One of the professionals supporting community mental health and wellbeing through our BeingWell service is called a Health Improvement Practitioner. It is a long name, so most people know them as HIPs. The role began in New Zealand in 2017 and is still new to many. In the Bay of Plenty, more people have become familiar with HIPs through the care they provide in general practice. But do you know what it takes to become a HIP?
HIPs are already qualified and registered health professionals before they enter the role. They also need at least three years of experience, usually in mental health, and training in talking therapies. Many come from backgrounds such as social work, psychology, mental health nursing or occupational therapy. HIPs begin working in general practice while they train to be endorsed, with supervision and support built in from the start.
Morgan Hill, an endorsed HIP working at BeingWell, describes how the training works:
“We start with a week of intensive training. This focuses on the HIP role, the model of care, and how to become part of general practice. After that, we are supported for six to nine months by a dedicated trainer. They meet with us regularly, observe our work in practice, and are available for questions. We have three assessments during this period. We also connect with other HIPs in training, sharing learning and support as we grow into the role.”
For Helen Duyvestyn, also an endorsed BeingWell HIP, the training is key to the care people receive.
“Our training is based Focused Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (FACT), a model of brief psychological therapy to help people manage any difficulties they may be facing. The assessments focus on how we work with people in real situations. Are we following the model? Are we staying person-led? What can we improve? The training builds on our existing experience and gives us a clear structure to use our skills well. It supports safe, consistent care and helps us work confidently alongside GPs and practice teams.”
All of this means that when you see a HIP through BeingWell, you are seeing someone who is already qualified, has trained specifically for this role and has had their work observed in real practice. This careful approach also reflects how BeingWell and WBOP PHO support their team, and why people can feel confident in the care and wellbeing support available to them in the Bay of Plenty.
