Job summary
We are delighted to be recruiting a psychologist to our health service in Marydale Lodge Secure Children's Home.
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the provision of a high-quality, specialist psychology service for young people in two Secure Children's Homes (SCHs), within the Health and Justice Directorate. The young people present with a range of diverse needs including complex trauma, neurodiversity, and common mental health difficulties (e.g., anxiety and depression). These cooccur alongside concerns about risk to themselves and / or others, as well as risk from others, often in the form of exploitation. The post involves working within a multidisciplinary mental and physical healthcare team to undertake specialist assessments and interventions directly with young people, their families and carers. The role also involves working alongside other Psychology colleagues to implement and embed formulation-led, trauma-informed care throughout both SCHs, in line with the NHS England SECURE STAIRS initiative. This involves exciting opportunities for partnership working including consultation, training, supervision and formulation, as well as innovative service development activities.
Main duties of the job
To work as an active part of the MDT in the Secure Children's Home. This will involve working closely with partnership agencies, local authorities, and other invested parties.
- To implement and develop the SECURE STAIRS Framework, which is a psychologically lead, trauma informed framework embedded across the Secure estate nationally.
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments and treatments for young people.
- To provide appropriate biopsychosocial formulations, consultation and advice, and to support other disciplines or agencies to understand and work in accordance with the formulation in order to improve outcomes for the young person.
- To contribute to a consultation service into an onsite Step-Down Children's Home.
- To be active in risk assessment and complex risk management of individuals who present a risk to themselves and/or others, and/or may be vulnerable and at risk of physical, sexual or emotional harm.
- To take an active part in the strategic developments of the wider service, including the implementation of Compassion Focused Therapy as a model of care.
- To contribute to the supervision of Assistant Psychologists, Trainee Psychologists and other staff as appropriate as agreed with the Psychology and Management Leads.
- To contribute to the supervision, teaching and training, reflective practice of other professionals within the Secure Children's Homes and beyond.
About us
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.
As a senior psychologist, you will join a community of psychologists working into two Secure Children's Homes, and the wider health and Justice Directorate. The health team across the Children's Homes have been awarded Clinical Team of the year, and quality of care provided by the health team at Marydale have been rated as Outstanding. You will be well supported by the consultant clinical lead, and have access to a network of psychologists across the health and justice directorate. The psychology services in GMMH have very close links with local training courses and there will be a range of CPD opportunities to support your career development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments and treatments for young people. This could include psychometric tests, neuropsychological assessments, observations and interviews with family, carers or the young person. Interventions could include group or individual structured and integrated therapies such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, Schema Therapy and CFT.
- To provide appropriate biopsychosocial formulations, consultation and advice, and to support other disciplines or agencies to understand and work in accordance with the formulation in order to improve outcomes for the young person. This includes supervising, where appropriate, the delivery of highly complex psychological interventions as part of multidisciplinary care planning.
- To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the work with young people.
- To support the implementation of trauma-informed, developmentally aware, formulation-led care through a range of activities. This includes formulation meetings, training sessions and reflective practice meetings with professionals from a range of services and backgrounds.
- To contribute to a consultation service into an onsite Step-Down Childrens Home.
- To be active in risk assessment and complex risk management of individuals who present a risk to themselves and/or others, and/or may be vulnerable and at risk of physical, sexual or emotional harm.
- To take an active part in the strategic development of an evidence-based specialist psychology service.
- To contribute, lead and/or undertake research and evaluation projects, including audits, and supervise similar projects undertaken by junior staff or trainees.
- To communicate highly confidential and personal information obtained through assessment, formulation, therapy and interventions, to the young person themselves and where appropriate other involved professionals, their relatives and carers, and referring agents. This includes contributing to Secure Accommodation Review meetings, Multi-Agency Public Protection Meetings, and other multi-agency discussions.
- To receive regular clinical supervision in line with BPS and HCPC good practice guidelines.
