Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)
February 2025
Welcome to the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) programme!
This course provides the formal academic training for Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner roles with NHS and partner providers. Please apply directly for a Trainee PWP post with local NHS or partner organisations via NHS Jobs and Indeed.
The course covers in full the Health Education England (HEE) National Curriculum for PWP Programmes Fourth Edition (updated and revised April 2023).
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Running across the academic year, three core modules cover:
- Module 1: Engagement and assessment of patients with common mental health problems
- Module 2: Evidence based low intensity treatment for common mental health disorders
- Module 3: Values, diversity and context
Alongside work-based learning, the course offers 45 days of formal teaching across the academic year. This consists of 30 classroom teaching days and 15 self-study days (Directed Learning Days).
Teaching Days are 10-5pm, the day of the week you come into University will be dependant on your cohort.
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In your first semester, you will gain the knowledge, understanding and skills to offer phone, online or face-to-face support to patients from different backgrounds and refer onwards to other agencies where appropriate. Your training will fully prepare you to work with anxiety disorders and depression.
You will also gain understanding and practical experience in assessment and triage enabling you to identify other mental health conditions and refer onwards for treatment.
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If you would like to get started on reading, we would recommend the following textbooks:
- Farrand, P. (2nd ed) (2024) Low intensity CBT skills and interventions: A practioner’s manual. London: Sage.
- Papworth, M., and Marrinan, T. (eds) (2019) Low intensity cognitive behaviour therapy: A practitioner’s guide. London: Sage.