Support Worker (Mental Health)

You could do a degree in psychology or health and social care subjects then apply for a place on a postgraduate training course.

After your degree, you'll need to get a job in healthcare while you complete Improving Access to Psychological Therapy training approved by the British Psychological Society.

This 12 month course is made up of a day of academic study and 4 days of supervised practice each week.

Entry requirements

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could do a psychological wellbeing practitioner degree apprenticeship.

You may need a degree in a relevant subject like psychology or nursing or experience of working in mental health to do this apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

• a degree in a relevant subject

More Information

• guide to apprenticeships
• equivalent entry requirements

To get into this role you'll usually need a lot of experience of working with people who have mental health issues or disabilities. This could be from paid work or volunteering.

You can:

• get some work experience in the NHS
• search for paid and volunteer roles on NHS jobs, such as community support worker
• look at volunteer opportunities with Mind

Career tips

Experience of working with people with mental health problems will be helpful.

Further information

You can find out more about working as a psychological wellbeing practitioner from Health Careers.

You can also explore other careers in the psychological professions.