Job overview
GMMH Health and Justice Services are looking to recruit a committed and compassionate Practitioner Psychologist or Cognitive Behavioural Therapist to work within the multi-disciplinary mental health team, which implements a stepped-care model of mental health and psychological care, within HMP Styal.
We are seeking a full-time HCPC registered psychologist or BABCP accredited High Intensity CBT therapist to join the integrated mental health team, working alongside other psychological professionals including PWP staff, specialist psychological therapists, Practitioner Psychologists and an Assistant Psychologist. The post holder will provide assessment, formulation and medium to longer-term psychological therapy, to individual's presenting with common mental health difficulties of varying complexity, for which CBT has been demonstrated to be clinically effective. They will work closely with other professionals to support responsive step-up and step-down provision across the stepped care model and contribute to the wider formulation and understanding of presenting distress, including attending multi professional meetings to share formulations, treatment plans and progress.
A prison environment can be a challenging place to work, we are seeking someone not only with strong clinical skills but also the ability to manage and respond to the dynamic needs of the team, the client group and the environment, to ensure that provision is accessible and appropriate.
Main duties of the job
To complete detailed assessments, with the aim of developing collaborative, idiosyncratic formulations to understand an individual's mental health difficulties, emotional distress, complex personality presentations and trauma responses.
To deliver evidence-based psychological therapy (CBT) to individuals who are experiencing psychological distress, through the application of knowledge and skills in assessment, formulation and intervention acquired through training, ongoing CPD and clinical experience.
To implement a range of outcome measures to ensure ongoing evaluation of therapeutic delivery.
To manage own caseload with support from the mental health psychology lead.
To contribute to the multi-professional understanding of service-user presentation and support the development of a psychologically and trauma informed environment for the services-users to reside within.
To co-facilitate cognitive-behavioural group interventions with support from other psychological staff, and evaluate effectiveness accordingly.
To take an active role in the process of multi-disciplinary risk assessment and risk management, utilising relevant assessment tools such as the CRASP.
To provide supervision to junior psychological staff, including Psychological Well-being Practitioners and Assistant Psychologists
To contribute to the development and delivery of training to the mental health team and health partners, as well as for prison staff and other stakeholders.
Working for our organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7,000 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
See attached detailed job description and person specification
Staff benefits
1. 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
2. Excellent pension
3. Cycle to work scheme
4. Salary sacrifice car scheme
5. Wellbeing programme
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
6. Qualification from High Intensity IAPT Course (Post Graduate Diploma) OR Equivalent: A recorded/registered doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology/ a recorded/registered qualification in one of the following - nursing, social work, occupational therapy or a psychological therapy – plus further post graduate diploma qualification in CBT from a recognised or accredited training provider
7. significant experience working as a psychological therapy practitioner and demonstrating the competences as required.
Desirable criteria
8. Training in an additional therapeutic modality.
Experience
Essential criteria
9. Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
10. Experience of working with clients presenting with Step 3 mental health need
11. Demonstrates high standards in written communication
12. Experience with routine outcome monitoring
13. Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers
14. Working with clients with additional relational needs and presenting distress
Desirable criteria
15. Working within MDT
16. Experience of teaching and liaising with other professional groups
17. Working within a specialist service
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
18. Have well developed communication skills to effectively communicate, often complex and sensitive information, information orally and in writing.
19. Have received training in assessing risk (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of their expected practice.
20. Be able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
Other
Essential criteria
21. There is a frequent requirement to travel, mainly within the local area, in order to provide clinics. An occasional requirement to travel across the wider footprint of the Trust to attend meetings and events relevant to the role.
22. An awareness of the diversity of the local population and a positive attitude to meeting the needs of different communities.
Desirable criteria
23. Experience of working with diverse communities and within a multicultural setting
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.