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We run a training programme for a new type of NHS professional called Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs). These are front-line staff, who can be found in primary care services throughout the UK. If you’ve ever received support with a common mental health problem (like low mood or worry) then you might have worked with a PWP.
We teach all sorts of different types of skills to people we train – but we can only do that from our own perspective as health professionals. To make sure our trainees as good as they can be, we need help from people like you to offer advice, guidance, and insight.
How could you help us?
You’d be helping us recruit the best trainees by picking out candidates with the best people skills and understanding. You’d also help out on our teaching days, chatting with the trainees and giving them a real-world idea about how their services will work from the other side. Finally, we hold regular meetings through the year which would give you a voice in how the programme is taught, run, and assessed.
There are there three main areas you could become involved with: trainee recruitment, teaching and Programme Committee.
Recruitment
Each year the team runs a selection day where we assess potential trainees to see whether they would be suitable for the course. As you would expect we assess their academic abilities but also their people skills and it is here that your help could be invaluable. We do this by inviting potential trainees to take part in a group discussion which is observed by the Programme Lead and a member of the public who has received help in the past.
Teaching
We would value your input on teaching days to support trainees to develop their people skills. The kind of things that this might include; could be observing trainee role plays and offering your comments on what you thought of their performance. This gives the trainees an opportunity to think about the service they provide from the perspective of people who have received services.
Naturally you would only be asked to do what you feel comfortable with. So it would be up to you how much or how little you would like to be involved with, we would always aim to be flexible and work with you to accommodate your needs.
Programme Committee
Twice a year the Programme runs meetings for people involved with the course, like employers and supervisors. It’s a great chance for the team to gain feedback from people involved in regards to teaching, assessments and placements. We would really value your feedback, as someone with lived experience of services and your contributions will be taken into account to improve the quality of the training we provide.
Is this role paid?
Payments are made at a level appropriate to your circumstances and would always cover any expenses for your involvement with the programme, such as transport.
How do I get started?
If you’d like any further information please email us at bsmhft.pgcertlipi@nhs.net. If you’re still interested, we’ll send you a ‘Request to Contribute’ form which we’ll review in June, before an informal interview in July. If you’re successful, your induction will take place in August.
