Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

SPTS Assistant Psychologist Adult Autism

The closing date is 01 October 2025

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Specialist Psychological Therapies Service for Wigan and Leigh. The service provides diagnostic assessments and pre and post diagnostic support to autistic adults. This includes individual and group post diagnostic support sessions. The team is psychology lead and consists of Clinical psychologists, Assistant Psychologists, Advanced Practitioners, a Support worker and a Clinical Team Manager. The team also works closely with Experts by Experience to develop and deliver training.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will demonstrate an attitude which respects and values service users and their careers, in line with the Culture of Compassionate Care.

The post holder will embrace the core values of the organisation. These principles will recognise the need to:

o Promote safe practices

o Value the aims of service users

o Work in partnership and offer meaningful choice

o Be optimistic about the possibilities of meaningful change

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.

Details

Date posted

19 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

437-7418573

Job locations

Hazelmere Unit Leigh Infirmary

The Avenue

Leigh

WN7 1HS


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

Staff benefits

  • Pay Enhancements
  • 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

Please see attached job description and person specification

Staff benefits

  • Pay Enhancements
  • 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

  • An honours degree in that satisfies the British Psychological Society criteria for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership

Desirable

  • Post graduate training in areas relevant to psychological practice, mental health, learning disability, neurodiversity and/or research design and analysis

Experience

Essential

  • Work experience in a health or care setting supporting autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities and/or mental health difficulties
  • Research methodology, data collection, analysis and report writing

Desirable

  • Previous experience working therapeutically with autistic service users and their families
  • Experience of diagnostic / neuropsychological assessment
  • Experience designing and conducting large scale research, audit or service evaluations

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of a broad range of psychological theories and the application of these

Desirable

  • Knowledge of psychological therapies and their application to mental health, autism and/or learning disability
  • Knowledge of NICE guidelines relevant to the role Knowledge of policies and legislation relevant to the role

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills High level communication skills - verbal and written - with professionals, service users and their families
  • Good time management skills

Desirable

  • Proficient IT skills Ability to communicate sensitive information

Other

Essential

  • Have the ability to work autonomously within the scope of this role
  • Demonstrate a commitment to respecting and displaying the Trust Values at all times There is an occasional requirement to travel across the wide footprint of the Trust to attend meetings and events relevant to the role.
  • Be self-motivated and enthusiastic
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • An honours degree in that satisfies the British Psychological Society criteria for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership

Desirable

  • Post graduate training in areas relevant to psychological practice, mental health, learning disability, neurodiversity and/or research design and analysis

Experience

Essential

  • Work experience in a health or care setting supporting autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities and/or mental health difficulties
  • Research methodology, data collection, analysis and report writing

Desirable

  • Previous experience working therapeutically with autistic service users and their families
  • Experience of diagnostic / neuropsychological assessment
  • Experience designing and conducting large scale research, audit or service evaluations

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of a broad range of psychological theories and the application of these

Desirable

  • Knowledge of psychological therapies and their application to mental health, autism and/or learning disability
  • Knowledge of NICE guidelines relevant to the role Knowledge of policies and legislation relevant to the role

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills High level communication skills - verbal and written - with professionals, service users and their families
  • Good time management skills

Desirable

  • Proficient IT skills Ability to communicate sensitive information

Other

Essential

  • Have the ability to work autonomously within the scope of this role
  • Demonstrate a commitment to respecting and displaying the Trust Values at all times There is an occasional requirement to travel across the wide footprint of the Trust to attend meetings and events relevant to the role.
  • Be self-motivated and enthusiastic

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).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

Address

Hazelmere Unit Leigh Infirmary

The Avenue

Leigh

WN7 1HS


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

Address

Hazelmere Unit Leigh Infirmary

The Avenue

Leigh

WN7 1HS


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Team Manager

Alison Badley

Alison.Badley@gmmh.nhs.uk

01942764461

Details

Date posted

19 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

437-7418573

Job locations

Hazelmere Unit Leigh Infirmary

The Avenue

Leigh

WN7 1HS


Supporting documents

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