Complex Presentations at Step 2 Assessment (PWP Enhanced Clinical Practice Workshop):

Our CPD workshops for PWPs and MHWPs offer engaging, practice-focused learning designed to strengthen both clinical knowledge and practical skills. Grounded in the Declarative-Procedural-Reflective (DPR) Model of Therapist Skill Development (Bennett-Levy, 2006), these workshops go beyond the delivery of information to support meaningful professional growth. Participants will have the opportunity to develop and consolidate their declarative knowledge (what we know), strengthen their procedural skills (what we do in practice), and engage in structured reflection to enhance clinical decision-making and competence.

Each workshop uses a range of interactive teaching methods including discussion, case examples, skills practice, and reflective exercises. This approach enables participants to translate learning directly into their clinical work and build confidence in applying evidence-based interventions with diverse client groups. Workshops provide opportunities to learn collaboratively, share good practice with peers, and develop confidence in applying new knowledge and skills within everyday clinical work.

Whether you are seeking to refresh existing skills, develop expertise in a particular clinical area, or enhance your reflective practice, these workshops offer a supportive and stimulating space for professional development.

The core PWP training provides a solid foundation for conducting a structured, thorough step 2 assessment. This workshop is designed to support qualified PWPs to expand on these skills to a more advanced level, to provide optimal care for all patients, but particularly those whose presentations may not be straightforward.

The content of the workshop will cover the context and evidence-base surrounding the topic, defining complexity, and understanding its development. A focus will be on recognising complex presentations and severe mental health disorders, how to effectively differentiate between them and how these can present in the context of a step 2 assessment. It will explore effective information gathering, information giving and resourcing when there is a complex or significant mental health/risk history, in a context of delivering trauma-informed care. Many PWPs will need to make referrals to other services, like secondary care, so there will be exploration through reflecting on this experience and preparation for making effective referrals. It will also focus on some of the interpersonal difficulties PWPs can encounter and struggle within the unique context of step 2 assessments, such as dealing with interpersonal difficulties within an assessment, knowing how to effectively give information if you aren’t sure the service can meet their needs, managing expectations and having difficult conversations.

This workshop will be held via Zoom on 29/04/2027 between 09:30am to 16:30pm. Please book your place here for £125 per person: https://store.exeter.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/faculty-of-health-and-life-sciences/psychology/cedar-create-enhanced-clinical-practice-workshop-for-pwps-mhwp-complex-presentation-at-step-2