CPD Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Apprenticeship
- Entry year:
- 2027/28
- Start date:
- October, March
- Study mode:
- Part-time
- Course duration:
- 12 months
- Campus:
- City
- Apprenticeship standard:
- Psychological wellbeing practitioner - ST0568
About this apprenticeship
Meet NICE guidelines for supporting those with depression and anxiety disorders on LJMU's Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner course, now known as Talking Therapies for Depression and Anxiety.
Study to meet National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for supporting people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders
Follow a curriculum that combines theoretical learning and practical experience and is strongly influenced by student feedback
Enjoy exceptional levels of learner support
Benefit from excellent training facilities and strong links with local service providers
For more information on this Apprenticeship route contact Karen Rea: K.Rea@ljmu.ac.uk
This course helps Primary Care Trusts to implement National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. It trains Low Intensity workers to assess and support patients in the self-management of their recovery.
With common mental health problems accounting for a third of all primary care consultations in the UK, this training not only reduces the impact on individuals, families and communities but also on key resources.
The programme is built around the bio-psychosocial model of mental health and wellbeing and will provide you with the knowledge and skills to: work within primary care settings and deliver a range of low intensity, evidence-based interventions. These include: cognitive behavioural interventions; collaborative case management; social interventions (including employment and occupational) and structured pharmacological support.
The engagement, assessment, decision-making and evaluation skills acquired on the programme, will allow you to work as a Mental Health Practitioner in a primary health setting. Past graduates have also gone on to work in psychological wellbeing, clinical psychology and high intensity therapy. There is also the option to undertake further study in this area.
Modules
What you will study on this apprenticeship
Your programme is made up of a number of core modules which are part of the course framework.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Engagement and Assessment of Patients with Common Mental Health Problems
20 credits
20 credits
6011PSYPWP (Module 1) trains Psychological Well Being Practitioners (PWPs) to assess and support individuals with common mental health issues. They learn patient-cantered assessment, effective communication of mental health knowledge, and behaviour change strategies. The 6011PSYPWP (Module 1) also emphasises cultural competence for working with diverse populations.
Evidence Based Low Intensity Treatments for Common Mental Health Disorders
20 credits
20 credits
6012PSYPWP (Module 2) teaches Trainee Psychological Well Being Practitioners (tPWPs) to provide support for low-intensity psychological and pharmacological treatments for common mental health issues, emphasising patient self- management and behaviour change models. Trainees develop knowledge and competence in delivering these treatments and managing patients, including families and carers. They also learn to support medication adherence through various communication methods and understand the therapeutic support process, including risk assessment and management.
Values, Diversity and Context
20 credits
20 credits
6013PSYPWP (Module 3) prepares students to provide inclusive and value-driven mental health support, emphasising diversity, equal opportunities, and managing patient caseloads. It also develops decision-making skills and the ability to seek supervision or referrals as needed, enabling trainee PWPs to handle a variety of patient needs beyond low-intensity interventions.
Professional accreditation
LJMU's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies PgCert is accredited by the British Psychological Society, meeting the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners Accreditation 2014.
Your learning experience
How the apprenticeship is taught
There is one day a week timetabled study supported by an equal amount of self-guided study (a university directed learning day in service) for semester 1. For semester 2 students will alternate each week between timetabled study and university directed learning day in services.
Courses_Apprenticeship_Support_Guidance_Subheading
The course uses different methods of learning, including lectures from LJMU staff, past students and visiting experts as well as seminars, case discussion groups, experiential learning session, reflective practice, formative skills assessment, practice-based learning, guided reading and independent study.
Throughout the programme you will be supported by: the Programme Leader, a Personal Tutor who will monitor your progress, module and route leaders for academic support, a Practice-based Supervisor to facilitate and support learning opportunities in clinical practice and the programme team who will provide administrative guidance.
During your studies, you will be employed in a primary care setting on a full-time basis. In addition, you will be able to implement the skills you have acquired in practice on an ongoing basis.
You will gain a better understanding of the concepts of mental health, mental illness and various diagnostic tools. You will learn to help patients manage their emotional distress and disturbance, understanding their perspective and their attitude to treatment.
You will discover the importance of building and maintaining good patient relationships, managing the emotional content of interactions, effectively communicating treatment choices and dealing with needs sensitively.
You will use standard symptom assessment tools, maintain effective records, recognise typical symptom patterns, identify any risks that patients pose and work with other agencies to get the best possible outcome for your patients.
How you will be assessed
To pass each module you need to demonstrate that you have achieved all of its learning outcomes. Assessment methods include written critical reflection, assignments, exams, clinical simulations, presentations, practice skill assessments and the completion of workplace clinical documentation. To authenticate the full-time placement, you will submit a practice skills assessment document for approval by your Supervisor.
Where you will study
Situated in the City Campus, the School of Nursing and Allied Health works with a wide range of health and social care organisations to design, deliver and evaluate a dynamic suite of postgraduate programmes. In addition to specialist facilities, you will find high quality meeting and seminar rooms and lecture theatres, the City Campus Library, plus a large café, IT facilities and social spaces.
Funding this apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are funded courses, with learning costs paid to the university by the employer. This is done either through the Apprenticeship levy (for large companies) or with the help of the government’s co-investment model (for smaller companies).
If you aren’t already employed by a company that is willing to sponsor you through an apprenticeship, you’ll need to find one. You can do this by regularly checking the Government’s Find an apprenticeship website.
You can also approach an employer yourself to find out whether they would be interested in offering Apprenticeships and ask them to contact us. Our team will be able to explain how they can access the correct funding and the next steps.
Information for potential employers
If an employer has a wage bill of over £3 million, it would automatically pay the Government levy and would use this to fund learning via the company Apprenticeship Service Account.
Non-Levy companies can access funding via the Government co-investment model, whereby the Government will fund 95% of the learning costs and the company will fund the remaining 5%.
To access the Government funds, non-levy paying employers are required to set up an account on the Apprenticeship Service and reserve funding for apprentices, no earlier than three months before the course start date. Find out more information regarding setting up an apprenticeship service account. LJMU will still invoice non-levy paying companies for their contribution, but without this account LJMU will be unable to draw down the Government co-investment funding for the apprentices.
Next steps and onboarding
To begin the apprentice onboarding process, the employer must first be an LJMU-approved employer. To check whether your company is already a LJMU-approved employer please check the company drop down on the online application form.
If your company is not listed, please complete/ask your employer to complete the following application form to get started. Degree Apprenticeship Employer Form
Candidate submits application form: LJMU Learner online application form.
Employer to Reserve Funding via the Apprenticeship Service /or if a levy paying organisation, register your learner via the Apprenticeship Service
Employer and Candidate complete onboarding. Further information on the onboarding process can be found on our guide for onboarding apprentices page.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English or Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English.
Additional requirements
-
Interview required
Demonstration of ability to study at degree Level* To be determined at pre-course interview: Motivation, interest and determination to participate in a programme of this nature. That the candidate has the learning capability, study opportunity and commitment to embark on the programme.
-
Assessment required
As part of this process they may be expected to complete a written assignment to determine their academic ability. This assignment may be used 'diagnostically' by the selection team.
Further information
-
RPL
RPL/RPEL will be considered in accordance with LJMU regulations.
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU Degree Apprenticeship form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
External applications are made through NHS jobs direct in response to recruitment drives. The selection and recruitment process is jointly undertaken by both the service and LJMU Talking Therapies teaching team.
Apprenticeships at LJMU
Whether you're a learner or an employer, find out more about the Degree Apprenticeship programme at LJMU.
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