Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in Manchester

Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Manchester, Stockport, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale

Talking Therapies (Manchester)

Full time

Fixed Term Contract

Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

About The Big Life Group

The Big Life Group’s mission is to fight for equity, in health, in wealth and in life. We are a social business delivering a range of services across the North of England, covering everything from mental and physical health, addiction and criminal justice, to housing, education, family support and much more. What links them together is the way we work – The Big Life Way.

We always stand shoulder-to- shoulder with people, working with them on the things that matter most to them. Everything we do is designed and informed by the needs, priorities and strengths of people and communities.

• Courage: We stand up for ourselves, and the people and communities we work alongside, even when that makes us unpopular, or challenges accepted wisdom.
• Creativity: We find innovative solutions that work, never accepting the easy option or the status quo.
• Honesty: We act with integrity, speaking the truth to ourselves and others.
• Inspiration: We are inspired by the people and communities we work with and share what we learn from them to inspire others.
• Thoughtful: We act with care and compassion and work to understand people’s experiences. We take time to listen, reflect and continually learn.
• Valuing difference: We recognise and celebrate the unique qualities, gifts, insights and perspectives that different people offer.

At Big Life, work is more than a job – it’s about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people and communities, making a difference every day. We fight for equity in health, in wealth and in life, and that commitment starts with how our staff.

Be yourself

We want you to feel safe, respected and able to bring your whole self to work. Difference is celebrated here, and our staff networks - from menopause to neurodiversity, LGBTQI+ and more - create space to connect and support each other.

Benefits that matter

We offer more than a payslip - you’ll find wellbeing support through LifeWorks, Simply Health and mindfulness sessions, 25-30 days’ annual leave plus your birthday off, flexible working, and regular learning opportunities. Everyday perks include Blue Light Card discounts, savings schemes, cycle-to-work, free eye tests and more - little extras to make life easier inside and outside of work.

Recognised as outstanding

We’re proud to be ranked by Best Companies as one of the UK’s outstanding places to work, with a two-star accreditation in 2024.

A culture of trust and flexibility

Our people describe our culture as relaxed and supportive. You’ll be trusted to plan your own day, take breaks when you need, and work in a way that fits with your life as well as your role.

If you’re looking for more than a job - if you want to be part of a team that’s bold, creative and relentlessly committed to equity – then Big Life could be the place for you.

The basics

£28,392 (NHS fixed point Band 4 entry)

Hours

37.5 hours per week during a one year fixed-term training contract.

Contract

Fixed term for one year, with potential opportunities for continued employment

Annual leave

25 days, increasing to 30 days after five years

Base

Although we provide opportunities for homeworking, this role is not fully remote. By applying for this post, you understand that you will be required to attend the University of Lancashire as required, and will be based in one of the following areas, with the expectation of travel between offices and service-user venues, subject to service needs:

• Manchester
• Stockport
• Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale

If invited to interview, we will ask you to list the areas in order of preference. However, we cannot guarantee you will be offered your first choice.

Closing date for applications

Thursday, 19 November 2026 at midnight.

**Please note that applications may close early should we receive a high number of responses**

Interview dates

Week commencing 7-11 December. All interviews will be face to face.

You must be available to start the post in March 2027. Exact date will be confirmed upon appointment.

We recognise that AI tools can be useful in supporting job applications, for example by helping with spelling, grammar, structure, or clarity. However, the content of your application should reflect your own skills, experience, knowledge, and ideas. You may be asked at interview to expand on or discuss any part of your application.

What you’ll be doing

As a trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, you will train to deliver NICE approved interventions for the treatment of common mental health conditions.

You will work flexibly across your service area. Specific duties will vary from service-to-service, subject to service need.

You will attend university as required. We work alongside several universities and the university you attend will be determined by the service area in which you are employed. You will be responsible for making the necessary travel arrangements.

Key aspects of this role will include the handling of service-user safety, the need to complete academic work in your own time, and the requirement to work alongside other services and professionals in a timely manner. The ability to manage your time efficiently is essential.

Note to applicants: we encourage applications from candidates whose first language is not English. Please be aware that for all entry routes, you must be able to show proficiency in the English language with a relevant higher-level qualification from a recognised English-speaking institution, or with a relevant standalone English proficiency qualification.

Reasonable adjustments

Do you have a disability or additional needs? Please tell us and let’s talk about what reasonable adjustments we can make to ensure our interviews are more accessible.

Please use the person spec and align yourself to each point to demonstrate how you are a match for the job role.

Big Life is in the business of changing lives, creating opportunities for people who have the least. When you become part of Big Life - as a staff or volunteer - we want you to feel great about your time with us.

It's important to us that staff feel great while they work here. That partly comes from a supportive, flexible approach to managing and nurturing our staff, but also from a wide range of perks, schemes and support, which help make being part of Big Life a bit brighter:

Wellbeing passports: Everyone has things going on in their life that affect their ability to be happy at work, and Big Life's wellbeing passports help staff members to work with their manager to understand their situation, what changes at work might make a difference, and the support we can offer.

Health and wellbeing champions: Our health and wellbeing champions group is drawn from across the group, and meets regularly to look at how we can best support our staff.

Peer supporters: Staff peer supporters can help staff within the group who may be experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, or any other emotional difficulties most of us face at some point in time. Peer supporters usually have some of their own life experience to draw on, and are trained to offer support.

Employee Assistance Programme: All staff have access to help from LifeWorks, which offers support with emotional, mental, financial, or physical wellbeing. The service is confidential, 24/7, and free to Big Life staff.

Stop smoking support: Big Life staff looking to stop smoking can access the NHS SmokeFree scheme. Through the scheme, if you quit and stay smoke free for six months, you can claim a £60 of gift vouchers.

Cycle to work: Anyone looking to get fit on their way to work can access Cycle Solutions, and get a bike for their commute tax free! Through the scheme, Big Life staff can save an average of 32% on the cost of their bike.

Your Development:

Coming to Big Life to work or volunteer can be just the start of your journey. We really believe that if people have the values, the determination and the skills to progress, then we'll do everything we can to make that happen.

In fact, we've got a whole range of stories about people for whom that was the case:

http://www.thebiglifegroup.com/category/staff-and-volunteer-progression

We want to be a great employer and to look after our volunteers, so we've received formal accreditations that show our commitment:

- Investors in People (Gold Award)

- Investors in People (Health and Wellbeing)

- Mindful Employer

- Disability Confident

£28,392 (NHS Band 4 entry)

Hours

37.5

Employee Assistance Program, birthday extra day off work, wellbeing support, cycle to work and car lease schemes, financial advice