Are you a member yet? Membership is open to all and is the first step towards accreditation.
PWPs work within talking therapy services such as NHS talking Therapies (link), using a range of psychological interventions and skills to support individuals with mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. PWPs work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals (including Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, Counsellors, GPs and employment advisers as well as other community organisations) to improve access to psychological interventions and support the self-management of recovery.
PWPs will work with adults from many different backgrounds. The role of a PWP includes providing person centred assessment, thorough risk assessment, collaboratively agreeing a treatment plan, providing evidenced based treatment interventions and/or signposting to other agencies.
Interventions are provided on a one-to-one basis or in groups or workshops as well as providing support alongside computerised guided-self-help. Delivery of interventions can be telephone, video or face to face.
Treatment interventions are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT informed interventions focus on areas where the person wishes to change how they feel, think or behave to help improve how they feel and their quality of life.
To train as a PWP, you need to apply for a post as a trainee or apprentice PWP in an NHS Talking Therapies service to access the training. These roles are advertised on the NHS Jobs website.
Training routes are available for those who do not have an honours degree as well as those who are graduates who can meet the academic requirements for the post graduate level qualification.
If you do not hold an honours degree but hold relevant life experience and are passionate about a career in talking therapies, the Level 6 apprenticeship route is open to applicants with academic qualifications at Level 5, with maths and English at GCSE grade C or above, or Functional Skills Level 2.
All applicants must be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills
PWP’s who successfully secure a trainee post will complete a BPS accredited IAPT training course which often consists of 45 days of academic work (one day per week) alongside supervised in service practice, usually over an academic year. The training is fully funded and you will be paid a Band 4 AfC salary.
For further information on entry and training requirements please see here.
Once you are qualified and experienced as a PWP there are a lot of exciting opportunities for you to develop your skills further as well as being eligible for other roles and more senior posts.
Examples can include, Specialist Long term conditions, Supervisor training, Perinatal mental health training and managerial roles.
Some experienced PWPs also later go on to train as High Intensity CBT therapists, Counsellors and Psychologists
If you completed NHS funded training you will usually be unable to access further NHS funded training in a new roles such as High Intensity CBT training until you have a minimum of two years post qualification experience as a PWP, with the recommendation being three years experience. (Any queries regarding this should be directed to the service and/or training provider.)
PWPs have been required to be registered with either British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) or the British Psychological Society (BPS) since June 2022. The BPS and BABCP websites have all the details about what is required and how the registration process works.