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Senior Wellbeing Practitioner PG Dip

London, King's Cross (Anna Freud Centre)

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Senior Wellbeing Practitioner PG Dip (2024), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

Part-time

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

See Fees Note

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)

See Fees Note

Duration

2 calendar years

Programme starts

January 2025

Applications accepted

January 2025 entry: 01 Aug – 19 Dec 2024

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

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 need to be qualified EMHPs (Graduate/Postgraduate Diploma) or CWPs (Graduate/Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma) with ideally, two years of post-qualification experience, however candidates with less experience are encouraged to apply if they have enough relevant experience. They will be competent or accredited in the clinical models that they are supervising. Candidates must have been successful in applying for a locally created Senior Wellbeing Practitioner role.

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.

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 programme aims to extend students' clinical skillsets, training them in a broader range of clinical presentations, including OCD, self-harm, tics, trauma-informed practice, and Emotionally Based School Absence (EBSA). It also focuses on supporting neurodivergent children and young people, such as those with ASC/ADHD and Learning Disabilities. Additionally, the programme develops students' skills in supervising trainee low-intensity practitioners, teaching them how supervision can enhance trainees' understanding of multi-agency systems.

Students will be introduced to relevant theories, models, and interventions to support the development of the new child mental health workforce in schools and communities. The training specifically aims to develop practitioners for essential positions within CYP-MH in the NHS and other providers.

The programme is nationally commissioned to enhance the employability and effectiveness of low-intensity practitioners, ultimately improving the experiences of children, young people, and their families in inclusive mental health services. Graduates are expected to remain in these roles, bringing more developed skills in interventions and supervision.

The UCL/AFC partnership uniquely benefits from expert teaching and tutoring staff drawn from several NHS Trusts, which is highly valued by students across all our programmes.

Who this course is for

Candidates must:

be qualified EMHPs (Graduate/Postgraduate Diploma) or CWPs (Graduate or Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma);
have two years’ post-qualification experience as a CWP or EMHP, starting from the date of receipt of certification (a minimum of one year post-qualification experience can be considered)
be competent, trained and accredited in the clinical models they are supervising;
have secured a locally created SWP role.

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 Anna Freud , a national charity with a worldwide reputation. This programme will be delivered by the AF where you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners in the field.

At the Anna Freud, 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 Children and Young People's Mental Health (CYP-MH) 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.

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.

The programme is designed to train and guide students whilst they undertake a role as a SWP within a relevant CYPMH service. Following successful completion, you will continue working on-site as a SWP 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. 

Networking

You will have a chance to network with fellow professional peers also undertaking the course. As well as meet with external experts who are often invited to lead some of the teaching.

Teaching and learning

Teaching days are a combination of both in-person and online sessions. Lectures and skills-based workshops form the core teaching, and these are developed further in Practice Tutor Groups (PTGs). Students are expected to video record their clinical and supervision sessions and share these as part of small group learning and reflective practice.

Teaching days comprise of both in-person and online sessions. Lectures and skills-based workshops form the core teaching, and these are developed further in Practice Tutor Groups (PTGs). Students are expected to video record their clinical and supervision sessions and share these as part of small group learning and reflective practice. 

Assessment on the programme includes a variety of coursework, to assess students' knowledge, practical, reflective and evaluative skills within the context of being an SWP.

There are five assignments in Year 1: two case reports and two video recordings with a reflective analysis, plus a clinical portfolio.

There are four assignments in Year 2: an essay on effective supervision, a reflective essay, and a video recording of a supervision session with a reflective analysis, plus a supervision portfolio.

In Year 1: There are approx. 35-38 teaching days, plus 4 study days. Students attend university on average one day per week, typically on Thursdays.

Students are expected to complete a minimum of 7 low-intensity interventions across the range of clinical presentations for year one modules.

In Year 2: There are approx. 17-19 teaching days, plus 4 study days across the year, and this will be combined with students undertaking the PG Cert in Supervision. Students attend university weekly in term 1, thereafter on average monthly, typically on Wednesdays.

You will supervise for a minimum of 1 hour weekly. You are expected to have a total of 35 hours per trainee/ supervisee for the year. Please see course requirements for further information.

Modules

Year one covers the advanced clinical modules including working with neurodivergence such as Autism, ADHD and Learning Disabilities. The SWP competency framework is used alongside teaching to develop and practice clinical skills.

Year two covers supervision models. Competency frameworks are introduced, alongside the use of feedback tools and topics related to delivering effective supervision for low-intensity practitioners.

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. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26)	See Fees Note
Tuition fees (2025/26)	See Fees Note

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

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

If your application is successful, the course fees will be covered by NHSE but please note that this course doesn’t follow the usual application process (see Additional Application Information for further information). 

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.

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