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Job summary

Main area
Psychologist
Grade
Band 8a
Contract
Fixed term: 9 months (Maternity Cover)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week (Happy to discuss flexible working.)
Job ref
437-7949144
Employer
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
HMP Risley
Town
Warrington
Salary
£57,528 - £64,750 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Practitioner Psychologist

Band 8a

Job overview

We are seeking a dedicated psychologist to cover maternity leave, primarily at HMP Risley with one day at HMP Thorncross. This is a well-established role and is integral within the multi-professional mental health team.   

Men at HMP Risley and Thorncross are provided with the equivalence of care received within the community, as such you will be joining a large team of professionals who work across the prison establishment providing mental health and well-being support. Psychological and formulation driven intervention is offered across all areas of a stepped care model, including self-help, short term intervention, medium to longer-term therapies, MDT care planning and preventing unnecessary hospitalisations. The post holder will work alongside all staff but most closely with our psychological wellbeing practitioners and psychological therapists providing intervention and therapy at Step 2 and 3, and our nurses and psychiatrists offering Step 4 provision. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to the reflective, compassionate and trauma informed culture within the mental health team.   

Main duties of the job

To work within the integrated mental health and contribute to the psychological care provided to service users at HMP Risley and HMP Thorncross. 

To work with individual service-users and others involved in their care to support improved psychological health and well-being.

To carefully consider service-user’s interpersonal interactions, management of emotional regulation, past traumatic experiences and develop detailed assessments and formulations to consider how this is linked to their mental health and behavioural presentation within custody. 

To provide individual therapy, which is driven by a strong working formulation and is evaluated.

To contribute to the development of psychologically informed ways of working and support staff within the mental health team and the wider establishment to consider psychologically informed interactions.

To provide psychological advice and psychological opinion within a range of multi-disciplinary and professional forums.

To provide supervision and line management to Assistant Psychologists.

To contribute to clinical, operational and referral meetings and attend relevant HMPPS and partnership meetings where directed.

To provide monthly outcome data and contribute to Annual reporting.

To participate in line management and clinical supervision and use reflective practice to develop a strong awareness of abilities, strengths and limitations.

Working for our organisation

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7,000 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See attached detailed job description and person specification:

Staff benefits

  • Pay Enhancements – 30% additional for Evenings (8pm onwards) and Saturdays and 60% additional for Sundays and Bank holidays.
  • 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

Person specification

Doctoral training

Essential criteria
  • Postgraduate doctorate in clinical or counselling psychology, or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996, or the equivalent Stage 2 British Psychological Society (BPS) training for forensic psychologists
Desirable criteria
  • Additional postgraduate academic masters or doctoral-level qualifications

HCPC Registration

Essential criteria
  • Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Practitioner Psychologist
Desirable criteria
  • Awaiting HCPC registration/in final year of training

Experience

Essential criteria
  • MDT working
  • Psychological therapy and intervention with complex presentations
Desirable criteria
  • working in prison or secure
  • providing supervision to others

Knowledge and application

Essential criteria
  • awareness and application of treatments for those presenting with complex presentations
Desirable criteria
  • working within Stepped care / experience of triage

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardWe are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyHSJ Best places to workDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeWe offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerGM Good Employment Charter

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr Kelly McCarthy
Job title
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Rebecca Yates-Dutton
Operational Manager
HMP Risley and HMP Thorn cross

01925 733181
[email protected]

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