Senior Wellbeing Practitioner (SWP) - Graduate/Postgraduate Diploma
About the programme
The Senior Wellbeing Practitioner (SWP) role and training opportunity has been designed to support career progression for qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) and Children & Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CYWPs, known nationally as CWPs).
The second intake of Senior Wellbeing Practitioners will be in September 2024.
To find out more about our CYWP and EMHP programmes, please follow the links below:
Link to PTTC info on EMHP training
Link to PTTC info on CYWP training
The SWP training has been designed as a part-time Postgraduate Diploma level training programme (120 credits), delivered in the Northwest by the Psychological Therapies Training Centre (PTTC) over 2 years (24 months). The training will be split between academic and experience-based learning in practice.
SWP trainees will need to be released from their roles in services for approximately 2 days per week for teaching and practice-based learning. SWP trainees will also need to have access to appropriate supervision from a senior clinician within the service both whilst in training and once qualified, in-line with BABCP/BPS accreditation standards.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK ON THE SECTIONS BELOW
Programme Aims
The SWP Programme aims to create a sustainable career progression pathway for qualified CYWP and EMHP low-intensity clinicians. It aims to equip trainees with the skills and knowledge they will require to apply them in either an Educational or Community setting. Trainees will:
- Learn to become effective, confident, supportive supervisors of less experienced or in-training low-intensity clinicians.
- Help to bridge a gap in services between MHSTs / Community-based low-intensity pathways, and CAMHS teams; which increasingly focus on complex, enduring and risk-based clinical presentations.
- Learn about how to assess, formulate, and therapeutically intervene in mild to moderate cases of OCD, Emotionally Based School Absence (EBSA), Trauma, Tics, and Self-harm.
- Learn how to appropriately adapt low-intensity interventions to children and young people with Autism or a Learning Disability.
Who Can Apply
You cannot apply directly to the training centre for this course.
Prospective candidates for the SWP programme must:
- Have successfully completed either a CYWP or EMHP training qualification.
- Have at least 2 years post qualification experience prior to applying for the course.
- Have experience working in either a community or education setting, in a CYWP or EMHP role.
Can I apply if I have already completed CYWP or EMHP Supervisor training?
If you have completed Modules 1 and 2 (Low Intensity Supervisors training) these will not need to be taken again. Credits can be used towards the Senior Wellbeing Practitioner Diploma qualification. However, additional supervision teaching may be offered based on the original awarding institution, due to APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) guidelines within the University of Manchester.
Can I apply if I am a qualified Adult PWP?
Adult PWPs are not eligible to apply for the SWP Programme, as the therapeutic interventions taught build on the comprehensive CYP-focused teaching delivered on the CYWP and EMHP Programmes.
Adult PWPs are eligible to undertake the PGCert Supervision Skills (CYWP/EMHP Pathway). To find out more details, click here.
Training Component
SWP trainees will undertake eight 15-credit units over the two-year period. Supervision units will be completed within the first year, to help meet service demands, and to allow the PGCert Supervision Skills (CYWP/EMHP Pathway) exit award to be offered, should the full PGDip not be completed.
Teaching for the Additional and Adapted Low-intensity Interventions will be spread throughout the two-year period, with assignment and portfolio requirements falling in the second year.
Supervision Units:
- Supervision Theory
- Supervision Practice
- Supervision Ethics
- Supervision Personal and Professional Development
Additional and Adapted Low-intensity Interventions Units:
- Complex Presentations – Knowledge and Assessment
- Complex Presentations – Formulation and Intervention
- Adapting to Neurodiversity – Knowledge and Assessment
- Adapting to Neurodiversity – Formulation and Intervention
Complex Presentations include Self-harm, Trauma, Tics, OCD, and EBSA (Emotionally Based School Absence).
Adapting to Neurodiversity includes working with queried/confirmed Autism, Learning Disability, and ADHD.
The Programme follows the following national curriculums:
How to Apply
Places are allocated on the SWP programme through a formal expression of interest process with NHS England (NHSE). If you are interested in applying for a place on the SWP programme, please discuss this with your service / employer.
Services can contact their regional NHSE representative to discuss funding and allocation of places.
The course is funded by NHSE, who pay the PTTC directly for tuition fees. In-line with national curriculum guidance it is expected that you will be in employment and paid at NHS Band 6 Agenda for Change or equivalent.
Contact Us
If you have any queries regarding this course not covered in the information detailed in any of the sections above or in the FAQ section of this website, please email the programme lead Ian Rushton: Ian.Rushton@gmmh.nhs.uk
In the Subject Line please ensure you put the name of the course you are enquiring about.
We are happy to answer questions related to the course itself, but unfortunately are unable to provide any general career advice.
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