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Primary care graduate mental health worker
Hours
37.5 per week
Starting salary
£21,200 + per year
If you would like to use a range of therapeutic techniques to help individuals and groups with mental health problems, this type of work might suit you.
As a primary care graduate mental health worker (PCGMHW) you would provide treatment and support to people with common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression.
In this job you would need to have an in-depth knowledge of mental health issues. You would need to be able to communicate well with patients, to explain the options open to them. You would also need to be a good listener and able to gain patients' trust.
You will need a qualification in a relevant subject, such as psychology – many employers will expect you to have a degree, and the ability to work towards a related postgraduate certificate. Voluntary experience and a driving licence will also be very useful.
WorkDesc
The work
As a primary care graduate mental health worker you could specialise in certain therapies, for example, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). You would typically work with adults, however, some job roles may involve work with a range of client groups including children and young people.
Your work would include assessing individuals with specific mental health needs and designing treatment plans for them. You would also offer practical help and encourage patients to access other support services or agencies and be active in the community.
You may also be involved with:
- designing and running group therapy sessions
- promoting good mental health in the community, making sure information is accurate and available in key locations
- signposting people to relevant services, including voluntary and other community resources
- keeping accurate and up-to-date patient care records
- supporting and training other healthcare professionals working with clients with mental health issues
- developing and setting up new mental health support services.
With some employers you would be known as a graduate mental health worker (GMHW).
HoursDesc
Hours
You could work within a range of settings in the community, including patients' homes, local health clinics and GP surgeries. Working with clients who are distressed and upset is part of the job and the work can be emotionally demanding.
You would generally work 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Part-time and flexible working hours are often available.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries can be between £21,200 and £27,500 a year
- With experience this can rise to around £34,200 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You will need a qualification in a relevant subject, such as psychology – many employers will expect you to have a degree, and the ability to work towards a related postgraduate certificate.
You will also usually need paid or voluntary experience working in mental health or with people with disabilities; contact the voluntary services coordinator or manager at your local NHS Trust for details.
A background in a related area, such as nursing, occupational therapy, social work, counselling and psychotherapy would also be useful; although with this sort of background and knowledge you may be able to start in a higher grade post (such as primary care mental health worker).
You will often be expected to have a full, clean driving licence.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once working, you may receive training on:
- issues specific to the local community
- therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive behavioural therapy.
Many employers will also encourage you to work towards a postgraduate certificate in primary mental health care practice on a part-time basis.
You would be expected to continue training throughout your career and keep up to date with developments in the field of mental health.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a primary care graduate mental health worker you should have:
- skills in a range of therapeutic techniques in mental health
- in-depth knowledge of mental health issues
- good communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain patient choices
- good team working skills and the ability to work alone
- the ability to put people at ease and inspire their trust and confidence
- excellent listening skills
- the ability to manage a caseload of clients with a variety of needs
- excellent time management skills
- the ability to meet deadlines.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) 
23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7333 9333
www.nmc-uk.org
Skills for Health
Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association
33-37 Moreland Street
London
EC1V 8HA
Tel: 020 7505 3000
www.amicustheunion.org/cphva
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
As you progress in your role, you will develop experience and competence, perhaps taking on greater responsibility and working with less supervision. There may be opportunities for you to lead a team and/or develop new mental health services. With further training, you could move into a related career, for example, in clinical psychology.
Job prospects are good and expected to improve due to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies initiative, which may boost demand for trained psychological therapists.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
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