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Psychological wellbeing practitioner

Psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs) are trained to assess and support people with common mental health problems – mainly anxiety disorders and depression – to manage their recovery. 

You’ll work within NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression (formerly IAPT), which provides evidence-based therapies for people with anxiety and depression. 

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Life as a psychological wellbeing practitioner

You’ll provide treatment for adults from many different backgrounds and will collaborate with a range of professionals in physical health, mental health and social care as well as with community organisations.

You'll support people with common mental health problems by:
  • conducting patient interviews
  • helping identify areas where the person wishes to change how they feel, think or behave
  • carrying out risk assessments
  • providing phone, online or face-to-face support 
  • liaising with other agencies and signposting patients to useful services, such as housing and employment

You will work with patients on a one-to-one basis or in groups or workshops. You may be based in a GP practice, healthcare centre or community venue such as a library or leisure centre. You may also work from home in some instances.

You will be provided with ongoing supervision to help you engage in self-reflection, seek and respond to feedback, and develop your professional knowledge and skills.

Valeria Souza

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
Knowing that I am making a difference to people’s lives is rewarding and inspiring.
Real-life story - Valeria Souza [3]

How much can I earn? 

If you’re employed by the NHS, you’ll be on a national pay and conditions system called Agenda for Change [4] (AfC [5]). 

There are nine pay bands and you’ll usually be paid at band 4 while you train. After completing your training you’ll be paid at band 5 with opportunities to progress with experience. 

Terms and conditions can vary if you are employed outside the NHS.

How about the benefits? 

As a PWP you’ll make a difference to people with mental health problems. 

If you’re employed by the NHS, you’ll also have good holiday entitlement and access to:

  • fully funded training plus a salary while you train and a job in the service when you qualify
  • an excellent pension scheme
  • NHS discounts in shops and restaurants

Must-have skills

You’ll need a wide range of skills as PWP, including:  
  • excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to a range of people 
  • the ability to work well within a multidisciplinary team 
  • a good understanding of common mental health issues 
  • good written and verbal communication skills
  • effective time management skills to juggle competing demands in a busy work environment

You'll also need to be able to demonstrate the values of the NHS Constitution [6].

Apprenticeships logo

Entry requirements 

You’ll need to complete a British Psychological Society (BPS)-accredited APT training course, which typically consists of 45 days of academic work (one day per week) alongside supervised practice, usually over an academic year. A local NHS Talking Therapies service will employ you while you train and once you’re qualified. 

Training is open to people with a range of experience but will help your application if you have some experience of working with people with mental health problems, and good interpersonal skills are essential for the role. 

If you have a degree, you can usually take a postgraduate certificate. If you do not have a degree, you can do an equivalent graduate-level qualification  or a level 6 apprenticeship. Courses sometimes have different names, so make sure you check the ones you’re interested in are graduate level PWP courses.

The apprenticeship is intended for people without a degree but have useful life experience or would like to make a career change and work for the local community. 

From June 2022, all PWPs need to meet the national requirement for registration with either the British Psychological Society (BPS) or British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). The BPS [7] and BABCP [8] websites have all the details about how the registration process works, including the annual renewal requirement. 

How to become a psychological wellbeing practitioner

You need to apply for a post as a trainee or apprentice PWP in an NHS Talking Therapies service. If you are a graduate, you’ll need to apply for a training post and then complete a postgraduate certificate. If you do not have a degree, but want to make use of your life experience, you’ll complete a postgraduate certificate or apply for an apprenticeship PWP position in an NHS Talking Therapies service. 

You can search for current opportunities and vacancies below.

You’ll provide treatment for adults from many different backgrounds.

Where a career as a psychological wellbeing practitioner can take you

As a qualified and experienced PWP you can apply for more senior posts at bands 6, 7 and 8a with additional management and leadership responsibilities or a clinical specialism. While you are working as a PWP, you’ll have regular supervision to help you develop in your role.  

There are many opportunities for you to progress your career. For example, you could specialise in: 

  • long-term conditions – such as diabetes or chronic pain 
  • perinatal health – working with midwives, health visitors and specialist perinatal mental health services to support families
  • occupational health - supporting NHS staff with mental health problems

Or you could focus on:

  • training to provide colleague supervision - providing case management and clinical skills supervision to other PWPs
  • management, for example team management, recruitment and project management
  • service promotion and leadership, for example developing and overseeing projects and liaising with partners and local organisations
  • clinical advisory work, for example advising networks of healthcare professionals and specialist groups regionally and nationally
  • research – either within the NHS or an academic institution

Alternatively, some PWPs go on to train as high intensity therapists, clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists and counsellors. 

It’s important to note that a two-year psychological professions funding rule policy was implemented on 1 April 2022. This means that if you start NHS-funded psychological professions training from April 2022, you won’t be eligible for NHS funding for further psychological profession training for two years from the expected completion date of your first training, where it would lead to a change in your job role.  

Visit the funding for psychological professions training programmes web page [9] for more information about NHS funding.  

Progression from PWP to high intensity cognitive behavioural therapy [10] training  

Many PWPs progress to undertake cognitive behavioural therapy [10] (CBT) training to become a CBT therapist [11] or high intensity therapist [12].

If you started your PWP training after September 2018, you will need to pass all the course requirements and work as a PWP for at least two years before being eligible for NHS-funded high intensity CBT training. However, if you already hold a previous core professional qualification recognised by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), you’ll be able to apply for further high intensity training sooner than two years. 

Visit the funding for psychological professions training programmes web page [9] for more information on NHS funding.

