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Job summary

Main area
Psychological Therapies
Grade
Band 5
Contract
6 months (1 x 6 months fixed term internal secondment / external position)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Happy to discuss flexible working)
Job ref
437-7831068
Employer
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Central Park
Town
Manchester
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
21/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Assistant Psychologist

Band 5

Job overview

We are seeking  a full-time Band 5 Assistant Psychologist on a 6 months fixed term basis to support with the development and delivery of the Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) service across Greater Manchester.  A secondment will be considered for this post but you must have your managers approval to apply.

The role will involve undertaking psychological assessments, developing psychological formulations and delivering individual psychological interventions, to a cohort of people who have been  sentenced to community orders and subject to a Primary Care Mental Health Treatment Requirement order. The role will involve providing psychological interventions for depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation and is inclusive of neurodiversity.

This post is placed in a challenging but rewarding environment and we are seeking  Senior Assistant Psychologists with strong clinical and interpersonal skills who can manage and respond to the dynamic needs of the team, the client group and the environment, to ensure that provision is accessible and appropriate.

The postholder is required to complete the HMPPS enhanced vetting  and you must be able to travel across the Greater Manchester footprint 

The MHTR service is provided across the whole of the Greater Manchester footprint, Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am to 5pm

Main duties of the job

To undertake psychological assessments of clients including semi-structured clinical interviews, psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, and both direct and indirect structured observations, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.

To assist in the formulation and delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.

To work closely with other key professionals involved in service users care and management to improve psychological well-being and reduce the risk of harm.

To assist in developing specific plans for ongoing recommendations and to support the delivery and signposting of these where appropriate.

To contribute to the development and delivery of training packages on the Primary care MHTR service and common mental health problems.

To work alongside service users, probation practitioners, the wider court user group and Community Health and Justice staff team, to reduce the risk of reoffending and enhance the provision of a safe environment. 

To, where appropriate, support the team in the design, delivery, review and evaluation of the MHTR service. This will include co-facilitating aspects of the service and completing pre-and post follow up evaluations and documentation where required.  

To contribute to effective risk assessment and management strategies that ensure liaison with all relevant stakeholders in an individual’s care, and service user involvement where possible.

Working for our organisation

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 6,400 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 160 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

Please see attached job description and person specification

Staff benefits

  • Pay Enhancements:

Band

Saturday (midnight to midnight) and any week day after 8pm and before 6am

All time on Sundays and Public Holidays (midnight to midnight)

1

Time plus 47%

Time plus 94%

2

Time plus 41%

Time plus 83%

3

Time plus 35%

Time plus 69%

4 – 9

Time plus 30%

Time plus 60%

 

  • 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
  • Excellent pension
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Salary sacrifice car scheme
  • Wellbeing programme
  • Blue Light Card Discounts
  • fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Education/Qualifications
  • Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS
Desirable criteria
  • graduate level PWP qualification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • 2 years post degree experience
  • Previous AP experience
  • Experience of working with people with mental health difficutlies
  • Community or forensic experience
  • Delivering 1:1 psychological interventions
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in a criminal justice setting i.e. probation, courts, prison etc.
  • Experience of working in a trauma informed environment
  • Service development, evaluation, audit and/or research

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of factors that contribute to offending behavior and complex presentations
  • Knowledge of evidence-based interventions for working with complex presentations and mental health difficulties.
  • Knowledge of relevant risk assessment tools and risk management frameworks
  • Working collaboratively with service users and others involved in their care
Desirable criteria
  • Awareness of neurodiversity needs of the offender population

Skills

Essential criteria
  • High level organisational and communication skills (written and verbal).
  • IT skills
  • Use own initiative
  • Work collaboratively with others
  • Communicate sensitive risk information to others
  • To show resilience within a challenging working environment
  • Good presentation skills
  • Engage in clinical supervision effectively
  • Undertake audit and service evaluation projects

Other

Essential criteria
  • ability to travel

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardWe are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyHSJ Best places to workDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeWe offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerGM Good Employment Charter

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carly Porter
Job title
Principal Clinical Psychologist
Email address
[email protected]
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