Job overview
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling, or Forensic) to join our Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) in Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale (HMR), based at Birch Hill Hospital. We are also advertising equivalent posts in Bury, Oldham, Tameside & Glossop and Stockport.
This 0.8WTE/30 hour permanent position forms part of significant new investment in the crisis pathway, supporting the transformation of our existing Home Treatment Teams into CRHTTs. The successful candidate will join a Principal Psychologist as part of expanding psychology provision.
Our CRHTT provides intensive home‑based assessment, intervention, and support as an alternative to hospital admission. The team works with adults experiencing acute mental health crisis, often presenting with high levels of distress, risk, and complexity. The service plays a crucial role in admission avoidance, early intervention, and supporting safe discharge from inpatient care.
The successful candidates will join committed and experienced MDTs, working closely with medical, nursing, OT, and support staff to deliver psychologically informed crisis care.
This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a growing and evolving service, influence the development of psychologically informed crisis pathways, and make a meaningful difference to service users and their families during some of the most challenging moments in their lives.
Main duties of the job
As outlined in the job description, the main duties include:
The post holder will work with service users with complex mental health difficulties, who are experiencing acute distress or crisis.
To work as part of the CRHTT Multi-disciplinary team (MDT), working to deliver core fidelity standards and in line with the team’s clinical model. Where required, working across both the CR and HTT pathways to ensure need is met
The post holders will provide specialist assessment, formulation and interventions for a clinical caseload.
To provide a qualified specialist psychology service for people referred to the CRHTT care pathway.
A key function of the role will be to support CRHTT staff, staff in the acute care pathway and CMHT practitioners and to develop a psychological understanding and context for service users and carers.
To support with a holistic understanding of presenting need, particularly in relation to risk, including assessment, formulation and management of risk.
To provide consultation and formulation to staff within the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) to ensure the provision of trauma informed care when people are in crisis.
Working for our organisation
Our acute pathway provides an evidence-based, high quality service across adult acute wards, PICUs, Home Treatment Teams and Mental Health Liaison Teams covering half of Greater Manchester. The Trustwide acute psychology team meets regularly for team meetings, CPD and facilitated reflective group and has leadership from a Consultant Clinical Psychologist/Clinical Lead.
We are passionate about staff well-being and compassionate leadership. Our staff survey results support this. In the latest national NHS Staff Survey (2024) Pennine Care was ranked as the best mental health and learning disability trust in the North.
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the top of our agenda. We know a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture is vital; that everyone's value should be recognised and respected.
We support staff to work flexibly and recognise and respect the roles our colleagues hold outside of working hours. This focus helps us to retain staff and ensure people are happy in their place of work.
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
For a more detailed overview of the roles job description and main responsibilities, please see the attached job description and personal specification.
A Band 7–8a preceptorship pathway is available for suitable candidates, offering structured support and progression to Band 8a following successful completion of agreed competencies.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Doctoral level training in clinical psychology/ counselling psychology/ forensic psychology including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychological assessments, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan development psychology as accredited by the BPS.
* Accreditation/Registration with HCPC
Desirable criteria
* Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and / or other fields of applied psychology.
* Post qualification therapy training
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience of specialist psychology assessment and treatment across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in-patient settings.
* Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
* MDT working
* Experience of assessing, formulating and managing need relating to risk to ensure safety
Desirable criteria
* Experience of teaching training and / or supervision
* Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
* Experience of working in a fast paced setting where formulation and brief interventions through an MDT form a significant part of the work.
* Experience of working in an acute setting as a Practitioner Psychologist
* Experience of supervising others (either psychological professionals or MDT members)
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology. Ability to apply this to clinical settings, for example, through audits, service evaluations or QI methods
* Knowledge of administration and interpretation of outcome measures as part of assessment and evaluation.
* Application of psychological therapy in a acute/ crisis context
* Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS.
* Knowledge of the practice implications of National guidance and policy, e.g. Nice Guidance, MHA, etc.
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnosis, people with additional disabilities etc.).
* High–level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
* Knowledge of legislation in relation to working age adults and mental health.
* Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
* 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 and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
* Skills in leading team formulation sessions to ensure understanding in the delivery of trauma informed care
* Ability to teach and train others using a variety of complex and multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
* Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
Desirable criteria
* Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
* Experience of adapting approach to ensure inclusivity and a desire to reduce health inequalities
* Strong interest and experience of working with service users with severe / complex needs
Work Related Circumstances
Essential criteria
* Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
* Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
* Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
📝 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 this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and need extra time or adjustments to complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible. We will ensure you are not disadvantaged where a reasonable adjustment is appropriate.