Careers at Big Life

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner – Apprenticeship

Big Life is in the business of changing lives. We fight inequality by working with people and places to create opportunities and inspire change. Whatever service we deliver to help people change their lives, we do things the Big Life Way.

What you’ll be doing

• Do you have compassion & would you like to support people with their mental health challenges?
• Do you have excellent communication skills & able to work in a fast-paced environment?
• Do you have the skills to organise & prioritise your own busy workload whilst delivering excellent care?

If the answer is yes, we have opportunities to train as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) apprentice.

PWPs are professionals who help people who are experiencing a range of difficulties, such as stress, anxiety and low mood and provide low-intensity CBT, evidence-based treatment to help people make positive changes to their wellbeing and quality of life.

As trainee PWP you will provide evidence based treatment for adults and will collaborate with a range of professionals in physical health, mental health and social care as well as with community organisations.

You will support people with depression and/or anxiety disorders by:

• conducting patient assessment and treatment sessions
• helping identify areas where the person wishes to change how they feel, think or behave
• carrying out risk assessments
• providing phone, online, face-to-face and group 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 in 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.

The role involves undertaking initial assessments and holding a high-volume clinical caseload.

In this training role, you will provide Step 2 Guided Self-Help low intensity interventions whilst undertaking studies at Liverpool John Moores University.

What we need from you

Please note: This role is not suitable for those with undergraduate/postgraduate degrees and will not be shortlisted. 

Qualifications

Essential

• It is a programme requirement that apprentices must provide evidence of achievement of an English qualification such as GCSE English grade C/grade 4 and above, or level 2 functional skills

Experience

Essential

• Experience in a health or social care setting, along with an understanding of anxiety and depression and their presentation in Primary Care, is necessary.
• Applicants should also have knowledge of the impact of work on mental health, as well as familiarity with the NHS Talking Therapies model and its application for treating common mental health conditions.
• Strong computer literacy, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to build effective therapeutic relationships are essential.
• The ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, manage a caseload, and meet travel requirements are also key.
• Candidates must be able to complete academic components of the course, integrate training into practice, and demonstrate high levels of enthusiasm and motivation.
• Additional skills include using clinical supervision effectively, managing pressure, respecting confidentiality and individual autonomy, and being self-reflective in personal and professional development.
• Willingness to travel to various locations is also required.

Desirable

• Working with individuals who have experienced mental ill health, particularly in Primary Care services.
• A background in working within services where agreed targets demonstrate clinical outcomes
• Experience presenting in group settings and delivering interventions to those with mental health issues.
• Experiencing carrying out risk assessments, either formal or gained through experience.
• A strong understanding of evidence-based psychological therapies and the role of the PWP
• Knowledge of medications used for anxiety, depression, and other common mental health conditions.
• An understanding of how physical conditions can impact mental health
• Knowledge of the demographics of the area(s) where they will work.
• The ability to speak a language other than English would be an advantage.

What we will offer you in return

• A salary of £26,529 (B4 entry)
• 37.5 hours per week, 15 months fixed-term training contract
• 25 days holiday (pro rata), and 30 once you’ve been here five years
• Ongoing personal and professional development through regular supervision
• A supportive, flexible approach to managing staff health and wellbeing, including a wide range of perks, schemes and support.

What next?

We are looking for people with a commitment to deliver high-quality evidence-based assessments and interventions, a willingness to learn new skills and a desire to improve the health and wellbeing of people with anxiety and/or depression disorders. Both trainee and qualified PWPs play a critical role in helping shape the future direction of the Talking Therapies service.

Successful candidates will be motivated, resilient, efficient, empathic, supportive and will be required to have a good understanding of the needs of local populations and familiarise themselves with local knowledge of services. It is not an essential requirement but it is desirable for applicants to have an understanding of the local area & services available to clients.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment and strongly encourage applications from racialised communities, especially individuals for whom English is not a first language. We value diverse perspectives and experiences and strive to create a welcoming and supportive space for all

The trainee PWP role is demanding, involving full-time work, managing a client caseload, and handling your own schedule. You’ll need to adapt to a new team, external services, and various systems. The role includes regular feedback, role-playing with peers, and completing a postgraduate course requiring 100% attendance, academic work, essays, assessments, recorded client sessions, and presentations. While study days are provided, trainees are expected to complete university work outside of working hours.

We encourage applications from individuals who demonstrate resilience, adaptability, strong diary and caseload management, academic capability to complete the course, and openness to feedback. As this is a fixed-term contract, applicants must be able to work quickly and adapt easily.

Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited to an assessment day in May 2025.

The closing date for applications is Friday 9th May 2025. Applications received after this time will not be considered and CVs will not be accepted. Interviews will take place in May 2025 and will be conducted face-to-face.

For more information and a full job description, please visit www.thebiglifegroup.com/jobs

If you need more support or information in a different format, please contact HR at hr@thebiglifegroup.com

Big Life strives to be diverse and inclusive—a place where we can all be ourselves. We strongly encourage applicants from all parts of society. On our careers site, you can read about the actions we are taking ourselves to fight inequality and inspire change.

We actively value the lived experiences and expertise of our staff, volunteers and those who use our service and see the extra value they bring to our organisation.

Your health and happiness are important to us, so we offer a comprehensive staff wellbeing package.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and will be subject to enhanced DBS checks. 

The Big Life group positively promotes diversity in the workforce.

The Big Life group is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.