Job summary This is a rare opportunity to join the Greater Manchester Specialist Support Team (GMSST) as part of a growing and developing psychology specialism. This newly created role for an 8a clinical psychologist offers the chance for career development in a complex, challenging and rewarding area of work. We are a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and social workers working across Greater Manchester with service users who have autism and/or a learning disability and present with a broad range of risks and challenges. We are expanding our psychological offer to include time-limited 1:1 therapy whilst continuing to provide complex risk assessment, formulation, systemic intervention and advice & consultation in multi-agency settings. The role will give the successful candidate the chance to develop specialist skills, knowledge, experience and expertise with a unique overview of learning disability, mental health, criminal justice and inpatient settings. We welcome applications from candidates with a commitment to compassionate, person-centred practice that upholds their legal and ethical rights. This post is advertised as a band 8a; however, we will accept applications from newly qualified Clinical Psychologists who, if successful, would be appointed on a band 7 preceptorship with a programme of development to gain the competencies required to reach the level required for the 8a post. Main duties of the job To provide a qualified clinical psychology service according to a plan agreed with the multi-disciplinary team and within the overall framework of GMSST's policies and procedures. To provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and therapy at the same time as offering advice and consultation on service user's psychological care to psychologist and non-psychologist colleagues and to non-professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service. GMSST is a highly specialist service providing assessment and intervention to service users with learning disabilities and/or autism who have a history of complex problems and high-risk presentations, including behaviours of concern, offending and mental health difficulties. About us Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities. At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles. Date posted 14 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, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours Reference number 350-SC6964923 Job locations 2 City Approach Albert Street Eccles M30 0BL Job description Job responsibilities Job responsibilities: 1. To work with the Clinical Lead and Service Manger to deliver safe and effective specialist support services including the following:a. Delivery of 1:1 psychological therapy to service users with trauma, emotional dysregulation, behaviours of concern, offending behaviour and mental health diagnosesb. Risk assessment and formulationc. Advice and Consultation to external agenciesd. Attendance at multi-agency meetings (including CTRs, MAPPA, MARAC etc)e. Contribute to the services Intensive Support Function2. To provide specialist psychological assessments of people referred to GMSST based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the persons care.3. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a persons mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the persons problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.4. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining several provisional hypotheses.5. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.6. To provide highly specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to formulations, diagnoses and treatment plans.7. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically-based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users, across all settings and agencies serving them.8. To actively undertake risk assessment and risk management for service users and to provide advice and liaise with other teams and professions across Greater Manchester on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management. To participate in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency risk assessment in complex service networks.9. To communicate, in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of people under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.10. Has line management responsibility for assistant clinical psychologists.11. To manage the workloads of assistant clinical psychologists, within the framework of the team/services policies and procedures.12. To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior clinical psychologist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.13. To provide professional and clinical supervision of assistant clinical psychologists.14. To contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical and/or counselling psychology and other disciplines, as appropriate, including the supervision of clinical psychologists in training.15. To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with service users across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate.16. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit.17. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.18. To initiate and undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research.19. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of GMSSTs operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit.20. To lead the relevant research activity within GMSST as required by the service.21. To develop research bids and coordinate applications for the research funding, as required by the service.22. To establish and maintain research partnerships with relevant internal and external individuals and groups.23. To foster and inspire innovative ideas and developments aimed at enhancing the experience of service users and carers, and support their development through research and/or project management methodology.24. To undertake project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision.25. To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing.26. To be involved, as appropriate, in the short listing and interviewing of assistant / graduate psychologists, and of team members from other professions, where appropriate.27. To exercise delegated responsibility for managing the psychological resources available to the team, in the form of psychological materials employed in the assessment and treatment of service users; and to assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, training and project work.28. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care, including contributing to the organisation of training seminars and conferences for others.29. To maintain up to date knowledge of clinical and policy related best practice and new developments in the field of personality disorder. 30. To manage information resources relating to this and ensure their wide availability, working closely with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust knowledge, services and relevant external partners.31. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning the historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.32. