Christopher

Christopher Knight has successfully transitioned to a rewarding career in the NHS as an apprentice psychological wellbeing practitioner (PWP) and cognitive behavioural therapist in NHS Talking Therapies. His journey from military service to mental health advocacy showcases the invaluable support provided by the Step into Health programme.

A Dedicated Military Career

“I served for 14 years and 1 month in the Royal Military Police as a regular Sergeant,” Christopher shares. Towards the end of his military career, he struggled with his mental health, which ultimately guided his decision to pursue a career supporting others with similar challenges.

Christopher completed a degree in psychology through the Open University while serving and became drawn to the NHS. “I wanted a career related to supporting people with mental health difficulties,” he explains. “The NHS is an institution that I would feel proud to represent.”

Discovering Step into Health

Transitioning to civilian employment was not without its hurdles. “I didn’t know where to look for jobs outside of the usual platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed,” Christopher admits.

Christopher first heard about the Step into Health programme during career transition courses with Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and learned more through discussions with his career advisor.

“I used the Step into Health website to explore job options within the NHS but couldn’t find anything in the psychological domain,” he recalls. A phone call with the Step into Health team changed everything. “They provided links to employers in my area and invaluable advice that ultimately helped me land my first-choice job.”

Step into Health, also, provided links to key contacts within his desired field and guidance on using the NHS employment application system, Trac. “They taught me how to set up email notifications for the jobs I was chasing,” he adds.

Starting a New Role in the NHS

Christopher began his NHS career as an apprentice PWP. “I am enrolled in a Level 6 Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Apprenticeship with the University of Exeter, working towards gaining a Graduate Certificate Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner,” he says.

Utilising Transferable Skills

Christopher’s military background has been a significant asset in his new role. “My ability to adapt to change and remain flexible in situations has been really appreciated,” he notes. His experience in the military has equipped him with the skills to approach challenging situations with a calm mind and solve problems effectively.

Advice for Armed Forces Community

Christopher offers three top tips for members of the Armed Forces community considering NHS careers:

• Find out who is involved in the recruitment process and don’t be afraid to reach out and arrange an informal chat.
• Use Trac and set up email notifications for the job(s) that you want. It allows you to apply early, devise a template, and manage your applications.
• If you get to the interview stage, revise the standards of the trust to which you are applying and learn as much as you can about the job beforehand. If you speak to someone in service prior, ask for their advice.

Recommendation of Step into Health

Christopher highly recommends the Step into Health programme to other Armed Forces community members. “There is so much information on the Step into Health website about various positions within the NHS,” he emphasises. “If you can’t find what you are after, they are very responsive when you reach out and can provide invaluable links.”