Job overview
Are you an enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist with a passion for working with people with complexity and forensic needs? We are pleased to invite applications for a Band 5 Senior Assistant Psychologist within the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT), based at the Riverside Centre in Prestwich. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop your skills within a specialist service supporting adults with complex clinical and forensic needs in the community.
Working under the supervision of a qualified psychologist and embedded within an integrated multidisciplinary team (MDT), you will contribute to the psychological understanding of service users’ needs and risks. You will have opportunities to engage in assessment, formulation and intervention work, and to complete and review structured risk assessments. You will support the MDT in developing psychological formulations and psychologically informed approaches to supporting service users. The team is experienced, friendly and supportive, offering a reflective and encouraging environment. The role includes direct clinical contact, service evaluation, indirect MDT work and liaison with a range of professionals across other services.
We are seeking applicants with significant assistant psychologist experience, ideally within forensic settings, who can bring strong communication skills, enthusiasm and the ability to work thoughtfully and collaboratively within a busy community forensic service.
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Assistant Psychologist, you will:
1. Provide direct psychological work with service users in the community, including individual sessions and group‑based interventions under supervision. You will also support the qualified psychologist in developing group interventions.
2. Contribute to psychological assessments and the development of formulations that support the MDT’s understanding of need and risk.
3. Complete and review structured risk assessments and contribute to discussions regarding risk management and transition planning.
4. Support the MDT in developing team formulations and psychologically informed approaches when working with service users.
5. Engage in indirect clinical work, including preparing reports, summaries, and relevant clinical documentation in line with Trust expectations.
6. Liaise with a range of professionals across the forensic pathway to ensure coordinated care, smooth transitions, and consistent communication.
7. Participate in service evaluation, audit and data‑related tasks to support ongoing service improvement.
8. Attend and contribute to MDT meetings, reflective practice sessions and clinical discussions.
9. Work both independently, effectively and collaboratively within a friendly, supportive and experienced integrated multidisciplinary team.
10. Engage fully in supervision, mandatory training, and ongoing professional development.
Working for our organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.
We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.
Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.
Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.
Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical work
11. Undertake direct work with service users in the community, supporting psychological understanding of their needs and risks.
12. Work therapeutically with individuals and groups under the direction and supervision of a qualified psychologist and in line with SCFT goals.
13. Assist in the development of psychological formulations to support the MDT’s understanding of service users’ presentations, needs and risk management plans.
14. Use and review structured professional judgement tools to contribute to the understanding of service users’ risks.
15. Support consultation clinics by contributing to clinical documentation and gathering relevant information.
16. Work independently within appropriate limits, using initiative and judgement based on good practice and established procedures.
17. Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary meetings.
18. Write progress notes, letters, reports, risk assessments, management plans and other clinical documents.
19. Work with distressing material relating to personal histories, offending behaviour and risk.
20. Liaise with other professionals to organise meetings and coordinate information.
Service development and evaluation
21. Assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the team.
22. Attend meetings where service developments are planned or discussed.
23. Undertake data collection, analysis and produce reports and summaries using IT and statistical programmes.
24. Review evidence‑based literature and research to support the service and contribute to clinical work undertaken by the team.
Communication
25. Provide timely, effective communication using the appropriate channels to ensure that information about service users’ progress and changes in risk are shared with relevant stakeholders.
Personal and professional development
26. Receive regular clinical supervision in line with professional practice guidelines and Trust policy.
27. Develop skills and competencies relevant to the role.
28. Contribute, where appropriate and under supervision, to the training and support of other staff.
29. Maintain full compliance with mandatory training requirements.
Confidentiality and information governance
30. Maintain confidentiality of information relating to service users, staff and commercially sensitive matters, sharing information only when appropriate and within the expected parameters of the role.
Health, safety and security
31. Adhere to best practice in physical, procedural and relational security.
32. Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others and comply with all relevant regulations.
33. Use equipment correctly and avoid intentional or reckless misuse.
34. Report incidents, accidents or near misses involving service users, carers, staff or the public through the Trust incident reporting system.
Standing financial instructions
35. Handle service users’ cash, property and valuables in line with Trust policies and procedures.
36. Handle mail and communications appropriately.
37. Manage keys or valuables in accordance with Trust financial instructions.
Quality
38. Contribute to a positive working environment.
39. Participate in a learning and questioning culture that supports good practice.
40. Use resources efficiently and appropriately.
41. Plan your own work and support others where relevant to ensure delivery of a high‑quality service.
Equality and diversity
42. Work in line with the Trust’s Equality and Diversity Strategy and contribute to its development.
43. Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
44. Treat all individuals with dignity and respect and avoid unlawful discrimination.
45. Support and promote service user rights, beliefs, choices and cultural needs.
Safeguarding
46. Participate in ensuring service users are protected from abuse and report any suspicions or concerns to senior staff.
47. Understand safeguarding responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults and adhere to relevant principles and procedures.
Mandatory ongoing requirements
48. Undertake any other reasonable duty requested by an appropriate manager.
49. Adhere to all Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
50. Support the Trust’s strategic goals.
51. Maintain high standards of record‑keeping and information accuracy.
52. Contribute to sustainability by minimising waste and using resources responsibly.
53. Report environmental or safety concerns.
54. Contribute to the management of risk and report incidents.
55. Support infection prevention and control standards.
56. Take responsibility for learning and development in line with supervision and appraisal.
Person specification
Clinical Experience
Essential criteria
57. Experience of working in a forensic setting or with forensic clients, requiring good interpersonal skills and an ability to self-reflect
58. Experience of working with people with complex mental distress or personality difficulties
59. Experience of working within an integrated multi-disciplinary team
60. Previous experience of working as an assistant psychologist
Desirable criteria
61. Experience of service evaluation
Qualifications
Essential criteria
62. A first or upper second-class honours Psychology Degree accredited by the British Psychological Society. Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Knowledge
Desirable criteria
63. Awareness of one or more structured professional judgement risk assessment tools (, the HCR-20v3, the RSVP, the SARA, etc).
Skills and Ability
Essential criteria
64. High-level communication and interpersonal skills (written and verbal), including report writing, and an ability to engage and establish positive working relationships with professionals and service users
65. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals.
66. Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
The Trust mandates all post holders who require a DBS for their role to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration throughout your employment with GMMH.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.
The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities. If you would like to have an informal chat about the recruitment process for this role or would value some additional support, we’d love to hear from you.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications
A candidate may utilise the help of AI when writing job application. The assessment of an application is made on its entirety and most times AI-generated content does not fully grasp the context and requirements of the job one applies for thus producing inaccurate and misleading information, especially in the supporting statement section of an application that can lack real life examples of one’s achievements, success and challenges.
We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored. GMMH reserves the right to follow up with a candidate at the interview on specific responses and those examples used in the supporting statement to explore it further.
Sponsorship
We are proud to be an approved sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa. Applications from individuals who require sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications. Please be aware that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible roles and salary requirements on the UK Government’s website – click .
If you are offered a role with us and you require sponsorship, we will check your eligibility in line with the information on the above website. Your offer of employment could be withdrawn if the role is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not otherwise able to evidence your right to work in the UK.
The Home Office introduces new changes from 22/07/2025 that impact the health and care sector, you may wish to familiarise with it.
Do you have experience outside the NHS?
We want to attract and retain people with diverse skills and experience, to deliver inclusive healthcare services to our communities.
We will consider relevant experience outside the NHS to calculate your salary on appointment.