Job Description

An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a band 5 Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to join our team on Westgate unit based in HMP Frankland.
The Westgate team is part of the Offender Personality Disorder national strategy. The Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway programme is a jointly commissioned initiative that aims to provide a pathway of psychologically informed services for a highly complex and challenging offender group who are likely to have a severe personality disorder and who pose a high risk of harm to others, or a high risk of reoffending in a harmful way.
Westgate is situated within HMP Frankland and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear foundation Trust are contracted by Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Trust to provide care and treatment for the residents of Westgate.
The successful candidate may have desirable experience of working with a complex service user group and will have demonstrable experience of effective working with wider agencies and effective delivery of identified interventions.
The Westgate Multi-Disciplinary Team are diverse and very much integrated within the prison environment. The successful candidates will be provided with a thorough induction programme and developmental opportunities to enhance their skillset.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will work as part of the designated locality, providing low intensitypsychological interventions to service users with mental health problems. Theseinclude a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-managementinterventions offered as individual or group interventions. This work will be both faceto face and telephone based.
The post holder will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring that high quality individualised care is delivered which ensures safety and a commitment to promoting recovery and wellbeing, and maximising independence.
The post-holder will provide compassionate care that is based on empathy, kindness, respect and dignity.
The post-holder will work within professional guidelines and the overall framework ofthe service's policies and procedures
About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.
Details
Date posted
16 December 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
31,049 to 37,796 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
263-SCG25-158-EW
Job locations
Westgate Unit, HMP Frankland
Durham
DH1 5YD
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 16th December 2025
Closing date : 30th December 2025
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 16th December 2025
Closing date : 30th December 2025
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Qualification from an accredited BPS or BABCP PWP programme
• Eligibility for accreditation with BPS or BABCP as a PWP.

Desirable

• Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy.
• Psychology or other health related undergraduate degree.

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with people with mental health/learning disability difficulties in the designated specialism.
• Minimum of six months' supervised practice in direct clinical care, assessment and low intensity psychological interventions, working within a stepped care framework.
• Able to write clear reports and letters.
• Knowledge of common mental health/learning disability problems.
• Knowledge of low intensity, evidence- based interventions.
• Knowledge of the issues surrounding work, meaningful activity, social inclusion, and the impact it can have on mental health

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with who have experienced severe and enduring mental health problems.
• Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
• Experience of facilitating psycho-education groups
• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• An understanding of complex mental health difficulties.
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems

Skills and Competencies
Essential

• Ability to conduct thorough assessments and develop appropriate treatment plans based on low-intensity interventions.
• Ability to assess risk and develop appropriate risk management plans.
• Computer literate
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients

Desirable

• Skills in the provision of psycho-educational groups

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Qualification from an accredited BPS or BABCP PWP programme
• Eligibility for accreditation with BPS or BABCP as a PWP.

Desirable

• Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy.
• Psychology or other health related undergraduate degree.

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with people with mental health/learning disability difficulties in the designated specialism.
• Minimum of six months' supervised practice in direct clinical care, assessment and low intensity psychological interventions, working within a stepped care framework.
• Able to write clear reports and letters.
• Knowledge of common mental health/learning disability problems.
• Knowledge of low intensity, evidence- based interventions.
• Knowledge of the issues surrounding work, meaningful activity, social inclusion, and the impact it can have on mental health

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with who have experienced severe and enduring mental health problems.
• Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
• Experience of facilitating psycho-education groups
• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• An understanding of complex mental health difficulties.
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems

Skills and Competencies
Essential

• Ability to conduct thorough assessments and develop appropriate treatment plans based on low-intensity interventions.
• Ability to assess risk and develop appropriate risk management plans.
• Computer literate
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients

Desirable

• Skills in the provision of psycho-educational groups

Skills Required