PPN NW Newsletter
Thursday 7th August 2025
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Welcome to the latest edition of the Psychological Professions Network North West newsletter. We aim to bring you the latest updates about our work to join up psychological professionals, associated stakeholders, carers and experts by experience in the region.
Coming soon...a new look for our newsletter!
We have been looking at how we communicate with our members based on the feedback we received from our survey back in May.
We are going to refresh our newsletter, giving it a fresh new look and having one monthly issue. We’ll still pop into your inbox each week with a quick newsflash featuring a relevant article.
Psychological Practitioner Community of Practice is looking for new CYP Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) Co-Chair!
The Psychological Practitioner Community of Practice are looking for a new Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) Co-Chair!
See below a message from the current Co-Chairs to current members about the role…
Thank you so much for your ongoing membership and involvement in our Psychological Practitioner Community of Practice (PP CoP).
As you are aware, through the establishment of the PP CoP, and as laid out in our Terms of Reference, we have four Co-Chairs representing the different practitioner roles (1 PWP, 1 EMHP, 1 CWP and 1 MHWP). After being in the role for over two years, our current CWP Co-Chair, Chloe, has given notice that she will no longer be able to continue in her role from September 2025 due to a change in circumstance.
We wish to express our thanks to Chloe for all her contributions and dedication in her time as a Co-Chair. We all wish her the very best for the future.
We are inviting expressions of interest (EOI) for the Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) Co-Chair role. Please note, you must be a qualified and practicing (registered) CWP to express your interest for the CWP Co-Chair role.
GP Resident Doctor Mental Health Placement – call out for mental health services to join the scheme!
In partnership with NHS England North West Deanery, PPN NW have developed a placement directory for GP Resident Doctors to find brief, locality based educational placements in mental health and psychological services.
Placements are between a half and full day in duration and involve a general observation session or shadowing opportunity. There are no supervision or clinical requirements.
We are looking for more services who would like to join the scheme.
Approximately a third of a GP’s consultations present a mental health problem. By contrast most GP Resident Doctors’ placements take place in secondary or acute settings, inversely proportional to the presenting needs of people with mental health difficulties.
The aim of this placement scheme is to improve knowledge, skills and understanding in assessing and managing patients who present with mental health symptoms, including who and how to refer locally.
If your service would like to join, please get in touch with england.ppn.northwest@nhs.net.
Mental health support in schools is driving positive change for young people and their families across Lancashire and South Cumbria
An award-winning health education initiative, Change Talks, is making a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of young people, school staff, and families across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The Change Talks programme has provided over 450 hours of targeted workshops in schools over the past academic year, with transformative results.
Upcoming PPN Events
Peer learning session on Associate Psychological Practitioners in Physical Health Community of Practice Event
Wednesday 13th August 2025, 10:00 – 11:00 (remote)
To join the community of practice and find out more about this and future events click here.
Functional neurological symptoms (FNS): Development, maintenance & treatment – Physical Health Community of Practice Event
Wednesday 17th September 2025, 09:00 - 10:00 (remote)
To join the community of practice and find out more about this and future events click here.
PPN NW and NE&Y NHS Talking Therapies Leadership and Innovation Forum
Wednesday 15th October 2025, 09.30 – 13.00
This Bi-annual Forum for Leadership and Innovation within Talking Therapies will be taking place in October – keep your eyes out on future PPN Comms for a confirmed agenda and instructions on how to book on!
FMA mental health and learning disabilities conference – Friday 10th October in Manchester
The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is hosting its mental health and learning disabilities conference in Manchester on Friday 10 October. Tailored for colleagues across the mental health and learning disabilities sector, it is a prime opportunity to discuss the implications of the 10-year plan on service provision and find out more about best practice taking place across the country.
The event is free to colleagues from NHS organisations and will be of equal interest to finance and non-finance colleagues such as service managers, operations teams, clinicians, and non-executive directors.
New prevalence data published from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey
NHS England have released the first part of the new data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS). The APMS series provides data on the prevalence of both treated and untreated psychiatric disorder in the English adult population (aged 16 and over).
Key findings found an increased prevalence across a range of indicators of poor mental health. Young adults remain a key group with overall prevalence increasing and are more likely to report lifetime non-suicidal self-harm and to screen positive for PTSD and ADHD than older age groups. The survey also found socioeconomic inequalities in mental health persist, physical and mental health were strongly related and more people were accessing mental health treatment.
Talking Therapies Updates
Money Guiders in NHS Talking Therapies Webinar - Money & Pensions Services
Tuesday 16th September 2025, 14:30 – 15:15
Join Sian from the Money and Pensions service to hear more about Money Guiders – the Money and Pensions Services professional development programme for anyone having conversations about Money in the non-regulated space.
There is no registration required and you can join the Teams call for this event via this link.
Shift patient journeys from analogue to digital at no cost with NHS 111 online
We’re delighted that colleagues in the NHS 111 online team have shared information about how NHS TT services can make better links with NHS 111 online. Please see details below:
Email nhs111online@nhs.net to find out how 111 online can direct patients to your Talking Therapies website, when clinically appropriate, at the point of need. There is no cost for this, and our implementation managers can help configure your listing to suit your local needs.
