Job overview

We are seeking a practitioner psychologist to join our dynamic and busy psychology and psychological therapies provision that sits within the multi-professional mental health and well-being team at HMP Forest Bank.    

Men at HMP Forest Bank are provided with the equivalence of care received within the community and as such you will be joining a large team of professionals who work across the prison establishment providing mental health and well-being support. Psychological and formulation driven intervention is offered across all areas of a stepped care model, including self-help, short and medium term intervention and therapies, MDT care planning and preventing unnecessary hospitalisations. This is a well-established role, the post holder will work alongside all staff but most closely with our other Practitioner psychologists, CBT therapist and psychological wellbeing practitioners providing intervention and therapy at Step 2 and 3, and our clinical nurse specialists, mental health nurses and psychiatrists offering Step 4 provision. You will also supervise and line manage Assistant psychologists and assist in client formulation and multi-professional planning to support transition and referrals to other services or back into the community. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to the reflective, compassionate and trauma informed culture within the mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions teams.  

Main duties of the job

To work within the integrated mental health team and contribute to the psychological care provided to service users at HMP Forest Bank. 

To work with individual service-users and others involved in their care to support improved psychological health and well-being.

To carefully consider service-user’s interpersonal interactions, management of emotional regulation, past traumatic experiences and develop detailed assessments and formulations to consider how this is linked to their mental health and behavioural presentation within custody. 

To provide individual therapy, which is driven by a strong working formulation and is evaluated.

To contribute to the development of psychologically informed ways of working and support staff within the mental health team and the wider establishment to consider psychologically informed interactions.

To provide psychological advice and psychological opinion within a range of multi-disciplinary and professional forums.

To provide supervision and line management to others, including less senior psychological staff, including PWP staff.

To contribute to clinical, operational and referral meetings and attend relevant HMPPS and partnership meetings where directed.

To provide monthly outcome data and contribute to annual reporting.

To participate in own appraisal processes, line management and clinical supervision and use reflective practice to develop a strong awareness of abilities, strengths and limitations.

Working for our organisation

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7,000 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.