Principal practitioner psychologist

Job overview

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Principal Practitioner Psychologist to join our adult acute inpatient service in Bury. This is a Band 8b role for a skilled and compassionate psychologist (Clinical, Counselling, or Forensic) who is passionate about working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and delivering high-quality psychological care in a dynamic and supportive environment.

This is a 12-month fixed term position (0.76WTE), and we warmly welcome applications for secondment.

Our two 24-bedded adult acute wards, North ward and South ward, provide specialist assessment, care and treatment for men and women aged 18 to 65 years old with a range of mental health needs. Admissions typically occur via A&E, Mental Health Liaison, the Home Treatment Team, Mental Health Act Assessments within the community or from an outpatient clinic. Service users are often experiencing significant distress, mental health deterioration and/or crisis, requiring responsive and person-centered care.

The post holder will join a welcoming and committed MDT team focused on delivering the best possible care, an acute psychology network within the acute pathway for collaboration and peer support, regular supervision from a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in an environment that values psychological perspectives in acute care.


Main duties of the job

As outlined in the job description, the main duties include:

* To provide clinical leadership and direction in the continual development and provision of a high quality specialist psychology service within the adult acute inpatient service, embedding trauma informed care
* To support with the transformation of acute inpatient care, in line with national direction
* To hold a clinical caseload undertaking evidence-based psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention (individual and/or group). This may include a range of mental health difficulties at the point of crisis including experiences of psychosis, depression and/or Complex Emotional and Relational Needs (CERN)
* To provide specialist psychological support, consultation and guidance to other professionals contributing directly to the assessment, formulation and intervention plan
* To ensure the team have access to a psychologically-based framework for understanding and caring for the service user, through the provision of advice, consultation and the dissemination of psychological research and theory
* To undertake risk assessment and risk management and to provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management
* To support inpatient colleagues through the provision of supervision, reflective practice and post-incident reflective spaces
* To contribute to audit, policy/service development and research. To propose and implement policy changes within the areas served


Working for our organisation

Our acute and crisis pathway provides an evidence-based, high quality service across adult acute wards, Home Treatment Teams and Mental Health Liaison teams covering half of Greater Manchester. The Trustwide acute and crisis psychology team meets regularly for team meetings, CPD and a facilitated reflective group and has leadership from a dedicated 8c consultant clinical psychologist and clinical lead for the acute pathway.

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 .

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.

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.

There are also opportunities to link with local higher education providers and the research & innovation (R&I) team to engage with related research projects.

We are committed to staff development and have an extensive psychological therapies training programme.


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.


Person specification


Education/ Qualification


Essential criteria

* Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical/counselling/forensic psychology, (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, or post-graduate training in Forensic Psychology or Counselling Psychology
* Current registration as a Clinical, Forensic or Counselling psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council


Desirable criteria

* Completion of further post qualification training within psychological therapies (e.g. DBT, CBT, CAT, CFT, MBT etc.)
* Completion of further post qualification training in supervision


Experience


Essential criteria

* Demonstrable post-qualification experience of specialist assessment, formulation and treatment of adult clients and those with psychological difficulties
* Demonstrable post-qualification experience of working with complex mental health problems, including distressing psychosis, problems associated with complex relational and emotional needs, and severe depression, anxiety and trauma
* Demonstrable experience of working with people experiencing a suicidal crisis
* Demonstrable experience of working within multidisciplinary teams
* Experience of clinical leadership within a previous role.
* Demonstrable experience of providing clinical supervision to psychologists, psychological practitioners or other core health professions.
* Demonstrable experience of providing teaching/ training upon clinical interventions.
* Demonstrable experience of managing demand for psychological services within a form of stepped-care framework (i.e. an approach based upon the provision of direct care, and supporting other professionals in their provision of direct psychosocial work.


Desirable criteria

* Experience in clinical leadership
* Experience of working within an inpatient setting.
* Ability to demonstrate further specialist clinical experience and training.
* Experience of audit and service evaluation within psychological therapy services.
* Research experience within an area relevant to work within an adult service.
* Demonstrable experience of the application of psychological therapy in diverse cultural and ethnic contexts.


Knowledge


Essential criteria

* Understanding of the national and regional legislation, guidance and policy directives in relation to the development and delivery of psychological therapies within inpatient services.
* Evidence of post-qualification CPD as recommended and/or accredited by the BPS, or other professional body.
* Up to date knowledge of the needs of people with complex mental health problems, and of psychological approaches to recovery
* Awareness of the principles of a trauma informed care approach.
* Familiarity with computing technology, including keyboard skills, and use of word-processing, e-mail, and internet software.


Desirable criteria

* Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and approaches for adults with complex mental health problems.
* Publication of training, service evaluation, clinical audit and research material.


Skills and abilities


Essential criteria

* Ability to work with service users, carers and families to engage with their needs and provide them with appropriate psychological support and intervention.
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
* Skills in working within an MDT to bring and share a psychological understanding of distress.
* Well developed, effective communication skills, both oral and in writing, enabling complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to be shared with service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues within the NHS and other agencies.
* Ability to prioritise work, operate a waiting list, meet short deadlines and an unpredictable work pattern that requires regular revision of plans.
* Ability to sit in constrained position for service user assessment, formulation, individual and group therapy sessions and for computer work.
* Ability to work at a high level of professional autonomy and responsibility, in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment and also as a lone worker in circumstances where there may be exposure to verbal and sometimes physical aggression.
* Able to sustain the intense concentration necessary for service user assessment and formulation, individual and group therapy sessions
* Ability to work and communicate highly sensitive, contentious information effectively in a highly emotive or hostile atmosphere, and to overcome barriers to acceptance/psychological resistance to potentially threatening information.
* Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to staff and carers exposed to highly distressing situations.
* 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

* Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials, suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
* Ability to demonstrate an area of special interest/skill in therapeutic intervention

📝 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.