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Senior Wellbeing Practitioner PG Dip

London, King's Cross (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)

This new programme is specifically being commissioned by NHS England (NHSE)/HEE with a view to developing the careers and employability of those trained on Children and Young People’s Mental Health CYP-MH (previously CYP-IAPT) Low Intensity Trainings (PGCert / PGDip CYP Psychological Wellbeing Practice and PGDip Educational Mental Health Practitioner).

Practitioners qualified in either of the above two programmes, two-years post-qualification, will be able to apply to do the Postgraduate Diploma. This postgraduate diploma will help individuals to develop skills in low intensity advanced practice and supervision to go on and become Senior Wellbeing Practitioners in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Services (CYP-MH).

UK students International students

Study mode

Part-time

UK tuition fees (2023/24)

See Fees Note

Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)

See Fees Note

Duration

2 calendar years

Programme starts

January 2024

Applications accepted

All applicants: 02 Aug – 14 Dec 2023

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class honours Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a relevant subject e.g. psychology or another health/social care/youth related undergraduate degree. A recognised professional qualification and role in a relevant subject (e.g. Child Wellbeing Practitioner, Educational Mental Health Practitioner, etc.) is also required.

A registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject (e.g. medicine, psychology, social work) from a UK university or overseas professional qualification of an equivalent standard may also be accepted.

Candidates will have sufficient experience of working with children and young people in clinical settings. They will be competent or accredited in the clinical models that they are supervising. They will be actively involved in supervising within their clinical sites.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The main aims of the programme are to enable these students to develop their skills in supervising in-training and newly qualified low intensity practitioners, and in some more advanced intervention skills (in specific interventions for more moderate anxiety disorders, and in supporting low intensity interventions in children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and Learning Disabilities, and their families).

The training has a specific purpose to develop and identify practitioners who can be employed in much needed positions within CYP-MH in the NHS and other providers. The commissioning is intended to ‘fill a gap’ and to retain staff with funded career development.

HEE has worked with HEI training providers, including UCL/AFC, to develop syllabus guidance, and the proposed programme will follow these. UCL/AFC makes full contribution to these processes, and student/alumni feedback adds to this process, meaning their views and experiences of employability can influence curriculum and delivery.

Students who will attend the programme are applying for places that are commissioned nationally by region, with the specific purpose of enhancing their employability and effectiveness as low intensity practitioners, with the overall aim of improving children and young people and their families’ experiences of inclusive mental health services. It is hoped that following the course they will be retained in these roles for some time, with more developed skills in the interventions they provide and in supervising others who are training after them.

Teaching, tutoring, and course assignments are designed to increase employability and are pragmatic and specific to the students’ settings. This includes students submitting video sessions of their work, with reflective analysis designed to improve their clinical practice and effectiveness as practitioners. They also submit an essay on what makes an effective supervisor in their setting, and provide a reflection on their supervision work. All of the above develop and enhance skills that will increase their employability, and provide a bank of evidence for them to use for applications to future employers. The UCL/AFC partnership has the unique advantage of drawing expert teaching/tutoring staff from a number of NHS Trusts, which is greatly valued by students on all of our programmes.

Who this course is for

This programme is aimed at students who are employed in sites where trainees are delivering the training programmes referred to above.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL has a formal partnership with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (AFNCCF), a national charity with a worldwide reputation. This programme will be delivered by the AFNCCF where you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners in the field.

At the AFNCCF, we aim to equip trainees with the knowledge and skills to work effectively in promoting the resilience and wellbeing of children, young people and families.

Entry to this programme is through an employment contract with a relevant CYPMH provider. Positions are co-ordinated centrally and advertised via UCL Admissions. Recruitment is organised with the application process open for a limited period of time only.

The programme will extend the clinical skillset of low intensity practitioners by providing specialist training in a broader range of presentations such as advanced anxiety presentations, Trauma-Informed practice principles and approaches as well as working with CYP (and families) with neurodiversity including autism and learning disabilities. Students will also receive supervisor training and learn how supervision can enhance trainee therapists' knowledge of multi-agency systems. They will be introduced to relevant theory, models and interventions designed to support development of the new child mental health workforce in schools and in the community.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Alumni from this course will go onto progress in their existing CYP-MH setting and qualify to take on a more advanced role as a Senior Wellbeing Practitioner.

Employability

The programme is designed to train and guide students whilst they undertake a role as a Senior Wellbeing Practitioner within a relevant CYPMH (Children and Young People's Mental Health) service. Following successful completion, you will continue working on-site as a Senior Wellbeing Practitioner, with an enhanced skill set, further developing these within an applied setting. You may also go on to mentor other new site supervisors, thus supporting your employability prospects.

Teaching and learning

Assessments on the course will include a mix of essays, whole session recordings and reflection and critical evaluation.

Modules

Year One:

Enhanced Practice in Early Intervention - New Module

Whole session recording and case report with reflective analysis (100%)
Clinical Portfolio (0% - Pass Fail only)

Adapting Low Intensity Practice with Children and Young People (CYP) with Neurodiversity (ASC/LD) - New Module

Whole session recording and case report with reflective analysis (100%)

Formative Supervision Skills Workshops

Year Two:

PSYC0248 Supervision Theory and Context

Critical Evaluation of Supervision (4 000 Words) 100%

PSYC0252 Supervision Practice

Reflective essay (2,500 Words) 50%
Whole Session Videotape with Reflective Analysis (1,500 Words) 50%

Formative Clinical Skills Workshops

N.B. All modules are non-condonable.

Compulsory modules

Supervision Theory and Context

Supervision Practice

Enhanced Practice in Early Intervention

Adapting Low Intensity Practice with Children and Young People (CYP) with Neurodiversity (ASC/LD)

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 120 credits. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Senior Wellbeing Practitioner.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24)	See Fees Note
Tuition fees (2023/24)	See Fees Note

Fees for this programme are available on request from the department.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

The application to the Senior Wellbeing Practitioner programme is not an ordinary application process. As a preliminary stage, CYPMH service sites bid to become Partners in the delivery of a relevant Workforce Development Programme. Managers, supervisors and therapists are then put forward by these particular partnerships to take part in the programme. Therefore, you have to be working within an organisation which is part of an existing Partner site delivering CYPMH services to be considered for this programme.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.