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Short courses & CPD
Nursing & Health

Psychological Wellbeing Practice University Certificate in Advanced Professional Development

This course is an essential part of the Department of Health’s strategy to improve access to psychological therapies. It strives to be synonymous with the 2022 National Curriculum for the Education of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners. Successful completion leads to qualification as a psychological wellbeing practitioner (PWP).

 
 

Course overview

The stepped care system is promoted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It aims to offer the least intrusive and most effective treatment (low intensity interventions) in the first instance, increasing intensity as required. This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society, and meets the Department of Health’s requirements by:

  • providing you with a substantial knowledge base appropriate to master's level study
  • helping you develop core therapeutic and technical skills that underpin low intensity psychological interventions
  • enabling you to develop a positive attitude and commitment towards lifelong learning and personal development planning
  • ensuring you are prepared to meet the challenges of current and future contemporary mental health services.

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Where you study

Teesside University Middlesbrough campus.

Where you study

 

Course details

What you study

There are eight core themes across the three modules, helping you make clear links between theory and practice:
• clinical supervision
• caseload management
• information gathering
• information giving
• shared decision-making
• low-intensity interventions
• values, policy, culture and diversity
• personal development planning.

How you learn

You learn through lectures, presentations, simulated practice and other activities. Participation is also encouraged through:
• sharing experiences and learning with other students, without breaching client confidentiality
• delivering presentations
• using self-administered workbooks (electronic and manual)
• problem-based learning to develop decision-making skills
• directed practice tasks in the workplace to apply skills
• personal reflection and development planning simulation activities and feedback from peers, module tutors and practice supervisors.

How you are assessed

You are assessed through simulated practice and real patient activities, an examination, written assignments, and practice competencies.

The assessment strategy meets the standards of the National Curriculum for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You must be able to show evidence of recent study at level 4.

You must be working in an NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression service. As part of the quality assurance process, services must meet the appropriate standards, and supervision must be provided by a qualified PWP supervisor.

Funded PWP trainee positions are advertised on NHS jobs by individual NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression services.

You can apply to self-fund the PWP course online, but these places are limited. Some NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression services offer voluntary contracts. Each service has different terms and conditions, but all provide PWP supervision. Interviews for these voluntary contracts are arranged by the course leader.

 

Employability

Career opportunities

This course prepares you for your role as a qualified PWP.

 
 

Part-time

2025-26 entry

  • Length: 1 year
  • 1 day a week
  • Start date: January
  • Level: Degree
  • Credits: 60

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Service user and carer involvement

Service users and carers support all aspects of our students' lifecycle from recruitment to graduation.

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