Final award:
- Level 6 Certificate in Psychological Wellbeing Practice
- Graduate Certificate in Psychological Wellbeing Practice
| Duration | 1 year, plus End Point Assessment (anticipated to take place within three months) |
|---|---|
| Entry point(s) | September and March |
| Application deadline | Dependent on employer, see How to apply |
| Campus | Streatham Campus, Exeter |
|---|---|
| Contact |
Overview
- Designed for employees from a wide variety of personal, academic or vocational backgrounds and/or with lived experience
- Candidates are required to have experience of working in a setting (voluntary or statutory) where they have engaged with people experiencing mental health or emotional difficulties
- This apprenticeship develops skills and practical experience in Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LICBT) for the treatment of patients with common mental health difficulties
- Delivered nationally by clinical academics and researchers through blended learning, comprising in-person and interactive online teaching to maximise study flexibility
- Upon successful completion, apprentices will be fully qualified to work as PWPs within Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services and eligible to apply for entry to the PWP register of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Flexible, blended learning
Delivered within CEDAR (Psychology) at the University of Exeter since the first year of the NHS commissioned programme
Training informed by the BPS accredited IAPT curriculum
Accreditations
The End Point Assessment is conducted by BPS Assessment & Awards Limited, a subsidiary of BPS.
Successful completion of the programme will result in the award of the Level 6 Certificate in Psychological Wellbeing Practice, and the University of Exeter Graduate Certificate in Psychological Wellbeing Practice.
Entry requirements
Individual employers set the selection criteria in discussion with the University. Applicants will have evidence of successful study at Level 5 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or equivalent, with a minimum of Level 2 English and Maths.
Applicants should also have experience of paid or voluntary work in a setting where they have been likely to have had exposure to people experiencing mental health difficulties. However, there is no expectation they will already have any previous qualifications in psychology.
Applicants must have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.
How to apply
Applications to this programme may only be made through NHS services or NHS Talking Therapies service (formerly IAPT [Improving Access to Psychological Therapies]) service in the community, who are recruiting Certificate in Psychological Wellbeing Practice apprentices, not directly through the University. Recruitment and selection is led by employers, in collaboration with the University. Posts are typically advertised by services on NHS jobs websites or equivalent.
Once applicants hold the offer of a post, employers will notify the University. Applicants will then be required to undertake an application to the University. If successful, they will be offered a position. A place will be confirmed by us, and we will send further information about how to enroll as an apprentice.
What is a psychological wellbeing practitioner?
A psychological wellbeing practitioner (PWP) is a mental health worker who supports patients experiencing common mental health difficulties. PWPs often practice within NHS talking therapies services or other similar organisations. They are trained to carry out patient-centred interviews and deliver low-intensity interventions based on cognitive-behavioural therapy. The interventions delivered by PWPs include psychoeducation groups, computerised or text-based support, and 1:1 guided self-help treatment.
What is the mental health stepped care model?
The stepped care model works on the principle that patients should be offered the least intrusive and most effective level of care. This ensures that the treatment options available are appropriate to the patient’s needs and preferences.
There are five steps of mental health care, ranging from self-management (step one) to specialist and acute services (step five). PWPs work within step two of the stepped care model by delivering low-intensity interventions to patients with mild to moderate presentations of anxiety or depression.
See page 17 of the NHS Talking Therapies manual for more information on the stepped care model.
Preparing for a PWP interview
An interview is an opportunity to showcase your knowledge. It will be helpful to demonstrate an understanding of the PWP role, how common mental health problems present and the stepped care model. You will likely need to demonstrate some knowledge about the employer you are applying to work for, their organisational values, and how these relate to the role of a PWP. Please see the further reading list for helpful resources to expand your understanding in these areas. It can also be helpful to make direct contact with the employer you are applying to and ask questions about the organisation to learn more about the service expectations and values.
It is important to reflect your skills and experience to demonstrate how you will succeed in the role. PWPs are required to have a varied skillset, which includes:
- Interpersonal skills, including empathy, collaboration, and ability to work with diverse patients.
- Written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work within a team of different professionals (also referred to as a multidisciplinary team).
- Time management and organisational skills.
- Study skills and ability to learn independently.
- Skills in identifying risk or vulnerability concerns and escalating concerns appropriately.
