Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist/Senior CBT Therapist

Job summary

We are delighted to be able to advertise for a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist or Senior CBT Therapist post working on an exciting new NIHR funded research trial of a therapy for young people with paranoia. "Treating Unhelpful Suspicious Thoughts in Teenagers" funded by the National Institute for Health Research - Research for Patient Benefit Programme. This is a 22-month feasibility randomised controlled trial, led by Dr Christopher Taylor and Dr Jessica Kingston (Joint Chief Investigators) and a highly experienced co-applicant team. It will test a new imagery and values based therapy for young people experiencing paranoia in a schools based setting

The role is to work as a clinical psychologist/trial therapist delivering therapy on a schools based paranoia research trial.

Are you due to qualify or newly qualified from the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme? Are you due to qualify or newly qualified from the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme?

If so, then we would welcome an enquiry and/or an application from you to join us as a Band 7. As a Band 7 you will paid under NHS AfC Band 7 £47,1810 per annum, pro rata. We would seek to support you to develop knowledge, skills and behaviour framework to support your development and future career progression.

Main duties of the job

The main duties will involve delivering therapy to young people identified in schools. The therapy being delivered on the trial is TRUST therapy. The post will also involve training and supervision of the research assistants, supporting recruitment. Experience of delivering cognitive behavioural therapy and/or working with young people is essential.

About us

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our#PennineCarePeopleand do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
• Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
• Access to Continued Professional Development
• Involvement in improvement and research activities
• Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
• Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel

Details

Date posted

29 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per Annu,m, Pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

14 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

311-M243-25

Job locations

Research and Innovation, Trust HQ, PCFT

225 Old Street

Ashton-Under-Lyne

OL6 7SR

Job description

Job responsibilities

The main purpose of this post is to provide psychological therapy to young people in schools who are experiencing elevated paranoia. A course of therapy will be delivered weekly. The therapy is based on a detailed manual, and you will receive training prior to offering therapy to participants in the trial and close supervision during the trial.

The post holder will be expected to treat participants to an exceptionally high standard and to contribute to intervention development work necessary to adapt the therapy manual for the contextual and clinical presentations of young people with paranoia in schools. The role will involve working in both education and healthcare settings to support young people, parents/carers and education community with mental health and wellbeing related to paranoia.

Whilst it should be possible to treat most of the patients within regular hours, it may on occasion be necessary to see patients at other times. The post holder will need to be able to travel to different sites within the Trust and further afield to attend meetings, seminars, and supervision.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The main purpose of this post is to provide psychological therapy to young people in schools who are experiencing elevated paranoia. A course of therapy will be delivered weekly. The therapy is based on a detailed manual, and you will receive training prior to offering therapy to participants in the trial and close supervision during the trial.

The post holder will be expected to treat participants to an exceptionally high standard and to contribute to intervention development work necessary to adapt the therapy manual for the contextual and clinical presentations of young people with paranoia in schools. The role will involve working in both education and healthcare settings to support young people, parents/carers and education community with mental health and wellbeing related to paranoia.

Whilst it should be possible to treat most of the patients within regular hours, it may on occasion be necessary to see patients at other times. The post holder will need to be able to travel to different sites within the Trust and further afield to attend meetings, seminars, and supervision.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and registration with the HCPC OR Relevant Professional qualificaiton (e.g. RMN, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker) plus CBT Diploma and BABCP accreditation as a CBT Therapist

Desirable

• Specialist CBT Training
• Specialist Training in CBT for Psychosis
• Further qualifications and/or training in a range of therapy models/interventions i.e. EMDR
• Further Training and/or qualifications in the delivery of clinical supervision

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of delivering highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions
• Experience of working within multidisciplinary services in mental health
• Previous experience of offering clinical supervision
• Conducted a clinical research study
• Knowledge of clinical trials methodology and experimental psychology
• Experience of working within a multi-cultural framework

Desirable

• Experience of providing psychological interventions in Schools
• Experience of working with high levels of complexity with young people with social, emotional and or behavioural difficulties in education or health settings
• Experience of providing cognitive behavioural therapies to clients with severe mental health problems (e.g. Psychosis/Paranoia/At Risk Mental State.
• Experience of working on a clinical trial
• Specialist Knowledge about adolescent paranoia
• Experience of working with children with complex needs, including additional educational needs, learning disabilities and neurodiversity.

Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent cognitive therapy skills including the ability to deliver a protocol intervention adherently and to a high standard of competence
• Knowledge of the education system in England
• Knowledge of the application of clinical governance and risk management policies
• Knowledge of contemporary legislation relevant to the delivery of mental health and psychological services

Desirable

• Experience of research
• Expertise in administration and interpretation of specialist psychological assessment tools
• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally, and in writing
• Ability to communicate knowledge about paranoia in easily understood language to both young people and professionals
• Evidence of high level of general clinical skills
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in an multi-disciplinary team and research team
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
• Ability to prioritise work, manage waiting lists, meet deadlines and revise work plans accordingly

Desirable

• High-level group facilitation
• Delivering psychological therapy in a group format (e.g. DBT, CBT, Schema Therapy, CFT)

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
• Ability to move equipment (including case files, self help material, audio-visual equipment) between office base and other work settings

Desirable

• Commitment to supporting service user involvement in research
• Willing to work flexibly to meet the needs of service users

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and registration with the HCPC OR Relevant Professional qualificaiton (e.g. RMN, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker) plus CBT Diploma and BABCP accreditation as a CBT Therapist

Desirable

• Specialist CBT Training
• Specialist Training in CBT for Psychosis
• Further qualifications and/or training in a range of therapy models/interventions i.e. EMDR
• Further Training and/or qualifications in the delivery of clinical supervision

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of delivering highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions
• Experience of working within multidisciplinary services in mental health
• Previous experience of offering clinical supervision
• Conducted a clinical research study
• Knowledge of clinical trials methodology and experimental psychology
• Experience of working within a multi-cultural framework

Desirable

• Experience of providing psychological interventions in Schools
• Experience of working with high levels of complexity with young people with social, emotional and or behavioural difficulties in education or health settings
• Experience of providing cognitive behavioural therapies to clients with severe mental health problems (e.g. Psychosis/Paranoia/At Risk Mental State.
• Experience of working on a clinical trial
• Specialist Knowledge about adolescent paranoia
• Experience of working with children with complex needs, including additional educational needs, learning disabilities and neurodiversity.

Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent cognitive therapy skills including the ability to deliver a protocol intervention adherently and to a high standard of competence
• Knowledge of the education system in England
• Knowledge of the application of clinical governance and risk management policies
• Knowledge of contemporary legislation relevant to the delivery of mental health and psychological services

Desirable

• Experience of research
• Expertise in administration and interpretation of specialist psychological assessment tools
• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally, and in writing
• Ability to communicate knowledge about paranoia in easily understood language to both young people and professionals
• Evidence of high level of general clinical skills
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in an multi-disciplinary team and research team
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
• Ability to prioritise work, manage waiting lists, meet deadlines and revise work plans accordingly

Desirable

• High-level group facilitation
• Delivering psychological therapy in a group format (e.g. DBT, CBT, Schema Therapy, CFT)

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
• Ability to move equipment (including case files, self help material, audio-visual equipment) between office base and other work settings

Desirable

• Commitment to supporting service user involvement in research
• Willing to work flexibly to meet the needs of service users

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Pennine Care NHS FT

Address

Research and Innovation, Trust HQ, PCFT

225 Old Street

Ashton-Under-Lyne

OL6 7SR

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Pennine Care NHS FT

Address

Research and Innovation, Trust HQ, PCFT

225 Old Street

Ashton-Under-Lyne

OL6 7SR

Employer's website

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