Remote worker: Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)/Triager

Remote worker: Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)/Triager (fixed-term role – 1-year contract)

ELFT Remote IAPT Service (ERIS) is seeking to appoint remote-working, low intensity therapists (PWP): 1-year fixed-term contract.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner digital remote worker. The role will involve conducting telephone/digital triages based on service need as well as a mixture of online guided self-help 121 and group therapy. The post holder will manage their own caseload.

Work from home, or anywhere in the UK, by taking advantage of this brand-new opportunity to join ERIS, an innovative and forward-looking completely remote IAPT service, within the NHS, which places emphasis on staff wellbeing and development.

This is a chance to work flexibly, within the service hours of 8am - 8pm Mon-Fri, and deliver individual therapy, triages and group interventions via a range of modalities, remotely supporting the work of community IAPT services in East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) which has been rated Outstanding by Care Quality Commission (CQC) and is committed to ensuring a healthy work/life balance and a positive working environment. All clinical appointments are delivered via MS Teams or telephone.

This is a unique opportunity to be involved in a quick paced and innovative project working on revolutionizing ways of working in primary care mental health services in ELFT.

In-house supervision and line-management, paid administration time, bespoke CPD, the full resources of NHS IAPT and the support of an enthusiastic, engaged and inclusive team are just some of the benefits of joining ERIS. This is an extraordinary opportunity to join a unique NHS service at ground-level and to help to shape its future, while gaining or retaining all the benefits of working for the NHS.

Although the post is offered as remote-working, the service provides regular contact in the form of online video groups and 1-2-1 meetings/'huddles' to encourage interaction within a highly supportive and caring team. We have a monthly service online meeting where everyone comes together to receive updates on issues concerning all.

The post-holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary. This vacancy is offered as a one year fixed term opportunity, with the expectation that all clinical staff offer one late online evening clinic per week (12pm until 8pm).

We are looking for a committed, enthusiastic practitioner - someone willing to contribute to the service and embrace different and modern ways of working. This post offers opportunities to work with a range of professionals from different therapeutic backgrounds and to be part of an evolving, integrated team.

ERIS is an NHS remote IAPT service utilising the most effective features of the IAPT model, delivered via digital media, to support the work of the ELFT community IAPT services and more widely. Using familiar interfaces such as IAPTUS and Microsoft Teams, we provide high-quality therapeutic interventions to patients across London and the Home Counties.

ERIS delivers a range of psycho-educational and low-intensity therapeutic interventions remotely via video, telephone and typed text-based sessions, following NICE guidance, ensuring the highest quality care for our patients and supporting therapist development through excellent supervision, line-management and bespoke CPD. Our posts are formulated to allow for development of clinical expertise in appropriate clinical areas.

The successful candidates will have the opportunity to help and support additional IAPT aligned services, allowing for the experience of working in different IAPT environments but all from inside your own home. The successful applicant will deliver one to one intervention at step 2, complete automated ERIS assessments and triage as well as help deliver group interventions. You will be working alongside both ERIS and other community based IAPT managers and colleagues.

You will receive case management, line management and clinical supervision to support you in your role, as well as access to CPD.

The post-holder will be working within the IAPT service providing triage assessments and step 2 interventions using NICE recommended guided self-help approaches to clients with a range of anxiety and depression presentations.

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners provide assessment, triage, treatment and mental health promotion activities within primary care, for people experiencing common mental health problems and help support towards the self-management towards recovery. Treatment programmes are designed to aid clinical improvement and social inclusion – including return to work and meaningful activity or other occupational activities, with the aim to enable service users to manage their own difficulties and reach their maximum potential. Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners do this through the provision of information and support for evidence-based guided self-help interventions.

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners are expected to operate using a stepped care approach, in a high-volume environment carrying a significant number of active cases at any one time, with full time workers having a minimum of 20 attended hours clinical contact per week.

It is the expectation of the Trust and its commissioners that clinical services will be organised so that direct clinical contact time with service users is maximised. Currently the number of attended contact hours per week expected of this post is 20 per week, though this may be reviewed from time to time. The number of contact hours achieved will be routinely monitored and discussed through Trust contract and performance arrangements including in supervision.

For a more detailed job description please see attached JD & PS.

If you have any further questions, please contact Ian Roylance, Clinical Lead of ERIS (ian.roylance@nhs.net) for an informal discussion.