Band 4 Trainee PWP v Trainee EMHP

[Aria20]

Does anyone have experience of either of these band 4 roles please?

I am in my final year of a psychology degree and looking at jobs and considering either of the above roles - both include training placement for a post grad diploma.

I like the sound of the EMHP as working with young people is what I had in mind when doing the degree, BUT it's a relatively new job compared with PWP and there seem to be less clear examples of progression and opportunities.

Also the PWP once fully trained can work remotely or for private not just NHS so there is more potential for flexibility in the future once qualified.

Just looking for anyone with experience of either to share the positives/negatives, the daily work expected etc. Thanks!

I'm sorry about that @Aria20 - but given how full on it sounds, maybe it was a blessing in disguise at this phase of your life - I know I'm definitely not in the right headspace to be able to juggle all that just yet!

Best of luck for the future.

@HBGKC yes I think a blessing in disguise for now! @houseshouses yes it is still something I'd like to do so potentially will reconsider in a couple of years. They did suggest applying for the January intake as it is a different university but unfortunately not a better journey as involves 2 trains and a tube so probably worse than a long drive as waiting for trains, delays/cancellations and then train strikes etc if it was remote it would be much more manageable and a shame they don't offer that as an option given it obviously worked fine for a few years in covid!

Hi everyone I have just come across this thread. I have been offered a trainee EMHP position that starts in September and would like more information from people that are currently in the role.

What is the workload like during training and once qualified?
What are some of the challenges you faced during the role?
In the school you work at, have you done a whole school assembly to raise awareness of MH? (This is making me nervous bc I have a fear of public speaking lol)
How often do you work with parents?

Thank you in advance :)

congrstulations!!!! You've done so well to get a spot on the training course.

How you view the workload depends on your frame of reference I suppose. Those who have worked as teachers have found it much more manageable, those who have gone straight from uni can find working and uni tricky to juggle.

We have busy periods and quieter times but always have things to do. If one to one referrals are low, we will push whole school approach so working with year groups and doing coffee mornings for parents or assemblies. We also run parenting groups. There is a good part of the role that requires public speaking, it made me a little nervous but you do it so often you get used to it and as your knowledge grows it feels a little less daunting.

Thank you for this!
With the whole school approach, was this done during training year as well and is it one EMHP that runs it? Also, what does progression look like after? I know it can lead to becoming a senior EMHP but does it open up any other opportunities?
Apologies for all the questions its because there isn't much info out there due to it being a new role.

We did cover a bit of whole school approach during our uni sessions but we didn't have to do any to pass the course. The focus was very much on the interventions and one to one or group work with young people.

From memory, i think one of our assignments was a whole school audit.

Within our team we are all responsible for whole school approach in our designated schools, so I have 5 schools I work directly with and spend time in and I do the wsa work for those schools. It's genuinely my favourite part of the role.

Progression wise it's a tricky one. You have to be 2 years qualified to go on to apply for senior emhp, so working at a band 5. So including training year that's 3 years, you then have to do a further 2 years of part time study at band 5 to gain the semhp qual. Then you move to band 6.

I've heard of others going on to do the cbt course. Personally I love my job, I may look to move to senior emhp at some point but I've been in the role for 4 years now and love our team and my job. Hope you have a similar experience.

Thank you so much!