- To participate in and develop a personal development plan, identifying clear professional objectives. The plan should support the maintenance and development of specialist psychological knowledge and skills, using the appraisal and continuing professional development systems.
- To adhere to the Code of Conduct outlined by the BPS and HCPC, and to the policies and procedures of GMMH, including remaining up to date with mandatory training requirements.
- To provide a positive role model to staff, promoting team working and constructive relationships with other professionals and agencies.
- To contribute to the supervision of Assistant Psychologists, Trainee Psychologists and other staff as appropriate as agreed with the Psychology and Management Leads. This includes contributing to peer supervision arrangements where relevant.
- To contribute to the supervision, teaching and training, reflective practice of other professionals within the Secure Childrens Homes and beyond.
- All information relating to young people and staff gained through your employment within GMMH is confidential. Do not communicate to anyone, inside or outside the NHS, information relating to service 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. Disclosure to any unauthorised person is a serious disciplinary offence.
- To take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work, and to cooperate with the service in adhering to statutory and departmental safety regulations.
- To not intentionally or recklessly misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare, e.g., misuse of equipment.
- To be influential and proactive in creating and maintaining a positive working environment. This includes contributing to and participating in a learning and questioning environment, which supports the development of a positive culture and working practices.
- To ensure the efficient and appropriate use of resources to deliver a high-quality service.
- To ensure that work is conducted in accordance with the Equality and Diversity Strategy for GMMH, as well as maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of the parameters of legislation and policies and procedures relating to equality and diversity.
- To treat everyone equality and with dignity and respect, and to avoid unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with colleagues, young people, members of the public and all stakeholders.
- To participate in ensuring that service users are protected from any form of abuse, reporting suspicions appropriately in accordance with policy.
- 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments and treatments for young people. This could include psychometric tests, neuropsychological assessments, observations and interviews with family, carers or the young person. Interventions could include group or individual structured and integrated therapies such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, Schema Therapy and CFT.
- To provide appropriate biopsychosocial formulations, consultation and advice, and to support other disciplines or agencies to understand and work in accordance with the formulation in order to improve outcomes for the young person. This includes supervising, where appropriate, the delivery of highly complex psychological interventions as part of multidisciplinary care planning.
- To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the work with young people.
- To support the implementation of trauma-informed, developmentally aware, formulation-led care through a range of activities. This includes formulation meetings, training sessions and reflective practice meetings with professionals from a range of services and backgrounds.
- To contribute to a consultation service into an onsite Step-Down Childrens Home.
- To be active in risk assessment and complex risk management of individuals who present a risk to themselves and/or others, and/or may be vulnerable and at risk of physical, sexual or emotional harm.
- To take an active part in the strategic development of an evidence-based specialist psychology service.
- To contribute, lead and/or undertake research and evaluation projects, including audits, and supervise similar projects undertaken by junior staff or trainees.
- To communicate highly confidential and personal information obtained through assessment, formulation, therapy and interventions, to the young person themselves and where appropriate other involved professionals, their relatives and carers, and referring agents. This includes contributing to Secure Accommodation Review meetings, Multi-Agency Public Protection Meetings, and other multi-agency discussions.
- To receive regular clinical supervision in line with BPS and HCPC good practice guidelines.
- To participate in and develop a personal development plan, identifying clear professional objectives. The plan should support the maintenance and development of specialist psychological knowledge and skills, using the appraisal and continuing professional development systems.
- To adhere to the Code of Conduct outlined by the BPS and HCPC, and to the policies and procedures of GMMH, including remaining up to date with mandatory training requirements.
- To provide a positive role model to staff, promoting team working and constructive relationships with other professionals and agencies.
- To contribute to the supervision of Assistant Psychologists, Trainee Psychologists and other staff as appropriate as agreed with the Psychology and Management Leads. This includes contributing to peer supervision arrangements where relevant.
- To contribute to the supervision, teaching and training, reflective practice of other professionals within the Secure Childrens Homes and beyond.
