Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist | Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 23 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £47,810 - £62,682 pa pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 25 March 2026 |
| Location: | Rochdale, OL12 9QB |
| Company: | Pennine Care NHS FT |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7786310/311-R394-26 |
Summary
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling, or Forensic) to join our Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) in Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale (HMR), based at Birch Hill Hospital. We are also advertising equivalent posts in Bury, Oldham, Tameside & Glossop and Stockport.
This 0.8WTE/30 hour permanent position forms part of significant new investment in the crisis pathway, supporting the transformation of our existing Home Treatment Teams into CRHTTs. The successful candidate will join a Principal Psychologist as part of expanding psychology provision.
Our CRHTT provides intensive home‑based assessment, intervention, and support as an alternative to hospital admission. The team works with adults experiencing acute mental health crisis, often presenting with high levels of distress, risk, and complexity. The service plays a crucial role in admission avoidance, early intervention, and supporting safe discharge from inpatient care.
The successful candidates will join committed and experienced MDTs, working closely with medical, nursing, OT, and support staff to deliver psychologically informed crisis care.
This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a growing and evolving service, influence the development of psychologically informed crisis pathways, and make a meaningful difference to service users and their families during some of the most challenging moments in their lives.
As outlined in the job description, the main duties include:
The post holder will work with service users with complex mental health difficulties, who are experiencing acute distress or crisis.
To work as part of the CRHTT Multi-disciplinary team (MDT), working to deliver core fidelity standards and in line with the team’s clinical model. Where required, working across both the CR and HTT pathways to ensure need is met
The post holders will provide specialist assessment, formulation and interventions for a clinical caseload.
To provide a qualified specialist psychology service for people referred to the CRHTT care pathway.
A key function of the role will be to support CRHTT staff, staff in the acute care pathway and CMHT practitioners and to develop a psychological understanding and context for service users and carers.
To support with a holistic understanding of presenting need, particularly in relation to risk, including assessment, formulation and management of risk.
To provide consultation and formulation to staff within the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) to ensure the provision of trauma informed care when people are in crisis.
Our acute pathway provides an evidence-based, high quality service across adult acute wards, PICUs, 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.
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.
We support staff to work 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.
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
For a more detailed overview of the roles job description and main responsibilities, please see the attached job description and personal specification.
A Band 7–8a preceptorship pathway is available for suitable candidates, offering structured support and progression to Band 8a following successful completion of agreed competencies.
This advert closes on Monday 9 Mar 2026