Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Title:  Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Location: HMP Durham, Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HU

Salary (pro rata): £27,055 to £32,934 per annum depending on experience (Agenda for Change Band 5)

Total hours per week: 37.5hrs per week between Mon-Fri 8am-4pm however we can also consider part time or compressed hours

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

Our service within HMP Durham provides psychological therapy for prisoners focusing on health education and self-help. We work as part of an integrated primary care mental health team within the Prison providing high volume, low intensity interventions. We offer a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions, for clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. This includes providing guided self-help in both 1:1 and group formats, in line with the current Step 2 NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) guidelines.    

We have an exciting opportunity at HMP Durham, Durham where you will join our friendly and inspiring team as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner. Your role will be a permanent position working full time, 37.5 hours per week based in the service. You will work Monday to Friday 08:00am - 04:00pm, however some flexibility is required depending on service need. We work in all seven prisons in the Northeast. You will carry out your clinical work face to face within the prison environment.

How you will make a difference

This unique opportunity will allow the successful Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to help design, build, mould and implement a brand-new model, tailored to the needs of the individuals in their care. The PWP will work as part of a mental health team within the Prison to provide high volume, low intensity interventions which will be a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions, for clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. This includes providing guided self-help in both 1:1 and group formats, in line with the current Step 2 IAPT guidelines.  

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners carry out all clinical work face to face within the prison environment.

To be considered for the role, you will demonstrate:

• Successful completion of an academic course of study in line with the IAPT Low Intensity National Programme and qualified as a PWP, e.g., Post Grad Diploma in Psychological Therapies.
• Current accreditation status with either BABCP or BPS as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
• Post-qualification experience in offering and delivering the full range of evidence based IAPT low intensity interventions at Step 2.
• Evidence of working within a stepped care service with people who have experienced a mental health problem delivering and demonstrating recovery outcomes.
• Knowledge of assessment procedures, screening, referral, record-keeping, and evidence-based brief psychological interventions.

Don’t meet all requirements?

If the role sounds exciting to you but your experience or skills don’t exactly match every single requirement, we would still encourage you to apply, you may be just the right person for our position!

Caring for our people.

We offer a wide range of support. Some of our benefits include:

• Support with obtaining BABCP accreditation
• Supervision in line with IAPT guidelines
• PULSE – your rewards, wellbeing, and benefits platform. Providing access to thousands of discounts and benefits including cashback; reloadable cards; savings etc.
• Wellbeing support: Our Wellbeing hub that gives physical, and mental health support. We also have an Employee Assistance Programme with access to appointments
• Taking time for you: We have generous annual leave, starting at 25 rising to 30 days, plus bank holidays, as well as your birthday off.
• Planning for the future: We have a contributory pension scheme.
• £300 when you introduce a Friend: receive up to £300 when you introduce a friend or family member

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

If you have any questions about the position, please feel free to email our Recruitment team at recruitment@rethink.org