The New Role
With a focus on early intervention, Wellbeing Practitioners are filling that gap in services for those children and young people not meeting the threshold for NHS CAMHS.
We know that successful early identification of and response to emotional and mental health difficulties can make a big difference to the quality of life and outcomes for children and young people. Wellbeing Practitioners are the key early intervention element of the CYP IAPT programme that can work effectively NHS CAMHS services, local authority early help services and the voluntary sector. They are already making an important contribution to the government target to train 1,700 more staff in evidence-based interventions and support an additional 70,000 children and young people annually.
To date there have been three cohorts (including the current programme) with over 70 Wellbeing Practitioners working in a variety of models across a range of NHS, local authority and voluntary sector services. And we know they work – our programme shows strong recovery rates, as evidenced in our WP CYP Caseload Analysis report (PDF format).
Did you know?
Wellbeing Practitioners aren’t just effective, they’re great value for money too! Our Impact Analysis executive summary crunches the numbers.
The Offer
Wellbeing Practitioners undertake a one-year certificated course at the University of Northampton funded to date by Health Education England, with salary support based on mid-point NHS Band 4 or equivalent, plus on costs. Each Wellbeing Practitioner place has also attracted £12,000 supervision and support costs.
The training develops skills in evidence-based brief, focused interventions in the form of low intensity support and guided self- help to children and young people with mild to moderate difficulties. Typically these include anxiety, low mood and common behavioural difficulties. More specifically the programme covers:
- Fundamental skills: Children and Young People’s Mental Health Settings – Context and Values
- Fundamental skills: Assessment and Engagement
- Evidence-based interventions – Theory
- Evidence-based interventions – Skills
- Assessment
When qualified, Wellbeing Practitioners will be able to see large numbers of young people for brief sessions and offer brief courses of support and treatment of up to 6 to 8 sessions.
How can services in the Midlands apply to have CWPs?
The next cohort will commence January 2020. The deadlines for application and recruitment will be confirmed but you can register your interest now by completing the Expression of Interest form (Word format). This will commence your application and should include:
- Proposed supervision and support arrangements
- Pathway and service integration plans
- Plans to sustain the role on completion of the training year
More Information
For further information about the programme and the role please see the documents below:
- Wellbeing Practitioner Information Sheet (PDF format)
- Wellbeing Practitioner Operational Guidance (Word format)
- Wellbeing Practitioner FAQs (Word format)
For a discussion about the Wellbeing Practitioner role and more information, please get in touch via our contact page and mark for the attention of Nigel Toms, the programme’s project manager.