Practitioner Psychologist

Main area Pain Psychology Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Part time - 22.5 hours per week (happy to discuss flexible working)

Job ref: 437-6789727-A

Site: Timperley Health Centre

Town: Trafford

Salary: £53,755 - £60,504 per annum pro rata

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 10/01/2025 23:59

Job overview

Specialist Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologist, Band 8a (appointment will be at Band 7 for less experienced candidates)

Community Pain Services, Trafford

Permanent Contract

To provide high quality specialist psychology provision to service users of the Manchester Pain services (community and/or secondary care pain settings).

To conduct advanced assessment of complex chronic pain service users to determine clinical diagnosis and intervention, and to maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.

To act on behalf of service users by offering advice and consultation on their psychological care to NHS clinicians, as well as to other non-professional carers and workers of other agencies where appropriate.

To work autonomously within professional/best practice guidelines for chronic pain and the overall framework of the team and Trust’s policies and procedures.

To utilise research skills for audit, policy and research within the area served by the teams/service.

To agree, in conjunction with Physical Health Psychological Services management, the appropriate utilization of psychological resources to the teams. To contribute to the provision of team services and fulfilment of team priorities and objectives.

Main duties of the job

We are delighted to be able to provide an ideal opportunity for an interest practitioner psychologist (HCPC registered) keen to either develop or enhance their skills in working within a community pain MDT.

We are seeking applications from established Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologists (registered as Practitioner Psychologists with the HCPC an absolute expectation). You will have gained experience in physical health settings (ideally you will have experience working in Pain services/Pain Management Programmes) as well as a familiarity and commitment to working with a medical multidisciplinary team as well as community settings.

You will work as an independent Practitioner Psychologist with your own clinical case load; as well contribute to staff consultation, research and multidisciplinary work.

Working for our organisation

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.

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

Person specification

Qualifications

• British Psychological Society Accredited Doctoral Degree in Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology.
• Registered with The Health & Care Professions Council as a ‘Practitioner Psychologist’.
• 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

• Experience of working with client groups in a physical health setting, presenting with the full range of clinical severity.
• Experience of working as a qualified clinical/counselling/health psychologist (less experienced candidates will be appointed at Band 7 and work towards 8A competencies).
• Supervised experience (from a senior practitioner psychologist) in the application of cognitive-behavioural approaches to clinical settings (e.g. chronic pain or general medical conditions).
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care and treatment.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of working within Pain Services, delivering pain management programmes.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Group-based CBT intervention.

Knowledge

• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical/counselling/health psychology.
• Evidence of CPD as recommended by BPS & KSF.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to clients of the pain service, and of relevant mental health legislation.

Skills

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other professionals.
• Ability to use own initiative and to work under supervision where appropriate.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups.
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.

Important Information about working for GMMH:
All positions within the Trust are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.

The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups.

Sponsorship

We are proud to be an approved sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa. Applications from individuals who require sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications.

If you are offered a role with us and you require sponsorship, we will check your eligibility in line with the information on the above website.

Do you have experience outside the NHS?

We want to attract and retain people with diverse skills and experience, to deliver inclusive healthcare services to our communities.

We will consider relevant experience outside the NHS to calculate your salary on appointment.

**Please note, this vacancy may be closed at any time if sufficient applications have been received**

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name: Rebecca Lifford

Job title: Principal Practitioner Psychologist (pain)

Email address: rebecca.lifford@mft.nhs.uk