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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
NHS AFC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 22.5 hours per week
Job ref
437-8024665
Employer
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Trafford Memory Assessment Service
Town
Sale
Salary
£57,528 - £64,750 pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Highly Specialised Clinical Psychologist

NHS AFC: Band 8a

Job overview

This is a new and exciting opportunity for a Clinical Psychologist with enthusiasm and interest in working with older people to join a friendly and supportive memory assessment service and play an active role in shaping the service offer for individuals with a diagnosed or suspected dementia.

The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of high quality neuropsychological assessment to adults of any age requiring investigation and management of organic mental health problems (predominantly mild cognitive impairment and dementias) through the Trafford Memory Assessment Service.

Applicants must be registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.  Work or placement experience with older people and/or people with cognitive impairment is desirable.  The post is available on a permanent contract.

Please note we would consider a Band 7-8a preceptorship for a suitably experienced candidate.

Please email for further information, informal discussion or to arrange a visit to the team:

Dr Alicia Picken, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Trafford Older Adult Services.  [email protected]

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be conducting a range of psychological and neuropsychological assessments related to the diagnostic process for dementia. Applicants will be able to demonstrate experience and a high level of enthusiasm/commitment to working with older people with or without dementia and/or conducting neuropsychological assessments/interventions.  Experience of working within multidisciplinary environments will also be an advantage. The post holder will be required to complete or oversee service audit and evaluation projects and contribute to service development activities such as staff training.  Post holders will need to contribute actively to team and multi-disciplinary working, so a high standard of written and verbal communication is required.

The postholder would also have links with the wider Older People’s psychology service in GMMH. As a group we meet twice annually for continuing professional development, as well as other regular forums, and opportunities for further training are encouraged and supported.

Working for our organisation

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 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

Core Dimensions

Duty/Responsibility

1)Communication

1.1   To maintain adequate electronic/paper records of clinical activities.

1.2   To furnish appropriate statistical returns as required.

1.3   To provide such information as is required for the purpose of auditing the professional service.

1.4   To maintain adequate correspondence with other professionals regarding clinical work.

2) Clinical

 

 

 

 

2.1 Undertake neuropsychological assessments for known or suspected cognitive impairment.

2.2  Develop neuropsychological reports to best understand a person’s cognitive profile and any underlying organic condition.

2.3  Communicate findings to wider team, the individual and their families to support the impact of the diagnostic process.

3) Clinical & Social Care Governance & Quality

3.1 Ensure compliance with all Care Programme Approach requirements as per Trust Policy.

3.2 Ensure that service users and carers receive clear and accurate information on:

·                 How to access the service around the clock

·                 Confidentiality

·                 Access to Records

·                 Their own Assessments and Care Plans

·                 Mental Health conditions and medication

·                 Service Publicity, including what they can expect from the service

·                 Community Resources

·                 Complaints and compliments procedures

·                 How to access Advocacy Services

3.3 Promote a service philosophy based on a balanced model of care, recovery and personalisation.

3.4 Establish quality standards relating to the service user and carer experience

3.6  Maintain quality assurance systems to monitor and audit these standards.

3.7  To participate in complaint investigations when required

3.8  To participate in Serious Untoward Incident Reviews when required.

4) Policy/Service Improvement & Development

 

4.1  To participate in the continuous improvement of the service provided by MATS

4.2  Identify and promote opportunities for local service development.

4.3  Identify unmet needs to support service planning and development.

4.4  Play an active role in supporting the ongoing development of Trafford services for individuals with a dementia.

4.5  Participate in the drafting, implementation and review of operational policies and local procedures.

4.6  Comply with the own Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Professional Standards and National, Trust and local Policies and Procedures.

4.7  To contribute to clinically relevant research/audit within MATS.

4.8  To assist in the evaluation of the service.

5) Financial and Other  Resources

5.1 To contribute to purchasing choices, appropriate use and safe management of psychological assessment resources

6) Human Resources

6.1 Participate in the team recruitment and selection process.

6.2 Ensure that junior staff receive management and clinical supervision as per policy.

6.3 Ensure that junior staff have an annual Appraisal and Personal Development Plan, in accordance with the Knowledge Skills Framework and identifying their developmental and training needs

6.4   Ensure that junior staff meet statutory training requirements

7)Service User, Carer and Stakeholder Involvement

 

7.1  Promote a service philosophy that is strongly recovery focussed for service users and carers.

7.2  Ensure the promotion of Personalisation within the service users recovery plans.

7.3  Ensure, as far as practicable, the full involvement of service users – and where appropriate, relatives and carers – in the assessment of their needs and the formulation and review of their care plans.

