About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Sunderland Talking Therapies to appoint a Qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner. The position is full time hours (37.5 per week) for either a qualified PWP who holds a PWP accreditation or a Trainee PWP who is nearing the end of training due to be ratified, and wants to develop their skills and experience within our team. The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
The successful candidate should:
Have successfully completed an academic course of study in line with the IAPT Low Intensity National Programme and be qualified as a PWP (e.g. PG Cert Low Intensity Psychological Therapies) We are also interested in receiving applications from current Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners who are enrolled on a PG Cert in Low Intensity Psychological Therapies and are due to qualify. If you are a current Trainee PWP you would initially be employed at Band 4 and once marks have been ratified by your university examination board, and you have gained PWP registration this would be uplifted to a Band 5. Have a current registration with the BABCP or BPS, or be able to immediately apply for this once in post (PWPs will remain at band 4 until registration has been submitted and confirmed).
Main duties of the job
In this role you will:
Undertake triage screening assessments and make onward referrals Provide a range of low intensity interventions e.g. guided self-help (both telephone, online consultation and face-to-face), psycho-educational courses and computerised CBT Have the opportunity to contribute to a number of innovative service improvement projects, champion roles and specialist interest groups Liaise with external agencies and services to promote Sunderland Talking Therapies
Have the opportunity to act as a mentor to trainee PWPs Work closely with other PWPs to support one another and utilise skills and knowledge Work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team and engage in team huddles
About us
What we offer:
Regular opportunities for ongoing continuing personal development either through in house training workshops or external training events Monthly line management Weekly case management supervision Fortnightly clinical skills supervision Monthly PWP meeting 30 days annual leave (pro-rata) plus statutory bank holidays This service is an 8-8 service weekdays. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly across the shifts required to meet patient demand. The current expectation is that all PWPs work 1 evening per week.
Enquires regarding the posts can be made to Jess Fawcett or Liz King (Low Intensity Service Leads) via [email protected].
Interviews for this post will likely take place on 23rd September 2026.
Job description Job responsibilities
The salary for this post is NHS comparable, and the successful applicant will be employed on Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) terms and conditions, working within Sunderland Talking Therapies. The successful candidate will be entitled to SCS benefits such as access to our 24/7 employee assistance programme to support wellbeing and will be within a probationary period for 12 months. Sunderland Talking Therapies consists of a large multidisciplinary team including PWPs, Community Practitioners, High Intensity Therapies (of multiple modalities) and a counsellor. A Senior Management Team including Team Managers, Clinical Leads, Senior PWPs, Low Intensity Service Leads and a Clinical Manager oversee the service and support staff. Sunderland Talking Therapies also works as a single point of access for patients entering Talking Therapies or Counselling via Sunderland Counselling Service, Sunderland Mind and Washington Mind.
Our PWP workforce is a valuable and highly respected element of the service. The PWP role in our service is varied and will allow you to gain a wide range of experience and skills. As a service we are committed to developing the skills and knowledge of our PWPs through providing opportunities to participate in service development projects and complete further training e.g. PWP supervisors course, LTC training and leadership training. We are also committed to enhancing and maintaining the wellbeing of our PWP workforce.
Sunderland Counselling Service may use AI detection tools to assess the originality of submitted applications, or it may be obvious from the way it is written that the application is AI generated. Applications found or suspected to be generated by AI will be summarily rejected and will not progress through the recruitment process.
Person Specification
Skills and Competencies Essential
High quality and timely clinical note recording (e.g. session notes and care plans) and ability to write reports and letters
Qualifications Essential
Qualification from an accredited PWP Training Course. PWP registration with BPS or BABCP or being able and eligible to apply for this immediately once in post.
Desirable
Psychology or other health and care related undergraduate degree Completion of an accredited course relating to working with long-term conditions within Low Intensity therapy.
Experience Essential
Experience of working effectively as a PWP within a high-pressured setting (primary care or equivalent). Experience of managing own PWP clinical caseload.
Desirable
Evidence of communicating with people from diverse backgrounds and using an interpreter. Experience of adapting Low Intensity CBT approaches to work with neurodiversity. Experience of adapting Low Intensity CBT approaches to work with individuals with long-term conditions and/or medically unexplained symptoms.
Other requirements Essential
Willingness and ability to work clinically on an evening where required by the service. Willingness and ability to travel to various locations for patient appointments.
Knowledge Essential
An understanding of NICE guidelines for the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression and experience of applying these in practice. Experience of building good working relationships within a multidisciplinary team. Experience of the managing clinical risk within PWP work.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Sunderland Counselling Service
Address 51 John Street
Sunderland
SR1 1QN
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.sunderlandcounselling.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)