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of service users.33. To contribute to the development of systems to support, mentor and supervise service users working in the service.34. To be engaged and participate in the future development of GMSST and promote a culture of continuous service improvement.35. To help develop effective clinical pathways for people who have a learning disability and/or autism with complex needs within the wider health and social care community across Greater Manchester. Job description Job responsibilities Job responsibilities: 1. To work with the Clinical Lead and Service Manger to deliver safe and effective specialist support services including the following:a. Delivery of 1:1 psychological therapy to service users with trauma, emotional dysregulation, behaviours of concern, offending behaviour and mental health diagnosesb. Risk assessment and formulationc. Advice and Consultation to external agenciesd. Attendance at multi-agency meetings (including CTRs, MAPPA, MARAC etc)e. Contribute to the services Intensive Support Function2. To provide specialist psychological assessments of people referred to GMSST based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the persons care.3. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a persons mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the persons problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.4. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining several provisional hypotheses.5. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.6. To provide highly specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to formulations, diagnoses and treatment plans.7. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically-based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users, across all settings and agencies serving them.8. To actively undertake risk assessment and risk management for service users and to provide advice and liaise with other teams and professions across Greater Manchester on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management. To participate in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency risk assessment in complex service networks.9. To communicate, in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of people under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.10. Has line management responsibility for assistant clinical psychologists.11. To manage the workloads of assistant clinical psychologists, within the framework of the team/services policies and procedures.12. To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior clinical psychologist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.13. To provide professional and clinical supervision of assistant clinical psychologists.14. To contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical and/or counselling psychology and other disciplines, as appropriate, including the supervision of clinical psychologists in training.15. To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with service users across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate.16. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit.17. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.18. To initiate and undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research.19. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of GMSSTs operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit.20. To lead the relevant research activity within GMSST as required by the service.21. To develop research bids and coordinate applications for the research funding, as required by the service.22. To establish and maintain research partnerships with relevant internal and external individuals and groups.23. To foster and inspire innovative ideas and developments aimed at enhancing the experience of service users and carers, and support their development through research and/or project management methodology.24. To undertake project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision.25. To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing.26. To be involved, as appropriate, in the short listing and interviewing of assistant / graduate psychologists, and of team members from other professions, where appropriate.27. To exercise delegated responsibility for managing the psychological resources available to the team, in the form of psychological materials employed in the assessment and treatment of service users; and to assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, training and project work.28. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care, including contributing to the organisation of training seminars and conferences for others.29. To maintain up to date knowledge of clinical and policy related best practice and new developments in the field of personality disorder. 30. To manage information resources relating to this and ensure their wide availability, working closely with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust knowledge, services and relevant external partners.31. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning the historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.32. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of service users.33. To contribute to the development of systems to support, mentor and supervise service users working in the service.34. To be engaged and participate in the future development of GMSST and promote a culture of continuous service improvement.35. To help develop effective clinical pathways for people who have a learning disability and/or autism with complex needs within the wider health and social care community across Greater Manchester. Person Specification Qualifications Essential oA First or Upper Second honours degree in psychology OR a lower class with a post-graduate qualification, (e.g.: Master's degree). oECDL or demonstrable proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Publisher and SPSS. oPost-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology as accredited by the BPS. oRegistration with HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist. Desirable oFurther training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, autism, personality disorder and/or research design and analysis. oFurther training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, autism, personality disorder and/or research design and analysis. oPost-doctoral training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice such as risk assessment; autism; personality disorder; substance use; and/or specific therapeutic modalities. Knowledge and Experience: Essential oAssessed experience of work for a minimum of six months within the field of learning disability, which included working with clients with forensic needs either in secure or non-secure settings. oPost-qualification experience of working with individuals with histories of problems of complex, multi-factorial origin. oExperience of working with a variety of client groups, across the whole life course and a full range of care settings, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threats of physical abuse. oExperience of exercising clinical responsibility for service user's psychological care and treatment, both as a profession and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan. oExperience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision. Desirable oExperience of working in a multi-disciplinary team/ experience of working alongside staff from other disciplines. oExperience of multi-professional