  • Can't find a job in your area? Visit NHS Jobs [13] for more vacancies. 

    Find a vacancy

    • Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)

      Hull, HU9 5HH

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      City Health Care Partnership CIC
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Weymouth, DT4 7TB

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Secondment
      Employer:
      Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Yorkshire, HU15 2JZ

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Rethink Mental Illness
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Whitby, YO21 1DP

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      YORK, YO41 1PS
      York , YO41 1PS

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Rethink Mental Illness
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Hull, HU3 3SW

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Redruth, TR16 4AR

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      YORK, YO41 1PS
      York , YO41 1PS

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Rethink Mental Illness
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Sunderland, SR20NB
      Sunderland, SR5 1NB

      Salary:
      £27484.00 to £30162.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Sunderland Counselling Service
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [22]
    • Assistant Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Cheltenham, GL51 9EZ

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Assistant Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [23]
    • Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners

      Stockton-on-tees, TS18 3NA

      Salary:
      £25000.00 to £26000.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Alliance Psychological Services Limited
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners job (opens in a new window) [24]
    • Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Newport, PO30 5TG

      Salary:
      £27485.00 to £30162.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [25]
    • Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner - Oxford

      Oxford, OX3 7JH

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Oxford Health NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner - Oxford job (opens in a new window) [26]
    • Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP)

      Sheffield, S10 2TH

      Salary:
      £38682.00 to £46580.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Senior IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      London, E13 8AF

      Salary:
      £42939.00 to £50697.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      East London NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • Triage Manager/Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

      Lambeth, SW9 8AP

      Salary:
      £44806.00 to £53134.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Triage Manager/Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [29]
    • Clinical Psychologis

      Wells, BA5 1TJ

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Psychologis job (opens in a new window) [30]
    • Wellbeing Activator

      Penrith, CA11 8HX

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing Activator job (opens in a new window) [31]
    • Psychological Services Careers event

      Stafford, ST16 3SR

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £85601.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Psychological Services Careers event job (opens in a new window) [32]
    • Holistic Wellbeing Worker

      Grimsby, DN37 9TZ

      Salary:
      £28684.00 to £33673.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Compass
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Holistic Wellbeing Worker job (opens in a new window) [33]
    • Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner

      York Business Park, YO26 6RW

      Salary:
      £28684.00 to £33673.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Compass
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [34]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Coordinator

      Elstree, WD6 3RG

      Salary:
      £13.50 to £14.50
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Coordinator job (opens in a new window) [35]
    • Wellbeing Practitioner x 3

      Bromley, BR1 1JA

      Salary:
      £34551.21 to £42910.38
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Bromley Y
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing Practitioner x 3 job (opens in a new window) [36]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Assistant

      Winson Green, B18 4BJ

      Salary:
      £12.22
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Assistant job (opens in a new window) [37]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Assistant

      Sonning, RG4 6TQ

      Salary:
      £12.50
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Assistant job (opens in a new window) [38]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Assistant

      Astolat Way, GU3 1NE

      Salary:
      £12.50
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Assistant job (opens in a new window) [39]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Assistant

      Northamptonshire, NN1 5BU

      Salary:
      £12.22
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Assistant job (opens in a new window) [40]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Assistant

      Northampton, NN1 5BE

      Salary:
      £12.22
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Assistant job (opens in a new window) [41]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Assistant

      Bracknell, RG12 7AU

      Salary:
      £12.22
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Assistant job (opens in a new window) [42]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Coordinator

      Kents Hill, MK7 6JD

      Salary:
      £12.85
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Coordinator job (opens in a new window) [43]
    • Wellbeing and Activities Assistant

      Marlborough, SN8 1JR

      Salary:
      £12.22
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Wellbeing and Activities Assistant job (opens in a new window) [44]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Clinical psychologist [45]
  • High intensity therapist [12]
  • Mental health nurse [46]
  • Counselling psychologist [47]

Source URL:https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/psychological-wellbeing-practitioner

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/privacy-and-cookies/#CookieDeclarationChangeConsentChange [2] https://www.youtube.com/NHSCareers [3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/psychological-wellbeing-practitioner/real-life-story-valeria-souza [4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates/agenda-change-pay-rates [5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#AfC [6] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-constitution [7] https://www.bps.org.uk/wider-psychological-workforce [8] https://www.babcp.com/Wellbeing-Registrations/About [9] https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/mental-health/psychological-professions/nhs-funding-psychological-professions-training-programmes [10] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Cognitive_behavioural_therapy [11] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles-psychological-therapies/cbt-therapist [12] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/high-intensity-therapist [13] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/search [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E9810-25-0189 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9152-25-0465 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0008-25-0016 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9346-25-0781 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0008-25-0000 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9338-25-0350 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9201-25-0636 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0008-25-0014 [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0330-25-0007 [23] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9327-25-0596 [24] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0163-25-0010 [25] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9348-25-1609 [26] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9267-25-0809 [27] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9425-25-0302 [28] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9363-25-0644 [29] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9334-25-0597 [30] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9184-25-1061 [31] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9262-25-0795 [32] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9301-25-0776 [33] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0139-25-0039 [34] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0139-25-0052 [35] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2157 [36] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0435-25-0004 [37] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2234 [38] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2313 [39] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2210 [40] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2182 [41] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2236 [42] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2254 [43] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2022 [44] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/L0034-25-2207 [45] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/clinical-psychologist [46] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing/roles-nursing/mental-health-nurse [47] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/counselling-psychologist