Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Band 8a Clinical, Counselling, or Forensic Psychologist to join our multidisciplinary Community Rehabilitation Team on a 12-month fixed-term basis. The post will suit an enthusiastic Psychologist with an interest in developing skills across a wide range of therapeutic approaches, risk assessments, formulation and consultation skills.
Our Community Rehabilitation Team supports individuals with complex and enduring mental health needs to achieve recovery and independence within the community across the Pennine Care footprint. We are committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based psychological care and fostering a culture of innovation, compassion, and collaboration.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.
The team is a trust wide service covering all five boroughs of Pennine Care and it is essential that you drive and have access to transport to travel across the whole footprint of the trust. We are currently based at Trust HQ in Ashton Under Lyne. Our core hours are Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.
The post is offered at 8a, however a band 7 to 8a preceptorship will be considered for candidates with suitable experience.
Main duties of the job
· Provide specialist psychological assessment and formulation for service users with complex needs.
· Support and develop collaborative risk assessments.
· Deliver evidence-based interventions tailored to individual recovery goals.
· Offer consultation and psychological input to the wider MDT, including nurses, occupational therapists, and support workers.
· Provide clinical supervision and support assistant psychologists.
The post holder will be part of a respected psychology team within RHS that includes Clinical and Forensic Psychologists, and Assistant Psychologists. Regular supervision will be provided, as well as team meetings and peer support.
Working for our organisation
We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.
If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:
* Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
* Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
* Access to Continued Professional Development
* Involvement in improvement and research activities
* Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
* Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Essential Criteria
* Good honours degree in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
* Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology; or Forensic Psychology qualification
* HCPC registered as a Practitioner Psychologist
* Experience of working in a community setting.
* Demonstrable experience of delivering highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions (individual and group) within an NHS mental health environment.
* Experience of working within multidisciplinary services in mental health providing therapy to service users with high levels of complexity
* Experience of providing clinical supervision to other psychological therapists
* Experience in teaching / training of other qualified mental health staff / non psychology staff
* Knowledge of the application of clinical governance and risk management policies
* Skills in models of service delivery and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical psychology services within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health community rehabilitation services.
* Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention.
* Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to ‘hold’ the stress of others.
* Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and / or clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS
* Ability to play an active role in service development via evaluation, audit and research.
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
* Ability to prioritise work, manage waiting lists, meet deadlines and revise work plans accordingly
Desirable Criteria
* Further qualifications and / or training in a range of therapy models / interventions
* Further training and / or qualifications in the delivery of clinical supervision
* Experience of providing line management to other psychological therapists
* Expertise in administration and interpretation of specialist psychological assessment tools
* Knowledge of procedures that maintain and contribute to the improvement of psychological services
* Knowledge of systems theory and organisational change
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification to give you the best chance of being shortlisted.
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
* Good honours degree in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
* Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology; or Forensic Psychology qualification
* HCPC registered as a Practitioner Psychologist
* Experience of working in a community setting
* Demonstrable experience of delivering highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions
* Experience of working within multidisciplinary services in mental health providing therapy to service users with high levels of complexity
* Experience of providing clinical supervision to other psychological therapists
* Knowledge of the application of clinical governance and risk management policies
* Skills in models of service delivery and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical psychology services within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health community rehabilitation services
* Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to ‘hold’ the stress of others.
* Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and / or clinically sensitive information to service users, their families,
* Ability to play an active role in service development via evaluation, audit and research
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
* Ability to prioritise work, manage waiting lists, meet deadlines and revise work plans accordingly
* Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
Desirable criteria
* Further qualifications and / or training in a range of therapy models / interventions
* Further training and / or qualifications in the delivery of clinical supervision
* Experience of providing line management to other psychological therapists
* Experience of working in an inpatient setting (psychiatric rehabilitation /PICU / adult/secure services)
* Expertise in administration and interpretation of specialist psychological assessment tools
* Knowledge of procedures that maintain and contribute to the improvement of psychological services Knowledge of systems theory and organisational chang
* A wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area
📝 Application support - We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.
🌍 Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the
📬 After You Apply - Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.
✅ If You're Offered the Role - If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email
🔍 Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with. These include:
* Identity verification
* Right to work check
* Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
* Professional registration and/or qualification check
* Occupational health assessment
* Employment history and reference validation
All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references.
If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.
🚀 Once Checks Are Complete -
The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.
📣 Additional Information -
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.
If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.
Please note:
* We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.
* We may close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, please apply as soon as possible.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR
Telephone
01617163181