Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and compassionate Assistant Clinical Psychologist to join our dynamic Parent Infant Mental Health Service, supporting delivery of the Perinatal and Parent Infant Mental Health Support for the Healthy Babies initiative of the Best Start in Life (BSIL) programme across Tameside.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about parent‑infant mental health, early relationships, research, and service development. The postholder will support both clinical delivery and workforce development, helping to promote the importance of early relationships and emotionally healthy caregiving.
We are looking for someone who is:
Passionate about early relationships and infant mental health.
Warm, professional, and able to engage sensitively with parents, carers, infants, and multi‑agency partners.
Comfortable working with data, evaluation, and digital tools.
Enthusiastic about contributing to both clinical delivery and service development.
Able to work flexibly within a compassionate and reflective team.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a highly specialised, supportive, and reflective multidisciplinary team.
Contribute directly to improving long‑term outcomes for local babies and families.
Access excellent training, supervision, and development opportunities.
Work within a service committed to inclusion, kindness, and high‑quality care
Main duties of the job
* Support the promotion of parent‑infant mental health, including contributing to workforce development sessions (digital and face‑to‑face) and producing promotional materials.
* Assist with the delivery of clinical work for babies and families, including observations, structured interviews, gathering feedback, and supporting clinicians with low‑level clinical tasks.
* Help develop and deliver group interventions and create clinical resources (digital and hard‑copy).
* Collect, manage, and analyse data to support evaluation and reporting for the BSIL programme.
* Maintain accurate clinical records and ensure all work complies with Trust policies, safeguarding requirements, and professional standards.
* Participate in supervision, reflective practice, mandatory training, and the Trust’s appraisal processes.
Working for our organisation
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability, and community services across Greater Manchester.
The Parent Infant Mental Health Service is a warm, reflective, and supportive team that works alongside families, partners, and wider agencies to improve outcomes in the earliest years of life.
You will be supported with regular clinical supervision, opportunities for training and development, and inclusion within a multidisciplinary team committed to compassionate, relationship‑focused care.
We are committed to the Trust values of kindness, fairness, ingenuity and determination.
This role is well‑suited to individuals hoping to develop their skills and experience in a parent‑infant mental health setting or progressing toward further clinical psychology training.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical and Service Delivery
* Undertake clearly defined clinical tasks under close supervision.
* Support clinicians through observations, interviews, feedback collection, and low‑level therapeutic tasks within competence.
* Support delivery of parent‑infant groups and contribute to resource development.
Workforce Development & Promotion
* Support the delivery of training sessions and the creation of digital and printed materials.
* Contribute to social media content relating to parent‑infant mental health (within agreed parameters).
Audit, Research & Evaluation
* Collect data for research, audit, and service evaluation.
* Maintain and update databases; summarise findings for internal reporting.
Professional Standards & Governance
* Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date clinical records.
* Ensure compliance with Trust policies, safeguarding procedures, confidentiality standards, and infection control guidance.
* Participate in personal development through training, supervision, and appraisal.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential:
* Psychology degree (minimum 2:1) or equivalent conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
Experience
Essential:
* Experience working with people in a supportive, care, or childcare setting.
* Experience of handling data, record‑keeping, and/or research tasks.
Desirable:
* Experience working with infants, young children, or parents.
* Experience contributing to audit, evaluation, or service development.
Skills & Abilities
Essential:
* Ability to communicate sensitively and professionally with parents, carers, and infants.
* Ability to collect and analyse data accurately.
* Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
* Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Knowledge
Essential:
* Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding, and professional boundaries.
* Awareness of parent‑infant mental health and the importance of early relationships.
Please also refer to the attached job description and person specification which can be found in the “documents to download” section below.
Use your supporting information section to give examples of how you demonstrate each of the essential criteria, and where possible as many of the desirable criteria, as this is ultimately what you'll be shortlisted against.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable criteria
* Undergraduate research relevant to Child Psychology
* Further postgraduate training in relevant areas of psychology and / or mental health
Experience
Essential criteria
* Work as a Psychology Assistant in Child Specialty
Desirable criteria
* Experience using micro computers for data analysis, especially SPSS for Windows
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* An understanding of infant development, parental mental health and the parent-infant relationship
* An understanding of psychology applied to health care
* Knowledge of child development
Desirable criteria
* Evidence of ability to design and evaluate research projects relevant to Clinical Psychology
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* High level of communication skills (written and verbal)
* Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
* Ability to devise observational measures
* An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact with babies and their families
* Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively
* Ability to use modern digital technology, online applications and social media
Desirable criteria
* High Standard of report writing
* An interest in working with parent infant mental health
* A desire to explore a career in Clinical Psychology
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 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 understand that some candidates may use AI tools to help prepare their application. This is not restricted, however, any AI support should only be used to enhance your own writing and must reflect your genuine skills and experience. You will be asked to talk about your application at interview. Applications that contain false or misleading information may be removed from the recruitment process.
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.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR
Telephone
01617163181