22 March 2017

For immediate release

Going back to Uni.....at the age of 62

Therapist and former service user Ruth Tipping proved that you're never too old to learn following the successful completion of a traineeship.

The 62-year-old, who lives in Milton Keynes, went back to university to undertake a 10 month course while also learning on the job.

She is now a fully-qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) within the same Talking Therapies Team that helped her as a service user at the Stantonbury Health Centre in Purbeck.

She said: "I've really enjoyed working in a new environment as well as being back at university. It's been a great challenge."

"In an ageing population I'm proof there's a wealth of talent out there. No matter how old you are, it's never too late to learn and do something new."

Ruth, who has a background in training, first came to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Team about two years ago following the death of her husband.

"I saw a trainee PWP over four sessions and she really listened to me and was very encouraging. By talking to her I realised I needed a new challenge. I've always worked with people helping them to move on in life with new skills and I realised that the way the IAPT service support people really interested me," said Ruth.

Following a conversation with the service manager who was impressed with her CV and experience, she began volunteering for two days a week. Over the next eight months she learnt about the service and how it works, started learning about common mental health difficulties and followed a structured programme to develop her skills.

In April last year she secured a position as a trainee PWP at the health centre and began her course at Reading University. Recently she was offered and accepted a permanent PWP post at the health centre.

She said: "It's been fantastic. I was self-employed for many years and it's been really enjoyable being part of a team again. It's given me the sense of connection at work that I needed after my husband died. They are a great team - they genuinely care about every patient they see as well as being very supportive of each other and new people starting in the service. I'm so glad I took the leap!"

Dr Ryan Kemp, Clinical Director for CNWL's Milton Keynes Community Services, said: "When I first met Ruth I loved her energy and enthusiasm. She was such a popular volunteer and when she asked about training, it made perfect sense. I have also recently discovered that Ruth has diabetes as she was telling me she wants to work on our long-term conditions work.

"Her gains from CBT have helped her diabetes and she wants to share this with others. Her commitment is genuine and born of her own experience. We are very lucky to have her in our team."

The IAPT team in Milton Keynes is based at the Stantonbury Health Centre, Purbeck, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes MK14 6BL.

Phone: 01908 228830 (option 4).

Notes to editors'

Attached photo shows Ruth with the IAPT team.

For more details click on: http://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/service/milton-keynes-talking-therapies/Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5756 e-mail:communications.cnwl@nhs.net