- All information relating to young people and staff gained through your employment within GMMH is confidential. Do not communicate to anyone, inside or outside the NHS, information relating to service 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. Disclosure to any unauthorised person is a serious disciplinary offence.
- To take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work, and to cooperate with the service in adhering to statutory and departmental safety regulations.
- To not intentionally or recklessly misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare, e.g., misuse of equipment.
- To be influential and proactive in creating and maintaining a positive working environment. This includes contributing to and participating in a learning and questioning environment, which supports the development of a positive culture and working practices.
- To ensure the efficient and appropriate use of resources to deliver a high-quality service.
- To ensure that work is conducted in accordance with the Equality and Diversity Strategy for GMMH, as well as maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of the parameters of legislation and policies and procedures relating to equality and diversity.
- To treat everyone equality and with dignity and respect, and to avoid unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with colleagues, young people, members of the public and all stakeholders.
- To participate in ensuring that service users are protected from any form of abuse, reporting suspicions appropriately in accordance with policy.
- 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.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification in Clinical Psychology at doctoral level (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
- HCPC registration as a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
- Eligibility for British Psychological Society Chartered status.
Desirable
- 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
- Experience working with individuals presenting with complex clinical need.
- Experience consulting with or training healthcare and other professionals.
- Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable
- Experience in complex multiagency settings, such as inpatient, forensic or criminal justice settings, or working within partnership arrangements
- Specific relevant clinical experience such as working with adolescents, families, complex trauma or risk.
- Experience of supervision of other professionals, assistant psychologists or trainee psychologists.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in those who present with complex trauma and/or significant risk issues.
- Skills in the use of neuropsychological assessments.
- Knowledge of research design and methodology.
Desirable
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, national guidance and professional systems.
- Training or experience with adolescents and/or adolescent offenders.
- Training or experience using Compassion Focused Therapy or interventions designed to work with trauma e.g., EMDR.
- Training or experience in implementing trauma-informed care.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- High level of communication skills, to communicate effectively at both a written and oral level to young people, their carers and families, and a range of lay and professional persons within and outside the NHS.
- Ability to cope with stressful interpersonal situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems.
- Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to "hold" the stress of others.
- Have an ability to show openness and appropriate vulnerability, and to acknowledge the impact of trauma on self and the wider organisation. A willingness to ask for help and support where needed.
- Ability to travel between sites, to meetings relevant to the role, or to support assessments or transitions into the community.
Desirable
- Hold skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management in work with young people and families.
- Evidence of consultation skills.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification in Clinical Psychology at doctoral level (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
- HCPC registration as a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
- Eligibility for British Psychological Society Chartered status.
Desirable
- 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
- Experience working with individuals presenting with complex clinical need.
- Experience consulting with or training healthcare and other professionals.
- Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable
- Experience in complex multiagency settings, such as inpatient, forensic or criminal justice settings, or working within partnership arrangements
- Specific relevant clinical experience such as working with adolescents, families, complex trauma or risk.
- Experience of supervision of other professionals, assistant psychologists or trainee psychologists.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in those who present with complex trauma and/or significant risk issues.
- Skills in the use of neuropsychological assessments.
- Knowledge of research design and methodology.
Desirable
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, national guidance and professional systems.
- Training or experience with adolescents and/or adolescent offenders.
- Training or experience using Compassion Focused Therapy or interventions designed to work with trauma e.g., EMDR.
- Training or experience in implementing trauma-informed care.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- High level of communication skills, to communicate effectively at both a written and oral level to young people, their carers and families, and a range of lay and professional persons within and outside the NHS.
- Ability to cope with stressful interpersonal situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems.
- Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to "hold" the stress of others.
- Have an ability to show openness and appropriate vulnerability, and to acknowledge the impact of trauma on self and the wider organisation. A willingness to ask for help and support where needed.
- Ability to travel between sites, to meetings relevant to the role, or to support assessments or transitions into the community.
Desirable
- Hold skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management in work with young people and families.
- Evidence of consultation skills.
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.
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.
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).