7.4  Promote user and carer involvement in the recruitment, induction and training of staff

7.5  Promote user and carer involvement in the evaluation and development of services.

8)Learning, Education  and Personal Development

 

8.1  Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn in line with NHS core competencies, including full participation in appraisal and supervision, and acting as role model for self-development.

8.2  Promote a learning environment and culture within the team which supports the professional development and effectiveness of the team as a whole

8.3  Contribute to the delivery of multidisciplinary training, including the induction of new staff, students and trainees in the service.

8.4  Offer training, consultation and supervision to the wider team to ensure successful ongoing implementation of the Newcastle Model within DCPT.

8.5  Actively participate in existing supervisory structures within MATS and associated services.

8.6  Receive appropriate levels of clinical supervision.

8.7  Attend appropriate meetings within MATS and associated services.

8.8  To maintain professional registration with the HCPC

Trust Mandatory On-going Requirements - to be met by the candidate after commencing in post, these will not be assessed at the recruitment stage

·       To undertake any other reasonable duty, when requested to do so by an appropriate Trust manager.

·       To understand and comply with all Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.

·       To understand the Trusts Strategic Goals and how you can support them.

·       To understand the need to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and adhere to all principles in effective safeguarding.

·       To carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with Equal Opportunities, Equality and Diversity and dignity in care/work policies and principles

·       To avoid unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with the colleagues, services users, members of the public and all stakeholders.

·       To access only information, where paper, electronic, or, in another media, which is authorised to you as part of the duties of your role.

·       Not to communicate to anyone or inside or outside the NHS, information relating to patients, services users, staff, contractors or any information of a commercially sensitive nature, unless done in the normal course of carrying out the duties of the post and with appropriate permission.

·       To maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date.

·       To ensure their day to day activities embrace sustainability and reduce the impact upon the environment by minimising waste and maximising recycling; saving energy; minimising water usage and reporting electrical faults, water leakages or other environmental concerns to the facilities department or their line manager.

·       Take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and other persons

·       To contribute to the control of risk and to report any incident, accident or near miss

·       To protect service users, visitors and employees against the risk of acquiring health care associated infections.

·       To take responsibility for your own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn in line with appraisal and supervision.

 

 

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Good honors degree in psychology allowing eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
  • Post-graduate doctorate in clinical / counselling psychology, (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), as accredited by the BPS.
  • Eligibility to register as a clinical/counselling psychologist with the HCPC.
Desirable criteria
  • Related academic qualifications to masters or doctoral level
  • Additional training in neuropsychology specific to older adults
  • Completion of relevant modules of Accredited Doctoral Clinical / Counselling Psychology Course: Introduction to Supervision Courses (approx 30 hours) and successful supported supervision of 1 or more trainees.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of specialist psychological and neuropsychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients with dementias and associated mental health problems, across the age range
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Experience of teaching/ training / supervision provision to non-psychologists.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working within a multi-cultural framework
  • Research experience within an area relevant to work within an older adult service.
  • Experience of contributing to the supervision of clinical psychology trainee(s)

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Training and experience of specialist psychological & assessment of older adult clients and those with psychological difficulties in the context of an organic presentation.
Desirable criteria
  • Familiarity with computing technology, including keyboard skills, and use of word-processing, e-mail, and internet software
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice in relation to dementia / cognitive impairment

Skills and abilities

Essential criteria
  • Skills in the use of neuropsychological screening assessments
  • Ability to formulate complex clinical problems and to use the formulation to guide intervention and management of dementia and related conditions.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
  • Ability to prioritise work, operate a waiting list, meet short deadlines and an unpredictable work pattern which requires regular revision of plans.
  • Ability to work at a high level of professional autonomy and responsibility, in a collaborative multi-disciplinary environment and also as a lone worker in circumstances where there may be exposure to verbal and sometimes physical aggression.
  • Able to sustain the intense concentration necessary for client assessment and formulation, individual therapy sessions, interviews.
  • Well developed, effective communication skills, both orally and in writing, enabling communication of highly sensitive, contentious information effectively in a highly emotive or hostile atmosphere, and to overcome barriers to acceptance/psychological resistance to potentially threatening information.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials, suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
  • Ability to demonstrate an interest in working with older adults and people with organic conditions.

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

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr Alicia Picken
Job title
Principal Clinical Psychologist
Email address
[email protected]
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