Psychological wellbeing practitioner
Job Description:Psychological wellbeing practitioners treat and support people with mental health problems.
Job Category:What you will do:
As part of your day to day duties, you could:
- conduct interviews to assess and support the patient’s needs
- design and run group therapy sessions
- signpost patients to other helpful services
- keep accurate and up to date patient care records
- support and train other healthcare professionals
- develop and set up new mental health support services
Skills:
You’ll need:
- knowledge of psychology
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- customer service skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
As well as:
- to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- to enjoy working with other people
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
Entry Requirements:
To become a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), there are no specific subject requirements. However, achieving strong grades in core subjects that promote critical thinking, communication, and understanding human behaviour is beneficial. These core subjects include:
- English Language: Strong language and communication skills are essential for working with individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
- Mathematics: A solid foundation in mathematics is important for understanding and interpreting data and statistics related to mental health.
- Science: Subjects like biology can provide a foundational understanding of human physiology, which can be relevant in the context of mental health.
Post School
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- apprenticeship
- volunteering
University
You could do a degree in psychology or health and social care subjects then apply for a place on a postgraduate training course.
After your degree, you’ll need to get a job in healthcare while you complete further training.
Apprenticeship
You could do a psychological wellbeing practitioner degree apprenticeship.
You may need a degree in a relevant subject like psychology or nursing or experience of working in mental health to do this apprenticeship.
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Volunteering
To get into this role you’ll usually need long term experience of working with people who have mental health issues or disabilities. This could be from paid work or volunteering.
Career tips
Experience of working with people with mental health problems will be helpful.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 37-39 hours of work. You could be required to work between 8am and 6pm.
You could work at a health centre, at a client’s home or at a GP practice. Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience, you could train as a high intensity therapist, working with people with complex mental health needs.
You could also lead a team or develop new mental health services.