Job summary
We are looking for a highly motivated graduate with a minimum 2:2 degree in any subject to join our service as a Trainee Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner. This is an exciting, new role created by NHS England and Improvement to support the transformation of adult community mental health services. Your training will be provided by University College London and fully funded by the NHS. If you successfully pass the postgraduate training, you will transition to a qualified Mental Health & Wellbeing Practitioner post (at Agenda for Change band 5) via a performance and development review (appraisal) where any ongoing support needs can be identified. Please be aware that if you embark on this training, you will not be eligible for other NHS funded training for 2 years after the course has ended.
You will need to have a passion for working with adults with severe and enduring mental health problems. On appointment the trainee Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner will be enrolled on to the University College London one-year postgraduate certificate training which will take up one or more days a week during term time. The training will cover assessment and collaborative care planning with patients and training on wellbeing-focused psychologically informed interventions for serious mental health problems.
Main duties of the job
Please see UCL website for more information about the course:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/pals/study/postgraduate-taught-degrees/clinical-psychology-and-psychotherapy/low-intensity-cognitive-behavioural-interventions-severe-mental-health-problems-pg-cert
For the remainder of the week, you will work in one of our community mental health teams where, under supervision, you will practice and develop the knowledge and skills taught on the course. This will involve individual work with patients as well as support for their families and carers, in line with the education provider's expectations.
Supervision of psychologically informed interventions will be from a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist. You will receive case management supervision from another qualified mental health professional in the team.
The Trainee Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner will be required to:
- Demonstrate the ability to work at degree level
- Have experience of work interacting with the public, working as part of a team, analysing complex information and communicating effectively
- Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain empathic, supportive relationships with people in significant distress, their families and carers
Start training in February 2027
Details
- Date posted: 29 October 2026
- Closing date: 05 November 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 4
- Salary: £33,262 to £36,027 a year per annum inclusive of outer London HCAS
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: 294-COMM-8403398-EB
- Job locations: Jubilee Health Centre, Shotfield, Wallington, SM6 0HY, United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Carry out relevant risk assessments and risk management with the multi-disciplinary team
2. Engage calmly and with sensitivity and empathy to support service users in highly distressing or emotional circumstances.
3. Engage with and gather information from service users, relatives and patient records to develop a formulation.
4. To work in collaboration with the individual service user and their family and carers as appropriate to develop care plans that are focused on strengths and are outcome based.
5. To attend multi-disciplinary reviews and act as a care co-ordinator, for a caseload of service users in order to support and monitor progress during the course of multi-disciplinary interventions.
6. To set collaborative goals for intervention with service users
7. To deliver specified wellbeing-focused psychologically-informed interventions, in line with best available evidence, under close supervision from a clinical psychologist or CBT therapist including:
a. Behavioural activation and graded exposure
b. Teaching problem-solving skills
c. Improving sleep
d. Recognising and managing emotions
e. Guided self-help for bulimia and binge-eating
f. Building confidence
g. Medication support
8. To be responsive to service users needs and choices; and uphold their right to be treated with dignity and respect.
9. To include carers and families in line with the service users wishes.
10. To liaise with other health and care providers, including third sector agencies and primary care, to ensure continuity of care for service users.
11. To communicate information concerning the assessment, formulation and care plans of service users in a skilled and sensitive manner in order to promote effective multi-disciplinary working and therapeutic outcomes for clients.
12. To develop collaborative plans for relapse prevention
13. To deal with endings appropriately and safely with service users, families and carers.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications
If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.
Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.
Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Batchelors degree at 2:2 in any subject for entry to Postgraduate route
- Enrolled on a programme of study for a postgraduate certificate (Level 7) delivering the national curriculum for mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners (Adult Specialist Mental Health). This enrolment will be done on appointment.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of work interacting with the public
- Experience working as part of a team
- Experience of analysing and communicating complex information verbally and in writing
Desirable
- Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- An appreciation of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems (particularly anxiety and depression) and how they may present in primary care
- Broad understanding of mental health issues and the primary care context
- Broad understanding of audit, research and evaluation
Desirable
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
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.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services, including Tolworth Hospital, as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together.We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
Employer details
- Employer name: South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
- Address: Jubilee Health Centre, Shotfield, Wallington, SM6 0HY, United Kingdom
- Employer's website: https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/