Staying Safe from Suicide - Guidance into practice Talking Therapies webinar - 24th June 2025 – slides and recording now available!
You can find the webinar here on the Talking Therapies Futures Platform, or on the Staying Safe from Suicide Futures platform here.
International Youth Day
What is International Youth Day?
International Youth Day is a United Nations event observed every 12th August. It’s a global day to raise awareness about the issues facing young people and to celebrate the power of youth to shape their communities and futures.
This year’s theme is “Youth Empowerment for a Healthier Future”, which focuses on giving young people a say in decisions that affect their health and wellbeing — from mental health services to education and climate change.
Why It Matters
Young people face real challenges — around 1 in 6 young people in the UK report experiencing mental health struggles.
Access to support, advice, and opportunities makes a big difference
By involving youth in health, education, and community decisions, we create a stronger and more inclusive society.
Relationship between adverse childhood experiences and musculoskeletal pain: the mediating effect of depressive symptoms
A new study looks at the role of depressive symptoms as a mediator in the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and musculoskeletal pain (MSP).
The role of depressive symptoms (DS) as a mediator in this relationship is not well understood. This study examines the role of DS as a mediator in this relationship among middle-aged and older Chinese adults.
BPS events around NHS 10 Year Plan – free to BPS members
NHS 10 Year Health Plan: Psychology’s role in shifting from sickness to prevention
4th September 2025, 10:30 – 12:00
NHS 10 Year Health Plan: Psychology’s role in shifting from analogue to digital
9th September 2025, 10:30 – 12:00
In both of these workshops, led by the BPS Policy and Public Affairs team, we will explore what role psychologists can play in delivering one of the three key shifts in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
The workshop will offer members a space to explore what work and interventions are already taking place to deliver this shift, and how psychologists can further support the ambition.
You can find out more here.
Applying AI in psychological services: a changing landscape – Tuesday 16th September
Our colleagues at PPN SW are organising an event, Applying AI in psychological services: a changing landscape. Taking place at 9:30 – 11:00 on Tuesday the 16th of September, the session will explore the capabilities of generative artificial intelligence, and how it can be used to support therapeutic interventions. More details of speakers and topics will be shared soon.
You can register to attend on Eventbrite here.
New course at the Psychological Therapies Training Centre – Postgraduate Diploma in CBT
Self-Funded Postgraduate Diploma in CBT (Validated by the University of Manchester)
Train to become a skilled CBT practitioner. This programme is designed for professionals in mental health, health, or social care who want to develop clinical and theoretical skills in evidence-based CBT. It runs over 18 months, starting in November 2025, and includes teaching over one academic year, one day per week, and structured teaching blocks at start of terms.
Entry Requirements
Minimum 2 years post-qualification experience
Open to those with a recognised core profession (e.g. nursing, counselling, clinical psychologists) as well as those following the KSA route (e.g. Low intensity practitioners, graduate mental health workers)
Programme Fee: £9,000
Contact the email below to apply or learn more: PTTCenquiries@gmmh.nhs.uk
Help to improve mental health care for people with a learning disability
Health and social care professionals who work with people with a learning disability are being invited to take part in a National Institute for Health and Care Research funded study. This explores professionals' experiences of identifying, managing, and treating mental health problems in people with a learning disability.
Complete the online survey to take part. Alternatively, you can request a paper copy by emailing cwp.unlocking.excellence@nhs.net
Are you a member of one of our Communities of Practice?
By receiving this email you are a confirmed member of the PPN NW; however, have you considered joining one of our Communities of Practice (CoP)? Please see links below for information on how to join one of our CoPs:
PPN NW Mailing List Review
The Psychological Professions Network depends on the engagement of its members. To do this we need to ensure we have an accurate and up to date register and mailing list to enable us to keep you regularly updated with events, policy changes, projects and more.
Due to an error on our website registration form, a number of people who have created PPN NW accounts have automatically been opted out of communications and, therefore, are not receiving professional updates or event opportunities – effectively negating any benefit of being a member! We are therefore in the process of opting all of these members back into communications. Please do email us if you wish to remain opted out of communications.
What are we asking you to do?
Being a member of our PPN NW Mailing List allows us to invite you to bespoke Community of Practice events and workshops, receive our newsletter.
We will not share your information with any third parties or send you any promotional emails that are not connected to delivering psychological health and wellbeing within an NHS-commission space.
Please email the PPN NW at england.ppn.northwest@nhs.net if you wish to be removed from the PPN NW Mailing List.
You can update your own details, for both Membership and Communications Preferences, at any time by visiting the website here, this includes your profile with your most recent job title, professional role, banding and ICB etc.
Share Your News!
Please email the PPN-NW team at england.ppn.northwest@nhs.net if you have an update from your work or local network that you would like featured in one of our upcoming newsletters. We want to boost important events and developments from around our region, so let us know what’s going on where you are!
Interested in joining the PPN?
Anyone can join the Psychological Professions Network! Whether you are a member of one of the psychological professions, another professional of any discipline, an aspiring psychological professional, or a member of the public, you can sign up and join us for free.