- Self-reflection and ability to prioritise wellbeing.
To prepare for your interview, it will be helpful to think of some examples from work, voluntary, lived or personal experience, where you can demonstrate these skills. Spend some time thinking or making notes about different examples. The STAR method can be helpful to structure these examples.
Situation: What was the situation you were faced with?
Task: What was the responsibility or task you had within the situation?
Action: What action did you personally take?
Result: What was the outcome of that action? What did you learn? How may this learning relate to the role of a PWP?
Interview top tips
- Get prepared! Make sure you have any resources you need in advance. You may want to check out the interview location and travel plans if attending an in-person interview; or ensure that the interview link, webcam, and microphone are set-up if completing a remote interview. Gather anything you need ahead of time, including any pre-interview materials and personal items such as a water bottle.
- Manage nerves. It is normal to feel nervous or anxious before an interview. Finding ways to feel relaxed and confident will enable you to perform at your best. It can be helpful to practice any relaxation techniques in the run up to your interview to help you remain calm under pressure. Breathing techniques or a guided meditation can be a good starting point!
- Self-reflection. It is important to demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest for the role during an interview. Taking some time reflecting on your motivations and ambitions will enable you to articulate why you want this opportunity, and the unique strengths you can bring to the role.
- Practice. Talking about your strengths and abilities to a panel is a skill that develops with practice. Have a go at answering example interview questions aloud (examples below). It can also be helpful to do roleplay with a friend or family member, to help with thinking on the spot and answering questions clearly to someone who may not know much about your skills or experience. You don’t have to remember or know everything, but having some practice will help you to provide answers that are clear and related to the interview question.
- Think about questions you want to ask. There will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions to the interview panel at the end of the formal questions. It is helpful to think in advance about any questions you would like to ask. This can demonstrate your interest and curiosity in the role.
Example interview questions
- What do you know about the role of a PWP? What might a day look like for a PWP, including key roles and responsibilities?
- What has motivated you to apply for this role? What skills or experience can you bring to this position?
- What is your understanding of low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy?
- What is your understanding of the stepped care model within NHS talking therapies, and how does this relate to PWP working?
- You are assessing a patient who discloses that they sometimes have thoughts of ending their life. How would you manage this?
- What are your strongest common factor skills?
- How will you demonstrate our organisational values in your role as a PWP?
- Working as an Apprentice PWP can be a demanding role. What are some of the pressures a PWP may experience? How might you manage these pressures and approach your workload?
- How do you maintain and prioritise your wellbeing?
Further reading
For further questions about the programme, please contact: DATutorSupport@exeter.ac.uk
Funding
Full programme cost: £9,000
This apprenticeship is entirely funded through an Employers’ Apprenticeship Levy. Your employer fully covers the cost of the apprenticeship, apprentices do not pay for any of the eligible training costs. As an apprentice you will be an employee of your organisation, gaining a University of Exeter award alongside working and earning a salary.
Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy will pay for the apprenticeship fees directly through that contribution. See further information on the Apprenticeship Levy funding.
Employers who do not pay the Levy will be able to claim 95 per cent of the cost of the apprenticeship from the Government. Up to 100 per cent Government contribution may be available if the employer has fewer than 50 employees and:
- Recruits an apprentice aged 16-18
- OR an apprentice aged 19-24 who has previously been in care or who has a local authority education, health and care plan
Employers must pay their apprentices a salary at least consistent with national legislation.
Funding eligibility criteria
- To be eligible for funding you must meet the criteria listed in the ESFA guidance. Full guidance is available here.
- The apprentice must have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.
Course content
This apprenticeship for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) is fully informed by the curriculum established for the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. Successful completion will enable trainees to work as fully qualified PWPs within IAPT services with eligibility to apply for entry to the PWP register of the British Psychological Society. The success of the PWP psychological profession has spearheaded recognition of a wider Practitioner workforce by the Psychological Professions Network.
The Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Apprenticeship is suitable for those looking to develop their career in the mental health and wellbeing field. It develops apprentices’ competence to undertake a mental health assessment, support LICBT interventions, communicate effectively with patients, respond to clinical challenges and work collaboratively with other health and social care and community-based organisations.
