Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent, full-time, Consultant Clinical Psychologist to help further develop, embed and lead the specialist care for individuals with Complex Emotional & Relational Needs (CERN) across the borough of Oldham.
A key aspect of this role will be to support the transformation of community mental health services, leading change, ensuring appropriate governance, QI to improve care across services and strong MDT working.
As part of Pennine Care’s commitment to psychological ways of working across the trust, the successful postholder will join the borough collective leadership team, working closely with operational, quality and medical colleagues to deliver outstanding care across Oldham.
You will work closely with colleagues across teams, including structured clinical management (SCM) practitioners, neighbourhood mental health team (NMHT), specialist mental health team, DBT, MBT and DTC service and acute colleagues. There are 4 other Consultant Psychologists leading the CERN pathway across the trusts other 4 boroughs- who you will work alongside.
Main duties of the job
* Take a strategic clinical lead within Oldham for service provision for people with complex emotional and relational needs (CERN) across the adult pathway, including older adults.
* Support and promote the development and delivery of specialist pathways of provision within the borough, this will include both community and acute settings, ensuring individuals with CERN receive trauma-informed care.
* Enhance a psychologically and trauma-informed approach to leadership across services within the borough by joining the borough leadership team to create a quadrumvirate leadership model.
* Support colleagues and services to work within a 'one system' approach, ensuring cohesive MDT teams that provide outstanding care.
* Support the Psychological Therapies leadership structure for CERN in relation to strategic development of services for people with CERN across the GM footprint.
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
Please see the attached job description for further information in relation to the roles main duties and responsibilities.
Person specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Doctorate Clinical Psychology degree, or pre 1996 qualified, a Masters Clinical Psychology degree with evidence of post qualification Doctorate level equivalent CPD, clinical and research knowledge and experience.
* Eligible to be a member of the British Psychological Society.
* Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
* Post graduate qualification in a psychological therapy approach
* Evidence of post qualification training in psychological therapies for personality disorder.
* Evidence of substantial continued professional development
Desirable criteria
* Management and or leadership qualification (certificate level or above) or equivalent experience
* Evidence of post qualification supervision in psychological therapies for personality disorder
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience and track record in senior clinical leadership within psychological therapy services.
* Significant post qualification experience of delivering evidence-based interventions to people with a diagnosis of personality disorder or people who present with complex emotional and relational needs and their families: e.g. DBT, SCM, MBT
* Significant post qualification experience of supervising others including psychological therapists and other professions in the delivery of evidence based psychological therapies.
* Experience of training multi professional groups
* Significant experience of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency work including consultation.
* Substantial experience of risk assessment, risk management and safeguarding.
* Experience of working in a multi-cultural context.
* Significant experience of service development
Desirable criteria
* Evidence of effective multi-agency working inc. with 3rd sector partners and/or other public sector providers.
* Experience of line management
* Experience of pathway development
* Experience of working across adult psychological therapy services and across the lifespan including older adult
* Research, service evaluation and clinical audit experience
* Delivering information and presentations in high pressured situations.
* Experience of working alongside Experts by Experience and Carers in service design/delivery
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Knowledge of current government strategy and policy relating to adult mental health.
* An awareness of the NHS Long Term Plan and implications for service delivery
* A broad understanding of national strategy in relation to the development of services across the new landscape of Integrated Care Systems and Primary Care Networks.
* Extensive knowledge of the evidence base of psychological interventions for people with complex emotional and relational needs, history of trauma and diagnosis of personality disorders.
* Knowledge of the principles of trauma informed practice and implications for services design
Desirable criteria
* A wide knowledge of national clinical governance policy drivers for a range of service delivery points, such as the NHS code of confidentiality, best practice in clinical risk management, clinical complaints, research governance, NICE clinical pathways etc
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* Highly developed clinical skills in the delivery of psychological approaches and interventions in addition to assessment and formulation.
* Highly developed supervisory skills.
* Evidence of compassionate and supportive leadership style.
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, featuring: breadth of outlook and skill necessary to establish effective working relationships with staff at all levels within and outside the organisation.
* Ability to work in partnership with other key professionals within and outside the organisation and a partnership approach to work across agencies.
* Strong leadership capacity within a rapidly evolving setting.
* Evidence of the ability to lead change initiatives and turn strategic vision into practical reality.
* Evidence of business acumen skills
* Able to use initiative & creativity in problem solving
* Ability to manage complex interpersonal negotiations with staff groups and stake holders.
* Evidence of ability to utilise clinical and managerial supervisory structures to deliver safe and effective services.
* Ability to work under pressure
* Evidence of the ability to prioritise workload and achieve objectives within agreed deadlines.
* Able to inspire, committed to high quality mental health care.
* Ability to problem solve and find solutions to complex problems.
Desirable criteria
* Ability to manage budgets
Work related circumstances
Essential criteria
* A demonstrable commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equality and diversity.
* 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 recommend tailoring your application to each role you apply for, particularly your supporting information. This gives you the best chance of success. Your supporting information should clearly explain, with examples, how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role.
We are aware of the increase in AI being used for job applications. AI can be a useful tool to assist in writing your application, but these tools may not understand the context or requirements of the job you are applying for and using for all your application will not be a true reflection of your skills and experience. Relying on AI for your whole application can negatively impact on your chances of success throughout the recruitment process as you will be asked to provide evidence to support what you have written. Take the time to proofread your application to ensure you can evidence what you have submitted, whether this is by your experience or certificates
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.