management of teams and/or services within learning disability. oExperience of representing the profession in local policy fora. oExperience of the application of psychological theories within different cultural contexts. oPersonal experience of mental health problems. Values: Essential oContinuous Improvement oAccountability oRespectfulness oEnthusiasm oResponsive to service users oEngaging leadership style oStrong customer service belief oTransparency and honesty oDiscrete oPositive attitudes towards people who have a learning disability and offenders. oProfessional interest in a broad range of psychological phenomena, an interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical psychology services in the context of multi-disciplinary services. Skills: Essential oDoctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology in relation to learning disabled offenders. oSkills in the use of methods of psychological assessment & formulation. oAn excellent ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, complex, technical and clinically sensitive information, to service users, their families and a wide range of professionals within and outside of the NHS. oSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professionals groups. oDoctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology. oKnowledge of legislation and the implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group and mental health issues in general. oAbility to identify, provide, and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours. oAbility to identify and employ where appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviours. oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media material for presentations to the public, professionals and academic settings. oCar driver/ owner and willingness to travel across the North West region for work. oWillingness to be part of the on-call duty rota system in place during evenings and weekends (frequency to be specified). Desirable oAn ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a forensic learning disability context. oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological interventions in specific, difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnosis issues, autism, additional disabilities and drug/alcohol issues etc.) oRecord of having published in either peer reviewed academic or professional journals and/or books. oAbility to articulate and interpret the role of the profession of clinical psychology based upon an understanding of the framework of government and national professional policy. Person Specification Qualifications Essential oA First or Upper Second honours degree in psychology OR a lower class with a post-graduate qualification, (e.g.: Master's degree). oECDL or demonstrable proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Publisher and SPSS. oPost-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology as accredited by the BPS. oRegistration with HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist. Desirable oFurther training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, autism, personality disorder and/or research design and analysis. oFurther training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, autism, personality disorder and/or research design and analysis. oPost-doctoral training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice such as risk assessment; autism; personality disorder; substance use; and/or specific therapeutic modalities. Knowledge and Experience: Essential oAssessed experience of work for a minimum of six months within the field of learning disability, which included working with clients with forensic needs either in secure or non-secure settings. oPost-qualification experience of working with individuals with histories of problems of complex, multi-factorial origin. oExperience of working with a variety of client groups, across the whole life course and a full range of care settings, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threats of physical abuse. oExperience of exercising clinical responsibility for service user's psychological care and treatment, both as a profession and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan. oExperience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision. Desirable oExperience of working in a multi-disciplinary team/ experience of working alongside staff from other disciplines. oExperience of multi-professional management of teams and/or services within learning disability. oExperience of representing the profession in local policy fora. oExperience of the application of psychological theories within different cultural contexts. oPersonal experience of mental health problems. Values: Essential oContinuous Improvement oAccountability oRespectfulness oEnthusiasm oResponsive to service users oEngaging leadership style oStrong customer service belief oTransparency and honesty oDiscrete oPositive attitudes towards people who have a learning disability and offenders. oProfessional interest in a broad range of psychological phenomena, an interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical psychology services in the context of multi-disciplinary services. Skills: Essential oDoctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology in relation to learning disabled offenders. oSkills in the use of methods of psychological assessment & formulation. oAn excellent ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, complex, technical and clinically sensitive information, to service users, their families and a wide range of professionals within and outside of the NHS. oSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professionals groups. oDoctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology. oKnowledge of legislation and the implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group and mental health issues in general. oAbility to identify, provide, and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours. oAbility to identify and employ where appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviours. oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media material for presentations to the public, professionals and academic settings. oCar driver/ owner and willingness to travel across the North West region for work. oWillingness to be part of the on-call duty rota system in place during evenings and weekends (frequency to be specified). Desirable oAn ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a forensic learning disability context. oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological interventions in specific, difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnosis issues, autism, additional disabilities and drug/alcohol issues etc.) oRecord of having published in either peer reviewed academic or professional journals and/or books. oAbility to articulate and interpret the role of the profession of clinical psychology based upon an understanding of the framework of government and national professional policy. 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. 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. 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 Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Address 2 City Approach Albert Street Eccles M30 0BL Employer's website https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)