title: Role transition from mental health nurse to IAPT high intensity psychological therapist.
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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK. s.robinson@BarnsleyPCT
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kellett
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Val
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom