Job overview
GMMH Health and Justice Services are looking to recruit a committed and compassionate Practitioner Psychologist or Cognitive Behavioural Therapist to work within the multi-disciplinary mental health team, which implements a stepped-care model of mental health and psychological care, within HMP Buckley Hall.
We are seeking a full-time HCPC registered psychologist or BABCP accredited High Intensity CBT therapist to join the integrated mental health team, working alongside other psychological professionals including Practitioner Psychologist and an Assistant Psychologist. The post holder will provide assessment, formulation and medium to longer-term psychological therapy, to individual's presenting with common mental health difficulties of varying complexity, for which CBT has been demonstrated to be clinically effective. They will work closely with other professionals to support responsive step-up and step-down provision across the stepped care model and contribute to the wider formulation and understanding of presenting distress, including attending multi professional meetings to share formulations, treatment plans and progress.
A prison environment can be a challenging place to work, we are seeking someone not only with strong clinical skills but also the ability to manage and respond to the dynamic needs of the team, the client group and the environment, to ensure that provision is accessible and appropriate.
Main duties of the job
To complete detailed assessments, with the aim of developing collaborative, idiosyncratic formulations to understand an individual's mental health difficulties, emotional distress, complex personality presentations and trauma responses.
To deliver evidence-based psychological therapy (CBT) to individuals who are experiencing psychological distress, through the application of knowledge and skills in assessment, formulation and intervention acquired through training, ongoing CPD and clinical experience.
To implement a range of outcome measures to ensure ongoing evaluation of therapeutic delivery.
To manage own caseload with support from the mental health psychology lead.
To contribute to the multi-professional understanding of service-user presentation and support the development of a psychologically and trauma informed environment for the services-users to reside within.
To co-facilitate cognitive-behavioural group interventions with support from other psychological staff, and evaluate effectiveness accordingly.
To take an active role in the process of multi-disciplinary risk assessment and risk management, utilising relevant assessment tools such as the CRASP.
To provide supervision to junior psychological staff.
To contribute to the development and delivery of training to the mental health team and health partners, as well as for prison staff and other stakeholders.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See attached detailed job description and person specification
Staff benefits
- 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
Other
Essential
- There is a frequent requirement to travel, mainly within the local area, in order to provide clinics. An occasional requirement to travel across the wider footprint of the Trust to attend meetings and events relevant to the role.
- An awareness of the diversity of the local population and a positive attitude to meeting the needs of different communities.
Desirable
- Experience of working with diverse communities and within a multicultural setting
Education
Essential
- Qualification from High Intensity IAPT Course (Post Graduate Diploma) OR Equivalent: e.g. A recorded/registered doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology/ a recorded/registered qualification in one of the following - nursing, social work, occupational therapy or a psychological therapy – plus further post graduate diploma qualification in CBT from a recognised or accredited training provider
- significant experience working as a psychological therapy practitioner and demonstrating the competences as required.
Desirable
- Training in an additional therapeutic modality.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
- Experience of working with clients presenting with Step 3 mental health need
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Experience with routine outcome monitoring
- Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers
- Working with clients with additional relational needs and presenting distress
Desirable
- Working within MDT
- Experience of teaching and liaising with other professional groups
- Working within a specialist service
- Facilitating groups
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Have well developed communication skills to effectively communicate, often complex and sensitive information, information orally and in writing.
- Have received training in assessing risk (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of their expected practice.
- Be able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Practitioner Psychologist/High Intensity CBT Therapist with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Nurse practitioner role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 03 Jul 2026.
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