements

You’ll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 6 Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page