Job overview
Do you have compassion for others and work well with people? Would you like to support people with their mental health challenges? Perhaps you have experience of working in a mental health setting or your own lived experience of mental health? Do you have excellent communication skills and able to work in a fast-paced environment, there are opportunities to train as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners on a Level 6 degree apprenticeship for individuals without a degree in the West Cheshire NHS Talking Therapies Services in Chester.
PWPs help people who are experiencing a range of difficulties such as stress, anxiety and low mood, including those related to relationships and employment provide short-term, evidence-based treatments in line with guidance to help people make positive changes to improve their wellbeing and quality of life.
This post is fixed term for 15 months and on successful completion of the course candidates will move to a permanent band 5 position.
Planned short-listing will take place 19th December
Main duties of the job
The role is fast-paced, varied and constantly evolving to meet new guidance and evidence- based treatments. A wide range of treatments are provided by the PWP, including telephone and online treatment on a one-to-one basis or in groups.
The PWP role is integral to the NHS Talking Therapies service and offers opportunities to work with specific groups such as older adults, perinatal mental health, working with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities or supporting people who manage a long-term health condition such as diabetes.
The PWP apprenticeship programme is a 15-month course delivered by Liverpool John Moore’s University. The course will start in March 2026. The programme combines academic and work-based learning. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate commitment to the academic requirements of the course and assessments.
It is a programme requirement that apprentices must provide evidence of achievement of GCSE Math’s and English grade C or above or grade 4 and above, or equivalent qualifications. This course is not appropriate for graduates.
Working for our organisation
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English or Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English
- Academic ability to complete the course and clinically demonstrate learning.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria
- 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
- Knowledge and understanding of the IAPT model and application to treat common Mental Health conditions
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- Knowledge of the impact of physical conditions on aspects of Mental Health
- Knowledge of local communities in Cheshire and Merseyside
Experience
Essential criteria
- Evidence of working or volunteering in a health/social care setting with people who have experienced a mental health problem.
- Evidence of transferable skills through employment or life experience, and how you could apply this to supporting people with mental health problems.
- Experience of delivering interventions to people with Mental health issues
- Experience of evaluation of the outcomes of interventions used in role.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in Primary Care Services
- Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place and demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of presenting in a group setting
