Job summary
Are you an enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist with a passion for working with people with complexity and forensic needs? We are pleased to invite applications for a Band 5 Senior Assistant Psychologist within the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT), based at the Riverside Centre in Prestwich. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop your skills within a specialist service supporting adults with complex clinical and forensic needs in the community.
Working under the supervision of a qualified psychologist and embedded within an integrated multidisciplinary team (MDT), you will contribute to the psychological understanding of service users' needs and risks. You will have opportunities to engage in assessment, formulation and intervention work, and to complete and review structured risk assessments. You will support the MDT in developing psychological formulations and psychologically informed approaches to supporting service users. The team is experienced, friendly and supportive, offering a reflective and encouraging environment. The role includes direct clinical contact, service evaluation, indirect MDT work and liaison with a range of professionals across other services.
We are seeking applicants with significant assistant psychologist experience, ideally within forensic settings, who can bring strong communication skills, enthusiasm and the ability to work thoughtfully and collaboratively within a busy community forensic service.
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Assistant Psychologist, you will:
- Provide direct psychological work with service users in the community, including individual sessions and group-based interventions under supervision. You will also support the qualified psychologist in developing group interventions.
- Contribute to psychological assessments and the development of formulations that support the MDT's understanding of need and risk.
- Complete and review structured risk assessments and contribute to discussions regarding risk management and transition planning.
- Support the MDT in developing team formulations and psychologically informed approaches when working with service users.
- Engage in indirect clinical work, including preparing reports, summaries, and relevant clinical documentation in line with Trust expectations.
- Liaise with a range of professionals across the forensic pathway to ensure coordinated care, smooth transitions, and consistent communication.
- Participate in service evaluation, audit and data-related tasks to support ongoing service improvement.
- Attend and contribute to MDT meetings, reflective practice sessions and clinical discussions.
- Work both independently, effectively and collaboratively within a friendly, supportive and experienced integrated multidisciplinary team.
- Engage fully in supervision, mandatory training, and ongoing professional development.
About us
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical work
- Undertake direct work with service users in the community, supporting psychological understanding of their needs and risks.
- Work therapeutically with individuals and groups under the direction and supervision of a qualified psychologist and in line with SCFT goals.
- Assist in the development of psychological formulations to support the MDTs understanding of service users presentations, needs and risk management plans.
- Use and review structured professional judgement tools to contribute to the understanding of service users risks.
- Support consultation clinics by contributing to clinical documentation and gathering relevant information.
- Work independently within appropriate limits, using initiative and judgement based on good practice and established procedures.
- Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary meetings.
- Write progress notes, letters, reports, risk assessments, management plans and other clinical documents.
- Work with distressing material relating to personal histories, offending behaviour and risk.
- Liaise with other professionals to organise meetings and coordinate information.
Service development and evaluation
- Assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the team.
- Attend meetings where service developments are planned or discussed.
- Undertake data collection, analysis and produce reports and summaries using IT and statistical programmes.
- Review evidencebased literature and research to support the service and contribute to clinical work undertaken by the team.
Communication
- Provide timely, effective communication using the appropriate channels to ensure that information about service users progress and changes in risk are shared with relevant stakeholders.
Personal and professional development
- Receive regular clinical supervision in line with professional practice guidelines and Trust policy.
- Develop skills and competencies relevant to the role.
- Contribute, where appropriate and under supervision, to the training and support of other staff.
- Maintain full compliance with mandatory training requirements.
Confidentiality and information governance
- Maintain confidentiality of information relating to service users, staff and commercially sensitive matters, sharing information only when appropriate and within the expected parameters of the role.
Health, safety and security
- Adhere to best practice in physical, procedural and relational security.
- Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others and comply with all relevant regulations.
- Use equipment correctly and avoid intentional or reckless misuse.
- Report incidents, accidents or near misses involving service users, carers, staff or the public through the Trust incident reporting system.
Standing financial instructions
- Handle service users cash, property and valuables in line with Trust policies and procedures.
- Handle mail and communications appropriately.
- Manage keys or valuables in accordance with Trust financial instructions.
Quality
- Contribute to a positive working environment.
- Participate in a learning and questioning culture that supports good practice.
- Use resources efficiently and appropriately.
- Plan your own work and support others where relevant to ensure delivery of a highquality service.
Equality and diversity
- Work in line with the Trusts Equality and Diversity Strategy and contribute to its development.
- Maintain uptodate knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
- Treat all individuals with dignity and respect and avoid unlawful discrimination.
- Support and promote service user rights, beliefs, choices and cultural needs.
Safeguarding
- Participate in ensuring service users are protected from abuse and report any suspicions or concerns to senior staff.
- Understand safeguarding responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults and adhere to relevant principles and procedures.
Mandatory ongoing requirements
- Undertake any other reasonable duty requested by an appropriate manager.
- Adhere to all Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
- Support the Trusts strategic goals.
- Maintain high standards of recordkeeping and information accuracy.
- Contribute to sustainability by minimising waste and using resources responsibly.
