Job summary We are looking for a colleague to join our Manchester Specialist Psychotherapy Service, which provides specialist, evidence-based psychological therapies to clients with complex and chronic psychological disorders. Clients are referred either directly from GPs and other mental health providers or are stepped up from briefer, less intensive interventions provided by local primary care mental health teams. Clients will usually have had a previous mental health intervention, and will typically present with complex emotional and relational needs. The services also offer specialist consultation, supervision, advice and training in relation to psychotherapy and complex emotional ad relational needs. A number of different evidence-based therapies are offered in the service: o Group and individual Psychodynamic Therapy o Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy o Cognitive Analytic Therapy o Transference Focussed Therapy o Dialectical Behaviour Therapy o Mentalisation Based Therapy o Democratic Therapeutic Community o Main duties of the job We are looking for a skilled and enthusiastic psychologist/psychotherapist to join our team in which colleagues work closely together to deliver the best care possible. You will have significant experience of working as a therapist in a mental health setting and will need to be confident and competent in assessing and working with people with complex presentations and high levels of risk. You must have the skills, training and experience to deliver therapy in at least one of the modalities listed above, and be open to further training in a second model. You will be expected to provide high quality specialist psychological assessment and therapy to clients referred to the Manchester Specialist Psychotherapy Service and to offer supervision and consultation on clients' psychological care to other clinicians, including visiting and trainee therapists, care coordinators, GPs and Psychiatrists. If you are interested in joining our team, but think you may not have the experience required to meet the specification, please do apply as we are happy to offer this position as a preceptorship, appointing at Band 7 with a development plan to progress to Band 8a. About us Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over7000members 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. Date posted 17 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 437-6932091 Job locations Gaskell House Swinton Grove Manchester M13 0EU Job description Job responsibilities Direct Clinical Work To deliver highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy to clients with complex, severe and longstanding mental health difficulties, which frequently involve high risk behaviour, e.g. risk of suicide and self-harm. Clients who are referred to the Service have often either failed to engage with, or benefit from, other mental health services, and can be particularly hard to help. To manage a highly complex clinical caseload in accordance with activity expectations agreed with the Service Manager. To carry out specialised risk assessments and agree risk management plans with individual clients, and to provide advice on aspects of risk formulation and management to other clinicians and services Teaching and Supervision To provide clinical supervision to honorary therapists working within the Service To be responsible for the clinical supervision and teaching of trainees, at all levels, including those taking advanced and highly specialist psychotherapy training and postgraduate training in clinical psychology. To engage in peer supervision and peer consultation with clinical colleagues within the service Consultation and Liaison Liaise, as appropriate, with clinicians and managers outside of the Service regarding clinical and service issues. To provide clinical consultations for clinicians, including therapists in training, when difficult and challenging issues of assessment, treatment and risk management arise. Research and Service Development To assist in the development and maintenance of a strong research culture in order to encourage the critical evaluation of practice and the participation of clients in research programmes within the Trust. To utilise theory, current literature and research to support evidence-based practice in direct clinical work, supervision, teaching and consultations with other clinicians and staff groups. To initiate and participate in audit and service evaluation with colleagues within the Service and the Trust to help develop and improve services to patients 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) Job description Job responsibilities Direct Clinical Work To deliver highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy to clients with complex, severe and longstanding mental health difficulties, which frequently involve high risk behaviour, e.g. risk of suicide and self-harm. Clients who are referred to the Service have often either failed to engage with, or benefit from, other mental health services, and can be particularly hard to help. To manage a highly complex clinical caseload in accordance with activity expectations agreed with the Service Manager. To carry out specialised risk assessments and agree risk management plans with individual clients, and to provide advice on aspects of risk formulation and management to other clinicians and services Teaching and Supervision To provide clinical supervision to honorary therapists working within the Service To be responsible for the clinical supervision and teaching of trainees, at all levels, including those taking advanced and highly specialist psychotherapy training and postgraduate training in clinical psychology. To engage in peer supervision and peer consultation with clinical colleagues within the service Consultation and Liaison Liaise, as appropriate, with clinicians and managers outside of the Service regarding clinical and service issues. To provide clinical consultations for clinicians, including therapists in training, when difficult and challenging issues of assessment, treatment and risk management arise. Research and Service Development To assist in the development and maintenance of a strong research culture in order to encourage the critical evaluation of practice and the participation of clients in research programmes within the Trust. To utilise theory, current literature and research to support evidence-based practice in direct clinical work, supervision, teaching and consultations with other clinicians and staff groups. To initiate and participate in audit and service evaluation with colleagues within the Service and the Trust to help develop and improve services to patients 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 Doctoral/Masters Degree or equivalent experience/qualification, plus further specialist training research or study, conferring advanced theoretical and practical knowledge within a specialist field of psychological therapy. Experience Essential Experience of working with a wide variety of service users with complex needs, including clients with a personality disorder diagnosis Previous experience of delivering time-limited psychological therapy to clients with complex mental health problems. Experience in risk assessment, formulation and management particularly important. Knowledge Essential In-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one of the specialised psychological therapies offered within the service. Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. complex emotional relational needs; co-occurring conditions etc). Skills Essential Skills in providing supervision and consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Doctoral/Masters Degree or equivalent experience/qualification, plus further specialist training research or study, conferring advanced theoretical and practical knowledge within a specialist field of psychological therapy. Experience Essential Experience of working with a wide variety of service users with complex needs, including clients with a personality disorder diagnosis Previous experience of delivering time-limited psychological therapy to clients with complex mental health problems. Experience in risk assessment, formulation and management particularly important. Knowledge Essential In-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one of the specialised psychological therapies offered within the service. Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. complex emotional relational needs; co-occurring conditions etc). Skills Essential Skills in providing supervision and consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups. Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT Address Gaskell House Swinton Grove Manchester M13 0EU Employer's website https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)