Training is informed by the BPS accredited IAPT curriculum consisting of the following three modules alongside a clinical practice portfolio:
- Engagement and Assessment of Patients with Common Mental Health Problems
- Evidence-Based Low Intensity Treatments for Common Mental Health Problems
- Value, Diversity and Context
- Clinical Practice
Programme structure
| Module 1 |
PYC3031DA Engagement and Asessment of Patients with Common Mental Health Problems 20 Credits |
Clinical Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Module 2 |
PYC3032DA Evidence-Based Low Intensity Treatments for Common Mental Health Problems 20 Credits |
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| Module 3 |
PYC3033DA Values, Diversity and Context 20 Credits |
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Learning
Approximately 20 per cent of an apprentice's contractual working time will be given over to study. Our model is designed to be flexible around the needs of apprentices and workloads. No weekly day-release is required, mitigating disruption of their daily role and ensuring maximum flexibility.
The blended learning format incorporates:
- Lectures, Narrated Powerpoints/Panopto or live teaching via Teams.
- Competency development supervised role play sessions will be synchronous and engaged in face-to-face* and online.
- Q&A sessions, blogs, tutorials and quizzes to support learning.
- The apprentices will also take part in self-practice self-reflection sessions and role-play for development of competence.
- Clinical educators on the course from CEDAR, bringing strong expertise in the field directly relevant to the classroom.
- Regular clinical skills supervision, and individual LICBT clinical practice.
- Following the last day of the required IAPT curriculum delivery apprentices will receive regular supervision until the end point assessment.
- Apprentices have on average one day a week ‘off the job’ training and a further day a week on average for independent ‘University-directed learning’ related to the academic demands.
*Location of face-to-face delivery can be discussed with the LICBT Director of Portfolio.
The End Point Assessment is conducted by BPS Assessment & Awards Limited, a subsidiary of The British Psychological Society acting as the External Assessment service for the apprenticeship being independent of the course and employer. All Assessors are qualified and experienced clinical professionals who are independent of the cohort being assessed and contracted.
Our dedicated partnerships team liaise closely with employers throughout the programme; apprentices will have dedicated mentors to assist and guide them throughout the whole course of the apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Standard
The Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner apprenticeship is delivered in full adherence with the standards set down by the Institute of Apprenticeships.
Quality is assured through standard University governance procedures, internal CEDAR quality assurance and management processes, Staff-Student Liason committee, with external monitoring undertaken by an External Examiner. The apprenticeship is managed as part of the Low-Intensity CBT portfolio with a management structure including Portfolio Director, Programme Lead, and Module leads.
This programme aligns with the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard.
Employer information
Over the course of the apprenticeship, your staff will learn to develop and apply knowledge and competency in Low-Intensity CBT (LICBT) for the treatment of patients with common mental health difficulties. Upon successful completion, apprentices will be fully qualified to work as PWPs within Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services and eligible to apply for entry to the PWP register of the British Psychological Society.
Apprentices will develop competency in assessing and providing support for evidence-based CBT self-help technologies across a range of delivery platforms. It develops competence to undertake a mental health assessment, support LICBT interventions, communicate effectively with patients, respond to clinical challenges and work collaboratively with other health and social care and community-based organisations.
Careers
Highly employable
Solid industry experience is what employers look for when recruiting. Graduates of an apprenticeship programme will be working in an exciting and relevant job from day one of their studies, meaning when the time comes to move on, they'll have the both the professional and academic experience sought after by employers.
Employer valued skills
Throughout the programme apprentices will learn to develop and apply the knowledge and skills gained in a practical workplace setting providing valuable experience of using Low-Intensity CBT for the treatment of patients with common mental health difficulties. They will develop competency in assessing and providing support for evidence-based CBT self-help technologies across a range of delivery platforms. Upon successful completion, apprentices will be fully qualified to work as PWPs within Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services and eligible to apply for entry to the PWP register of the British Psychological Society.
The role of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner is fully recognised within the Practitioner workforce by the Psychological Professions Network. Once qualified, and after a period of practice, development opportunities exist with progression into Senior PWPs providing supervision. Increasingly PWPs are moving into specialist roles, developing and taking responsibility for specific areas of practice. PWPs are also moving into senior management posts, leading Low-Intensity services.
