NHS Pathways pilot programme extended

We are excited to confirm that NHS England is extending the NHS Pathways pilot programme to a further cohort of students.

We wholeheartedly support the decision to extend this landmark pilot programme and are looking forward to welcoming new students enrolling on their courses.

Student recruitment for the three-year fully-funded training programmes, delivered by the three original pilot programme providers, will be opening soon. We will share more information about the recruitment process as soon as possible. We are also looking forward to seeing the feedback from the current cohort, whose courses finish this year.

What is the NHS Pathways pilot?

The current pilot, which began with the launch of three postgraduate courses in September 2022, has provided core training in person-centred experiential counselling for depression, dynamic interpersonal therapy and couples therapy for depression to 46 students.

This training is accredited by five of the six Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB) organisations with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) acting as the lead accrediting body.

The five partners involved are:
Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC)
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

This initiative will continue to open opportunities:

to improve the choice of therapies available in the NHS
for increasing accessibility into the counselling and psychotherapy profession, especially for those from disadvantaged groups who are less able to self-fund core training. This supports our equality, diversity and inclusion objectives as applicants are typically from a range of socio-economic backgrounds
to enhance the PCPB partnerships reputation within the NHS, solidifying close working relationships with key decision makers and policy teams
for funded pathways to core training that attracts a more diverse workforce into the profession
to provide future tendering opportunities for training providers affiliated with the partners of the joint accreditation