Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist to join our adult acute inpatient service in Tameside. This is a Band 8a role for a skilled and compassionate psychologist (Clinical, Counselling, or Forensic) who is passionate about working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and delivering high-quality psychological care in a dynamic and supportive environment.

This is a full-time, permanent position (1.0WTE), and represents investment for Tameside's adult acute inpatient service. The successful candidate will join the existing Principal Clinical Psychologist as part of an expanding psychology provision.

Our adult acute wards, Taylor and Saxon, provide specialist assessment, care and treatment for men and women with a range of mental health needs. Admissions typically occur via A&E, Mental Health Liaison, the Home Treatment Team, Mental Health Act Assessments within the community or from an outpatient clinic. Service users are often experiencing significant distress, mental health deterioration and/or crisis, requiring responsive and person-centered care.

The postholder will join a committed MDT team focused on delivering the best possible care, an acute psychology network for collaboration and peer support, regular supervision from a Principal Clinical Psychologist, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in an environment that values psychological perspectives.

As outlined in the job description, the main duties include:

• To hold a clinical caseload undertaking evidence-based psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention (individual and/or group). This may include a range of mental health difficulties at the point of crisis including experiences of psychosis, depression and/or Complex Emotional and Relational Needs (CERN)

To work as part of the MDT and provide specialist psychological support, consultation and guidance and contribute to care-planning contributing directly to the assessment, formulation and intervention plan.

To provide reflective practice, team formulation and training to develop a psychological understanding and context for patients and carers, that is formulation driven, recovery focussed and trauma and gender informed.

To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual service users and to provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management.

To undertake project management, including audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within and across the service to help develop and improve services to clients and their families.

Our acute pathway provides an evidence-based, high quality service across adult acute wards, Home Treatment Teams and Mental Health Liaison Teams covering half of Greater Manchester. The Trustwide acute psychology team meets regularly for team meetings, CPD and facilitated reflective group and has leadership from a Consultant Clinical Psychologist/Clinical Lead.

We are passionate about staff well-being and compassionate leadership. Our staff survey results support this. In the latest national NHS Staff Survey (2024) Pennine Care was ranked as the best mental health and learning disability trust in the North.

We support staff to wo

rk flexibly and recognise and respect the roles our colleagues hold outside of working hours. This focus helps us to retain staff and ensure people are happy in their place of work.

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

There are also opportunities to link with local higher education providers and the research & innovation (R&I) team to engage with related research projects.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Dr Sarah Cottam Job title: Principal Clinical Psychologist Email address: sarah.cottam5@nhs.net