Job summary
- Main area
- Physical Health Psychology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week (happy to discuss flexible working)
- Job ref
- 437-7191830
- Employer
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Timperley Health Centre
- Town
- Trafford
- Salary
- £53,755 - £60,504 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical/Counselling/Health)
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Job overview
Specialist Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologist, Band 8a (appointment will be at Band 7 for less experienced candidates)
Community Pain Services, Trafford
Hours – 22.5hrs (0.6WTE)
Permanent Contract
To provide high quality specialist psychology provision to service users of the Manchester Pain
services (community and/or secondary care pain settings)
To conduct advanced assessment of complex chronic pain service users to determine clinical
diagnosis and intervention, and to maintain records as an autonomous practitioner
To act on behalf of service users by offering advice and consultation on their psychological care
to NHS clinicians, as well as to other non-professional carers and workers of other agencies
where appropriate.
To work autonomously within professional/best practice guidelines for chronic pain and the
overall framework of the team and Trust’s policies and procedures.
To utilise research skills for audit, policy and research within the area served by the teams /
service.
To agree, in conjunction with Physical Health Psychological Services management, the
appropriate utilization of psychological resources to the teams. To contribute to the provision of
team services and fulfilment of team priorities and objectives.
Main duties of the job
We are delighted to be able to provide an ideal opportunity for an interest practitioner psychologist (HCPC registered) keen to either develop or enhance their skills in working within a community pain MDT.
We are seeking applications from established Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologists (registered as Practitioner Psychologists with the HCPC an absolute expectation). You will have gained experience in physical health settings (ideally you will have experience working in Pain services/Pain Management Programmes) as well as a familiarity and commitment to working with a medical multidisciplinary team as well as community settings.
You will work as an independent Practitioner Psychologist with your own clinical case load; as well contribute to staff consultation, research and multidisciplinary work.
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
- British Psychological Society Accredited Doctoral Degree in Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology.
- Registered with The Health & Care Professions Council as a ‘Practitioner Psychologist’.
Desirable criteria
- Training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological relevance (e.g. staff training, research methodology, and / or other fields of applied psychology)
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with client groups in a physical health setting, presenting with the full range of clinical severity. This includes maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the possible threat of physical abuse
- Experience of working as a qualified clinical/counselling/health psychologist (less experienced candidates will be appointed at Band 7 and work towards 8A competencies)
- Supervised experience (from a senior practitioner psychologist) in the application of cognitive-behavioural approaches to clinical settings (e.g. chronic pain or general medical conditions).
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care and treatment.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working within Pain Services, delivering pain management programmes
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
- Group-based CBT intervention
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical/counselling/health psychology
- Evidence of CPD as recommended by BPS & KSF
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to clients of the pain service, and of relevant mental health legislation.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other professionals
- Ability to use own initiative and to work under supervision where appropriate
Desirable criteria
- Skills in providing consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups.
- Formal training in supervision of other psychologists
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rebecca Lifford
- Job title
- Principal Practitioner Psychologist (pain)
- Email address
- [email protected]
List jobs with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors