About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to appoint a Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to work within Sunderland Talking Therapies and study at Newcastle University. The position is full time hours (37.5 per week) and will be a combination of university and placement days, paid at Band 4 until successful completion of the course and PWP registration in place. This employment is dependent on completion of the course and once registered, PWPs are paid at NHS Band 5 equivalent. Unfortunately if you are unsuccessful at completing the course unfortunately your employment contract will be terminated.
Interviews will be held on 6th and 7th July 2026 in person at Monkwearmouth Hospital.
Main duties of the job
In this role you will:
Learn to provide a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-help interventions to patients with anxiety and depression. Undertake triage screening assessments and make onward referrals Learn to and become experienced in a range or Low Intensity modalities, e.g. guided self-help (both telephone, online consultation and face-to-face), psycho-educational courses and computerised CBT Liaise with external agencies and services to promote Sunderland Talking Therapies Enquires regarding the posts can be made to Jess Fawcett or Liz King (Low Intensity Service Leads) via [email protected].
About us
What we offer:
Regular opportunities for ongoing continuing personal development either through in house training workshops or external training events once qualified Monthly line management Weekly case management supervision Fortnightly clinical skills supervision Monthly PWP meeting 30 days annual leave plus statutory bank holidays Some remote working opportunities This service is an 8-8 service weekdays. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly across the shifts required.
Job description Job responsibilities
The PWP course runs for 1 academic year, and you will be required to meet the demands of balancing a high caseload whilst completing the academic components of the role. You will work towards a Post Graduate Certificate in Low Intensity Psychological Therapies and work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary. The training post will equip the post holder to provide a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-help interventions to patients with anxiety and depression. The post-holder will attend all taught and self-study days required by the education provider, as specified within National Low Intensity curriculum, and work in the service for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills.
The successful applicant will be employed on Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) terms and conditions, working within Sunderland Talking Therapies as a sub-contractor. 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 once qualified, 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.
Interviews will be held on 6th and 7th July 2026 in person at Monkwearmouth Hospital.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience of working clinically with adults who have experienced a common mental health problem.
Desirable
Experience of working within a primary care setting. Experience of managing own clinical caseload. Evidence of communicating with people from diverse backgrounds and using an interpreter.
Experience Skills and Competencies Essential
Computer literate. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including on the telephone. Ability to build a rapport with service users.
Knowledge Essential
An understanding of common mental health problems and how it impacts the whole person An understanding of the importance of building good working relationships within a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable
An understanding of the need to use evidence based interventions and how to relates to this role. An understanding of the role of clinical risk assessments within clinical care.
Qualifications Essential
Evidence of ability to study successfully at undergraduate year 1 level or the equivalent.
Desirable
Psychology or other health and care related undergraduate degree.
Other requirements Essential
Willingness and ability to work clinically on an evening where required by the service. Willingness and ability to travel to university and to various locations for patient appointments.
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.
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)