- Report environmental or safety concerns.
- Contribute to the management of risk and report incidents.
- Support infection prevention and control standards.
- Take responsibility for learning and development in line with supervision and appraisal.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical work
- Undertake direct work with service users in the community, supporting psychological understanding of their needs and risks.
- Work therapeutically with individuals and groups under the direction and supervision of a qualified psychologist and in line with SCFT goals.
- Assist in the development of psychological formulations to support the MDTs understanding of service users presentations, needs and risk management plans.
- Use and review structured professional judgement tools to contribute to the understanding of service users risks.
- Support consultation clinics by contributing to clinical documentation and gathering relevant information.
- Work independently within appropriate limits, using initiative and judgement based on good practice and established procedures.
- Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary meetings.
- Write progress notes, letters, reports, risk assessments, management plans and other clinical documents.
- Work with distressing material relating to personal histories, offending behaviour and risk.
- Liaise with other professionals to organise meetings and coordinate information.
Service development and evaluation
- Assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the team.
- Attend meetings where service developments are planned or discussed.
- Undertake data collection, analysis and produce reports and summaries using IT and statistical programmes.
- Review evidencebased literature and research to support the service and contribute to clinical work undertaken by the team.
Communication
- Provide timely, effective communication using the appropriate channels to ensure that information about service users progress and changes in risk are shared with relevant stakeholders.
Personal and professional development
- Receive regular clinical supervision in line with professional practice guidelines and Trust policy.
- Develop skills and competencies relevant to the role.
- Contribute, where appropriate and under supervision, to the training and support of other staff.
- Maintain full compliance with mandatory training requirements.
Confidentiality and information governance
- Maintain confidentiality of information relating to service users, staff and commercially sensitive matters, sharing information only when appropriate and within the expected parameters of the role.
Health, safety and security
- Adhere to best practice in physical, procedural and relational security.
- Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others and comply with all relevant regulations.
- Use equipment correctly and avoid intentional or reckless misuse.
- Report incidents, accidents or near misses involving service users, carers, staff or the public through the Trust incident reporting system.
Standing financial instructions
- Handle service users cash, property and valuables in line with Trust policies and procedures.
- Handle mail and communications appropriately.
- Manage keys or valuables in accordance with Trust financial instructions.
Quality
- Contribute to a positive working environment.
- Participate in a learning and questioning culture that supports good practice.
- Use resources efficiently and appropriately.
- Plan your own work and support others where relevant to ensure delivery of a highquality service.
Equality and diversity
- Work in line with the Trusts Equality and Diversity Strategy and contribute to its development.
- Maintain uptodate knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
- Treat all individuals with dignity and respect and avoid unlawful discrimination.
- Support and promote service user rights, beliefs, choices and cultural needs.
Safeguarding
- Participate in ensuring service users are protected from abuse and report any suspicions or concerns to senior staff.
- Understand safeguarding responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults and adhere to relevant principles and procedures.
Mandatory ongoing requirements
- Undertake any other reasonable duty requested by an appropriate manager.
- Adhere to all Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
- Support the Trusts strategic goals.
- Maintain high standards of recordkeeping and information accuracy.
- Contribute to sustainability by minimising waste and using resources responsibly.
- Report environmental or safety concerns.
- Contribute to the management of risk and report incidents.
- Support infection prevention and control standards.
- Take responsibility for learning and development in line with supervision and appraisal.
Person Specification
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a forensic setting or with forensic clients, requiring good interpersonal skills and an ability to self-reflect
- Experience of working with people with complex mental distress or personality difficulties
- Experience of working within an integrated multi-disciplinary team
- Previous experience of working as an assistant psychologist
Desirable
- Experience of service evaluation
Qualifications
Essential
- A first or upper second-class honours Psychology Degree accredited by the British Psychological Society. Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Knowledge
Desirable
- Awareness of one or more structured professional judgement risk assessment tools (e.g., the HCR-20v3, the RSVP, the SARA, etc).
Skills and Ability
Essential
- High-level communication and interpersonal skills (written and verbal), including report writing, and an ability to engage and establish positive working relationships with professionals and service users
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals.
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Person Specification
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a forensic setting or with forensic clients, requiring good interpersonal skills and an ability to self-reflect
- Experience of working with people with complex mental distress or personality difficulties
- Experience of working within an integrated multi-disciplinary team
- Previous experience of working as an assistant psychologist
Desirable
- Experience of service evaluation
Qualifications
Essential
- A first or upper second-class honours Psychology Degree accredited by the British Psychological Society. Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Knowledge
Desirable
- Awareness of one or more structured professional judgement risk assessment tools (e.g., the HCR-20v3, the RSVP, the SARA, etc).
Skills and Ability
Essential
- High-level communication and interpersonal skills (written and verbal), including report writing, and an ability to engage and establish positive working relationships with professionals and service users
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals.
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
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).
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Riverside Centre Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Bury New Road, Manchester
Prestwich
M25 3BL
Employer's website
https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
