Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner - Durham

TRAINEE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING PRACTITIONER
2 positions available. Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week Salary: £28,392 per annum (NHS AFC Band 4) Location: Lanchester Road Hospital, Durham (some hybrid working available)

Can you make Talking Matter?
Our Talking Therapies team are looking for people to help change lives!

About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for a Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to join our established Talking Therapies service in County Durham and Darlington. Talking Therapies is a well-established Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service that has been providing psychological interventions to people across County Durham and Darlington since 2010. The service is delivered in partnership by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Mental Health Matters (MHM) and Sunderland Counselling Service.

As a Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, you will work within the Talking Therapies service whilst undertaking a programme of university-based training. You will progressively develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver low-intensity psychological interventions at high volume to people experiencing common mental health difficulties, including anxiety and depression. You will split your time between university attendance and working within the service, conducting assessments and providing face-to-face and remote low-intensity psychological interventions. The role will also involve extending psychological intervention support to adults with an intellectual/learning disability who are experiencing concurrent common mental health problems. You will receive excellent support throughout your training, including extensive clinical and caseload supervision, as well as opportunities for ongoing professional development. It is an expectation of the role that successful candidates seek BABCP accreditation following six months of relevant patient contact.

About you
To be successful in this role, you will have experience of working within mental health and be able to inspire and engage people, identify barriers and understand individual client needs. You will have:

• Experience of working with people experiencing mental health difficulties.
• Excellent motivational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to build positive and effective therapeutic relationships.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including confidence using the telephone.
• High standards of written communication.
• An understanding of working with people with a range of complex needs, including mental health, learning disabilities, physical health and substance misuse.
• Knowledge and experience of working within a community-based service.
• The ability to apply and develop the skills and knowledge gained through training.
• A willingness to learn, develop and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• It is essential that you hold a health-related degree. Training or experience in nursing, social work, occupational therapy or psychological therapies would be desirable.

Why Join Us?
Mental Health Matters (MHM) is a national charity delivering innovative, life-changing mental health support for individuals and communities across the UK. Through our diverse range of services, we help people improve their mental wellbeing, overcome barriers and lead fulfilling lives. Everything we do is people focused. Whether supporting those who access our services or investing in the wellbeing and development of our colleagues, people are at the heart of MHM. Our workforce is the driving force behind our success, and we are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and values-led environment where talented individuals can thrive and make a meaningful difference. By joining MHM, you'll become part of a compassionate and ambitious organisation that is committed to improving mental health, promoting recovery and creating positive change in communities across the country.

What we offer you

• 27 days annual leave, plus statutory holidays.
• Access to our workplace pension scheme.
• Extensive clinical and caseload supervision.
• Opportunities for ongoing personal and professional development.
• Access to our Wellbeing Offer - including EAP, Virtual GP service and wellbeing resources.
• Life Assurance and Free Will writing service.
• Blue Light Card and Charity Workers discounts.
• Access to Tickets for Good.
• Employee recognition and celebration schemes.
• A tailored induction programme, bespoke Personal Development and Career Pathways to support you in your role and your career aspirations.

How to Apply
At Mental Health Matters, we are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring that we appoint people who share our values and are dedicated to making a positive difference. If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete our online application form. As part of your application, you will be asked to answer a number of questions to demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. We encourage you to provide examples that highlight your suitability for the role. For further information about our recruitment and selection processes, please refer to our Candidate Guide. Please note that, due to the sensitive nature of the duties, an enhanced DBS check will be sought in the event of a successful application.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We believe everyone should have access to fair and accessible opportunities, and we are committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are welcoming and inclusive for all. During the application process, we may ask for some personal information to help us understand how we can make our recruitment practices as fair and accessible as possible. Any information you provide will be treated confidentially and used solely for this purpose. We value the unique experiences, perspectives and contributions that diversity brings and are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels respected, supported and able to be themselves.

Interested in Finding Out More?
We welcome informal conversations about the role. If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact: We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming talented people who share our passion for improving mental health and changing lives. The closing date given is a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.