Assistant Psychologist

TN United Kingdom; Reading; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking a passionate RMN, OT, or Social Worker to join their expanding crisis service. This role involves providing short-term intensive interventions to young people in crisis and their families, ensuring high-quality care within a supportive multi-disciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mental health, excellent leadership skills, and a commitment to professional development. Join this innovative organization dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of young people and their families in the community.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days annual leave

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Access to wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at retailers and restaurants

Staff networks for diversity

Generous maternity and paternity leave

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Degree or master's level qualification in Psychotherapy, Psychology, or related fields.
• Experience in working with young people with mental health needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic interventions to young people and their families.
• Support and supervise junior staff in the team.
• Work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team.

Skills

Mental Health Nursing

Therapeutic Interventions

Leadership Skills

Multi-disciplinary Teamwork

Communication Skills

Education

Degree in Mental Health Nursing

Qualification in a therapeutic modality

Postgraduate qualification in Child Mental Health

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Location:

Reading, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

19334cbe1f70

Job Views:

3

Posted:

02.05.2025

Expiry Date:

16.06.2025

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Job Description:

Job overview

We are seeking an RMN, OT, or Social Worker to take up this exciting opportunity to work in a new developing and expanding crisis service, offering short-term intensive intervention to young people in crisis, as well as their families within a supportive multi-disciplinary team.

The post holder will offer structured and Individualised interventions to meet the young person’s underlying needs, as guided by clinical formulations. This will involve working with both young people and their families individually and in group settings. Therapeutic interventions will be offered such as DBT/CBT informed work, support to parents/carers, both of which may be delivered individually or as a group. Training can be provided.

Part of the role is also to provide multi-agency consultation/liaison, which involves attending, contributing to, and where appropriate, chairing multi-agency meetings including safeguarding and child protection meetings. The post holder will be expected to have or develop a wide knowledge of other agencies within their Locality and to develop relationships that facilitate and enhance patient care. This will also involve working closely with other CAMHS Community Teams to meet the young person’s needs.

The post holder will support and supervise junior staff in the team, to develop their knowledge and skills by offering consultation, teaching and supervision. The post holder will also offer consultation-liaison and teaching to our multi-agency partners.

Main duties of the job

• Provide therapeutic short-term intensive interventions to young people and their families, as appropriate.
• Independently manage an appropriately sized caseload
• Offer supervision and training to junior colleagues and other agencies.
• Work with colleagues to support the clinical leadership of the team.
• To work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and within a multiagency system of care, by involving multi-agency input around the children and young people’s needs.
• Maintain own continuing professional development and contribute to team professional development initiatives.

Interviews will be held on 10 May 2024.

Working for our organisation

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.

Hear what our people say about working for our CAMHS service:

We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you’ll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

Benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance.
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
• Free parking across Trust sites

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The “must haves” for this role:

• Degree or master’s level qualification in either Psychotherapy, Psychology, Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Social Work, with relevant registration (as per job description).
• Experience in working with young people with mental health and complex needs with the ability to undertake short-term therapeutic interventions, as well as monitoring and managing risk.
• Excellent leadership skills and enthusiasm to support service and staff development.
• Car driver & possess full UK driver’s license or evidence of ability to efficiently travel to designated base & other sites

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted. For further application tips – see the help with your application document attached once you click apply.

Service Operating Hours + Working Pattern: The service operates 7 days per week 9am-5pm. The post holder will be required to work shifts across the hours of operation and be flexible to run some evening groups and sessions.

If you’re someone who shares our passion for excellence and care, you belong at Berkshire Healthcare!

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• Relevant professional clinical qualification and registration : Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC) or Occupational Therapy degree level qualification and registered with HPCP or Qualified Psychotherapist registered with professional body ACP approved Child Psychotherapist or HCPC Registered Practitioner/Social Worker or Postgraduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent for those who trained before 1996). Registered and accredited with HCPC. Eligible for Chartered status with the BPS or Masters level qualification or equivalent training in Systemic Family Therapy or UKCP registered
• Qualification in a therapeutic modality
• Post graduate qualification in Child Mental Health Education/Qualifications/Training

Continuous Professional Development

• Ability to manage complex and sensitive information using well-developed motivational and negotiating skills, representing the service in a variety of different situations
• Evidence of children, young people and carer involvement within care planning and service development
• Evidence of post qualification learning in a relevant field

Previous Experience

• Experience of working assertively with children and young people to engage in therapeutic activities
• Knowledge and significant experience in mental health
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Experience of working effectively in a team and able to demonstrate ability to work on own initiative, without direct supervision, making sound clinical decisions

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant national guidance and policies in management of children’s emotional and mental health needs process
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the health and social care systems and operating frameworks, clinical observations and the Children’s Safeguarding, SEND and other legal frameworks relating to children and young people
• Good interpersonal, communication, observation and reporting skills. Ability to engage and communication with a wide range of professionals, staff and other service stakeholders
• Able to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others and demonstrate resilience to able to cope with distressing circumstances

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel around the geographical area of BHFT
• Able to work flexible patterns as required and the ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements of the position.

Berkshire Healthcare helps people manage their health in their local area, through a range of specialist and community services across the county. We promote independence and quality of life through community and mental health services and aim for seamless delivery of the best care in the right place. We get to know communities and the people in them so we can deliver the best services that meet their health needs.

Our team of 4,300 staff provide specialist mental health and community health services to a population of around 900,000 within Berkshire. We provide healthcare to people in their own homes and from different sites across the county.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

Appointment to any position is conditional on the satisfactory completion of the core NHS Employment Checks Standards. Information disclosed in your application will be checked and any offer of appointment may be withdrawn if you knowingly withhold information or provide false or misleading information.

Please ensure your application is submitted with a valid email address for your referees in order to minimise delays in the recruitment process. Short-listed applicants will be contacted by email, therefore applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly.

Applicants are advised that as a result of the high level of response we receive for some of our vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date.

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is committed to improving the health of its staff, patients and the wider community by providing a smoke free environment. A smoke free policy is in operation and smoking is not permitted on any of the Trust’s sites.

NO AGENCIES TO CONTACT BERKSHIRE HEALTHCARE DIRECTLY PLEASE

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