Pennine Care NHS FT

Clinical Psychologist/ Forensic Psychologist/ Counselling Psychologist

The closing date is 09 September 2025

Job summary

The postholder will input into Heathfield House (Cale Green) and Bevan Place (Stepping Hill Hospital). Both units provide inpatient rehabilitation to support men with severe and enduring mental health needs, with the aim of moving towards more independent living. Men have a primary diagnosis of a psychotic illness, but may have additional difficulties with trauma, emotional regulation, substance use, forensic history, or cognitive skills. Bevan Place specifically supports men who are aged over 50, and may have additional medical needs. The rehabilitation services aim to support re-integration into the community, and work closely with the newly established Community Rehabilitation Team.

For more information about our services please visit: https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/rhsd

The post is offered at 8a, however a band 7 development post will be considered for candidates with suitable experience.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the promotion and management of a high-quality psychology service across the units and will be supported by Assistant Psychologist provision.

The post will require you to provide psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to service users who present with complex mental health problems, alongside a possible history of trauma, substance misuse and forensic histories. The post holder will provide direct face-to-face clinical sessions and support the psychosocial intervention work of colleagues.

You will be expected to attend MDT meetings and to facilitate regular reflective practice groups to offer the MDT reflective space, develop psychological formulations and provide bespoke training. In addition, you will provide one-to-one clinical supervision to Psychologists and other members of the MDT as appropriate and dependent on experience. The post will require you to be involved in service developments including transformation work, Quality Improvement projects and governance within the service as required.

The post holder will be part of a respected psychology team within RHS that includes Clinical and Forensic Psychologists, and Assistant Psychologists. Regular supervision will be provided, as well as team meetings and peer support.

About us

We would welcome applications for flexible working patterns, including compressed hours or a job share. We support staff to work flexibly and recognise and respect the roles our colleagues hold outside of their working hours.

All wards have adequate office space for psychology staff.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the top of our agenda. We believe that a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture is vital; that everyone's value should be recognised and respected.

We proactively challenge injustices, and are the only Trust in the North West to publicly recognise our commitment to becoming anti-racist and supporting our transgender and non-binary colleagues. We also have thriving staff networks to make sure everyone has a voice.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our#PennineCarePeopleand do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.

We are committed to staff development through shared learning, training and peer supervision. We are working hard in the Rehabilitation and High Support Care Hub to reduce restrictive practices, and to provide trauma-informed care.

Our trust values are:

Kindness

Fairness

Ingenuity

Determination

Details

Date posted

26 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share, Compressed hours

Reference number

311-F825-25-A

Job locations

Heathfield House

Cale Green

Stockport

SK2 6RA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.

For further details, discussion or to arrange an informal visit please contact Dr Louisa McNair, Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Clinical Lead) on 07917 503634 orlouisa.mcnair@nhs.net or Dr Suzanna Moore, Forensic Psychologist (current postholder) on suzanna.moore2@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.

For further details, discussion or to arrange an informal visit please contact Dr Louisa McNair, Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Clinical Lead) on 07917 503634 orlouisa.mcnair@nhs.net or Dr Suzanna Moore, Forensic Psychologist (current postholder) on suzanna.moore2@nhs.net

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Good honours degree in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
  • Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology or Forensic Psychology
  • HCPC registered as a Practitioner Psychologist

Desirable

  • Further qualifications and / or training in a range of therapy models / interventions
  • Further training and / or qualifications in the delivery of clinical supervision

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in an inpatient setting (psychiatric rehabilitation / PICU / acute/secure services)
  • Demonstrable experience of delivering highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions (individual and group) within an NHS mental health environment.
  • Experience of working within multidisciplinary services in mental health providing therapy to service users with high levels of complexity
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision to other psychological therapists
  • Experience in teaching / training of other qualified mental health staff / non psychology staff

Desirable

  • Experience of providing line management to other psychological therapists

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of the application of clinical governance and risk management policies

Desirable

  • Expertise in administration and interpretation of specialist psychological assessment tools
  • Knowledge of procedures that maintain and contribute to the improvement of psychological services Knowledge of systems theory and organisational change

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Willingness to work as part of a psychology team providing input into the low secure units.
  • Skills in models of service delivery and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical psychology services within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health inpatient services.
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention.
  • Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to 'hold' the stress of others.
  • Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and / or clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS
  • Ability to play an active role in service development via evaluation, audit and research.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
  • Ability to prioritise work, manage waiting lists, meet deadlines and revise work plans accordingly

Desirable

  • A wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area

Work Related Circumstances

Essential

  • Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs.
  • Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
  • Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Good honours degree in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
  • Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology or Forensic Psychology
  • HCPC registered as a Practitioner Psychologist

Desirable

  • Further qualifications and / or training in a range of therapy models / interventions
  • Further training and / or qualifications in the delivery of clinical supervision

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in an inpatient setting (psychiatric rehabilitation / PICU / acute/secure services)
  • Demonstrable experience of delivering highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions (individual and group) within an NHS mental health environment.
  • Experience of working within multidisciplinary services in mental health providing therapy to service users with high levels of complexity
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision to other psychological therapists
  • Experience in teaching / training of other qualified mental health staff / non psychology staff

Desirable

  • Experience of providing line management to other psychological therapists

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of the application of clinical governance and risk management policies

Desirable

  • Expertise in administration and interpretation of specialist psychological assessment tools
  • Knowledge of procedures that maintain and contribute to the improvement of psychological services Knowledge of systems theory and organisational change

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Willingness to work as part of a psychology team providing input into the low secure units.
  • Skills in models of service delivery and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical psychology services within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health inpatient services.
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention.
  • Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to 'hold' the stress of others.
  • Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and / or clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS
  • Ability to play an active role in service development via evaluation, audit and research.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
  • Ability to prioritise work, manage waiting lists, meet deadlines and revise work plans accordingly

Desirable

  • A wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area

Work Related Circumstances

Essential

  • Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs.
  • Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
  • Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.

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

Pennine Care NHS FT

Address

Heathfield House

Cale Green

Stockport

SK2 6RA


Employer's website

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Pennine Care NHS FT

Address

Heathfield House

Cale Green

Stockport

SK2 6RA


Employer's website

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Louisa McNair

louisa.mcnair@nhs.net

07917503634

Details

Date posted

26 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share, Compressed hours

Reference number

311-F825-25-A

Job locations

Heathfield House

Cale Green

Stockport

SK2 6RA


Supporting documents

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