BABCP to accredit Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners
As Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) make a significant impact upon the nation's mental health, BABCP is pleased to announce the release of an accreditation process due to start in January 2010. The process has been led by Paul Farrand (University of Exeter), Marie Chellingsworth (University of Nottingham) and Steve Kellett (University of Sheffield).
PWPs represent a new IAPT workforce that has been developed to help lead in the provision of psychological self-help in Primary Care for common mental health problems. Their role is to increase access to appropriate evidence-based CBT interventions and support CBT-based written and computerised self-help. They are trained to the national curriculum requiring trainees to demonstrate competences across a range of well-specified skills: patient-centred interviewing, implementing CBT interventions for common mental health problems and working within an inclusive values base that promotes recovery and respects diversity.
Outcome data reported from the IAPT sites in Doncaster and Newham, combined with emerging data from the new IAPT sites is highlighting the significant contribution PWPs have made, along with their high intensity CBT colleagues, in supporting recovery from common mental health problems. The scale and significance of the clinical and organisational impact of PWPs has been highlighted by Professor David Richards, Clinical Informatics Adviser to the national IAPT programme: ‘The emergence of PWPs represents quite simply the biggest revolution for evidence based mental health this century.' Echoing these sentiments is IAPT National Clinical Adviser Professor David Clark: ‘PWPs are essential to the success of the IAPT programme and we are proud of the way new training courses following a National Curriculum have been established. It is essential that the unique PWP role is properly recognised and protected with an accreditation process.'
The accreditation process recognises the contribution that PWPs is having in increasing access to evidence-based CBT interventions, alongside assuring the public and employers alike that any individual using the term PWP is competent and can practice in a safe and ethical manner. That the BABCP will be accrediting PWPs has been welcomed by leading figures involved in the development of the PWP workforce. IAPT National Adviser for Education and Training Professor Graham Turpin identifies the impact of the BABCP's accreditation of PWPs, saying, ‘We expect accreditation for both individual PWPs and their training courses will result in ensuring standards in education and training, and ultimately in the delivery of more effective CBT interventions to a wider number of the public'
IAPT Workforce Director Roslyn Hope adds: ‘It is incredibly important to accredit PWP courses, not only to ensure consistent high-quality training, but also to pave the way for the development of a recognised PWP workforce in its own right.'
Accreditation - how it works
Three routes into PWP accreditation have been developed. All require applicants to demonstrate they are competent in PWP clinical methods and are receiving PWP supervision (clinical case management and clinical skills) from a supervisor who has completed PWP supervisor training.
Within two routes to accreditation, competence will be evidenced by PWPs having successfully completed either an IAPT accredited PWP full or top-up training programme.
The third route will require trainees to have undergone PWP related training (e.g. graduate mental health worker) and demonstrate competence in the PWP clinical method via assessment of a taped assessment and support session, consistent with the PWP assessment schedules.
More benefits for BABCP Members
Being a BABCP Member is one of the essential criteria for becoming an accredited PWP. The accreditation process will further benefit members by appropriately and fully recognising the contribution PWPs are making both to the health community and the nation's wellbeing. In addition, members have access to the CBT Self Help & Psychological Wellbeing Special Interest Group, which has already hosted a highly popular CPD event in PWP practice in July with further events and workshops planned for 2010/2011. The events will link into the PWP accreditation process.