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Role Transition from Mental Health Nurse to IAPT High Intensity Psychological Therapist

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2011

Simon Robinson*
Affiliation:
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Stephen Kellett
Affiliation:
Centre for Psychological Services Research, University of Sheffield, and Sheffield Social and Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Ingrid King
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield, UK
Val Keating
Affiliation:
Sheffield Hallam University, UK
*
Reprint requests to Simon Robinson, Consultant Nurse, Acute Mental Health Care, Barnsley Business Delivery Unit, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley, S70 3RD. E-mail: s.robinson@BarnsleyPCT.nhs.uk

Abstract

Background: The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) initiative has depended on the training of a new NHS mental health workforce. At step 3 of the stepped care model, capacity building has required the recruitment of a wide range of mental health professionals into high intensity therapists training posts. This shift naturally entails role transition on the part of trainees into delivering cognitive behavioural psychotherapy (CBP), but no previous research has examined the experience of such transitions. Aim: To describe the lived experience of transition from mental health nurse to IAPT high intensity therapist and to identify possible factors which moderate effective role conversions. Method: Six qualified high intensity therapists were interviewed using a semi-structured interview and the subsequent interviews transcribed. Thematic content analysis (TCA) was used to analyze personal accounts of role transition. All participants had previously been mental health nurses and attended the same IAPT high intensity therapist (HIT) training programme. Results: Six key themes were apparent from the TCA. Three interconnected themes concerning supervision (style, impact of approach and historical context) and three additional themes of the challenge of learning a new clinical approach, high need for support, and forming a new psychotherapist identity. Conclusions: Findings suggest supervision is the most important factor in supporting complex psychotherapy role transitions. Clinical supervisors may need to incorporate dedicated time on role and identity shift during CBP training to ensure effective assimilation and transition. Methodological short-comings are identified and discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2011

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