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Highly Specialist Psychotherapist /Clinical /Counselling Psychologist
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Main area Psychologist Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 311-B536-26-A
Site North West Wide - base Arundel House Town Bury Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 12/10/2026 23:59
If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our#PennineCarePeople
The post-holder is responsible for providing a qualified specialist psychological therapy service to adult clients in a designated locality, providing specialist modelspecific psychological assessment and therapy, in addition to clinical supervision, advice and consultation to colleagues, and to other non-professional carers, on psychological aspects of assessment, formulation, care and treatment.
- The post holder will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring that high quality individualised care is delivered which ensures safety and a commitment to promoting recovery and wellbeing and maximising independence.
- The post-holder will take a lead role within the team for model-specific psychological therapies in the pathway, including responsibility for checking adherence to NICE guidance through clinical supervision and monitoring.
To provide clinical supervision to other staff in the application of evidence based psychological therapies, to help maximise the contribution of psychology in the field of mental health.
- To contribute to staff training and support the acquisition of new psychological skills on a multidisciplinary and multi-agency basis.
- To help ensure optimal use of psychological skills and principles.
- To provide advice and consultation to staff working with clients with mental health difficulties across a range of statutory and voluntary agencies and settings.
- To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in the internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holder’s professional and service managers, and in line with the requirements of the regulating organisation or professional body.
- To proactively support the continued development of the Op Courage NW through increased partnership working with other services.
- To provide leadership as a senior clinician in service developments which are informed by the application of a psychological knowledge base.
- To take an active part as a senior clinician in governance and service organisation including evaluation of service delivery and identification of areas of improvement and management of change.
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#PennineCarePeopleand 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
To provide assessments for specialist psychological interventions/individual therapy based on complex data from a variety of sources to veterans referred to the service. Sources of data include: observations, self-report measures, semi-structured interviews with clients, their families and other professionals involved in the client’s care.
- To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for veterans, including in groups if required. Developing and refining formulations across a range of clients and psychological models.
- To manage a therapy caseload providing evidence based psychological therapies to veterans seen within the service in line with targets agreed with management.
- To be able to make reasonable adaptations to assessment and intervention processes to accommodate service users with mild learning disabilities and older adults.
- To contribute to new methods of service delivery, in order to encourage optimal opportunities for access to service for vulnerable client groups.
- To engage in joint working with other staff to optimise the use of resources.
- To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.
- To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies providing services for adults with mental health and disability problems.
- To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.
- To work collaboratively with veterans, families/carers and other professionals involved in the care of the client team to communicate information concerning the assessment, including formulations and recommendations of treatment and management using methods of proven efficacy.
- Collect, collate, evaluate and report information maintaining accurate clinical records in the management of clients receiving psychological interventions using a web based clinical notes system.
- To organise and implement specialist psychological advice, guidance, consultation and training to other professionals working with veterans with complex needs.
- To contribute to risk assessment and risk management of individual clients and provide general advice to other professionals on aspects of risk assessment and management.
- To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner to clients, carers and relevant professionals, information about assessments, formulations and treatment plans.
- To engage positively within multidisciplinary meetings.
Person specification
Qualifications
- Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology or statement of Equivalence by BPS and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council OR UKCP registered therapist with core professional qualification e.g. RMN; OT; MHSW and Masters olus experience to doctoral level or Doctoral level qualification in psychotherapy. OR BABCP/BACP accredited CBT/therapist with additional training in for example EMDR/DBT
- Further qualifications and/or training in a range of therapy models/interventions i.e. CAT, Schema Therapy, ACT, DBT
- Further training and/or qualifications in the delivery of clinical supervision
- Training and/or qualifications in management
Experince
- Demonstrable experience of delivering highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions within an NHS mental health environment.
- Experience of working within multidisciplinary and multi- agency services including partnerships with voluntary sector.
- Experience of providing therapy to “communities who experience additional barriers to services” with high levels of complexity/chronicity
Knowledge
- Knowledge of the mental health needs of Military Veterans (Trauma)
- Knowledge of procedures that maintain and contribute to the improvement of psychological services
Skills
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, carers and other professional colleagues.
- Ability to prioritise work, manage waiting lists, meet deadlines, complete audits and related quality improvement work, and revise work plans accordingly.
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 jobs events page 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 government website.
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 NHS Employment Check Standards . 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
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.
Pennine Care are committed to the ‘Pledge to Flex’ initiative as flexible working is a day one right for all colleagues. We can work flexibly, doing whatever work pattern fits our needs, regardless of the type of role we’re in. As a modern and model employer, flexible and less than full-time working isn’t a barrier to progress in the NHS – it is commonplace. This policy brings this part of the People Promise to life. It will provide you with the information you need, support you to have conversations and take steps towards working in a way that suits you best.
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.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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