Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a large and established team within the Paediatric Psychosocial Service , working into the Cystic Fibrosis and General Medicine teams (0.7wte) within the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital , part of Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust and 0.1 wte (one day a fortnight) working with the Cystic Fibrosis Team at Stepping Hill Hospital as part of a Service Level Agreement. Management and supervision for this role comes from the Paediatric Psychosocial Service at RMCH.

The Paediatric Psychosocial Serviceiswell regarded in the Trust and close relationships exist with our colleagues in paediatric (an indeed adult) medical specialities. The Service also sits within a wider CAMHS Division and within the Acute Trust, so is well supported and connected with other Children's Mental Health Services in Manchester, Salford and Trafford.

We are keen to promote innovative practice, as well as specialist psychological assessment and intervention. Across the service we work with hospital inpatients and outpatients, with face-to-face as well as online/virtual modalities. We offer patient groups, consultation groups and psychosocial forums with other medical specialties, and actively contribute to the wider Trust Schwartz Round programme.

Main duties of the job

We support a range of therapeutic intervention modalities, including neuropsychology, family therapy, ACT, CFT, EMDR, Narrative, CBT, psychotherapeutic approaches and parent-infant work. We are a committed research service with our team both leading on, and contributing to, a wide range of research projects.

To ensure the development, systematic provision and evaluation of a high-quality specialist clinical psychology service to patients within the tertiary paediatric cystic fibrosis services at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Stepping Hill Hospital. In addition, the post holder will assist senior members of the medical synergy within the Paediatric Psychosocial Service with the development of services such as Gastroenterology and respond to the demands of other areas of the medical synergy as necessary. This involves a flexible approach to working, to ensure psychological aspects can be addressed and supported within a time pressured medical environment.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year.

As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.

Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.

You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds.

Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.

At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.

Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Job responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Documents to download heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place

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To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity MattersMFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person specification

Registration/ Accreditation

Essential

• Registration / Eligibility for registration as a practitioner psychologist with the Health Professions Council

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctoral degree or equivalent accepted by the British Psychological Society as qualifying the person to work as a clinical psychologist.

Desirable

• . Pre-qualification training or experience with children and adolescents / adults with health conditions.
• . Post-Qualification CPD relating to paediatrics or Health Psychology
• . Post-qualification training in a specific therapeutic modality relevant to a paediatric setting.

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working as a specialist clinical psychologist for at least 18 months
• Experience in assessment and therapeutic work with children, families and adult patients across the age range with a full range of presenting problems and across settings including community, outpatient and clinic settings
• Experience of assessing and managing risk in a therapeutic setting
• Experience of multi-disciplinary teamwork.
• Experience of assessment and interpretation of neuropsychological tests
• Experience of teaching, training and professional and clinical supervision
• Experience of consulting with health care and other professionals
• Experience of service development or leadership
• Knowledge of legislation and national guidance in relation to the needs of child and adult patients

Desirable

• Working knowledge of professional systems involved in work with child/ adult patients, both in specialist hospital and community settings
• Experience of working with patients within physical health specialties
• Experience of working autonomously as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience in working in developing services
• Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts
• Experience of facilitating debrief meetings/staff support with multidisciplinary teams
• Experience of contributing to study design in research trials of new medicines / treatments. ? Experience of policy implementation and service evaluation

Skills

Essential

• Ability to plan and prioritise own caseload.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management in work with children and families / adult health care service user
• Ability to integrate psychological theories and outcome data with clinical practice and service provision
• Ability to represent psychology within the context of multidisciplinary care
• Ability to work with people from different backgrounds, cultures and of different ages
• Demonstrate sensitivity in all contact with disadvantaged groups.
• Good skills in communicating with children, parents / adult patients and colleagues.
• Ability to cope with stressful interpersonal situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse

Desirable

• Skills and experience in group interventions