Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

The Methodist Church in Britain; Bracknell; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days leave

NHS pension

Flexible working

CPD and professional development

Cycle to Work

Free parking

Job summary

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is recruiting a full-time Clinical Psychologist to join the Community Mental Health Psychological Therapies team. The role focuses on trauma-informed assessment, formulation and therapy for adults with complex mental health needs, alongside multidisciplinary colleagues.

Essential qualifications include a Doctorate in clinical or counselling psychology and HCPC registration.

Qualifications

• Doctorate in clinical or counselling psychology, or equivalent
• Eligible for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society

Responsibilities

• Carry out specialist psychological assessments and formulate presentations and systemic issues
• Develop personalised treatment plans to support recovery and quality of life
• Deliver evidence-based psychological interventions using various modalities
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and agencies for integrated care
• Provide supervision and mentorship to junior clinicians and trainees
• Engage in applied research and quality improvement initiatives
• Contribute to service development and new treatment approaches
• Offer consultation to support psychologically informed practice across teams

Skills

Clinical assessment

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Supervision/mentoring

Research/quality improvement

Education

Postgraduate doctorate in clinical/counselling psychology

HCPC registration eligibility

Tools

RiO

Outlook

MS Office/Teams

One Consultation/Databases

Job description

This full-time post sits in the Community Mental Health Psychological Therapies team at Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust. The work centres on trauma-informed assessment, formulation and therapy for adults with severe and complex mental health difficulties, alongside community mental health services and multidisciplinary colleagues. Specialist clinical work, consultation and service development are part of the role, with CBT for Psychosis training valued and at least 50% of the week on site. A doctoral qualification and HCPC registration are essential, and an enhanced DBS check is required.

What the job involves

• Carry out specialist psychological assessments and produce detailed formulations of presenting difficulties and systemic issues
• Develop personalised treatment plans with service users to support their recovery and quality of life
• Deliver evidence-based psychological interventions using a range of techniques and modalities
• Work with multidisciplinary clinicians and multi-agency representatives to provide integrated, holistic care
• Supervise and mentor junior clinicians and trainees in line with experience and development plans
• Undertake applied research and take part in quality improvement initiatives
• Contribute to improving and developing mental health services and introduce new treatment approaches
• Offer consultation and support psychologically informed practice across teams

What’s required

Qualifications

• Postgraduate doctorate in clinical or counselling psychology, or equivalent for those trained before 1996 or overseas
• Eligibility for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society

Registration & licences

• Registration with the HCPC as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist

Experience

• Evidence-based work with adults with significant mental health needs across the full range of clinical severity, staying professional despite verbal abuse or threatened physical abuse
• Dealing with highly distressing circumstances such as serious mental illness, child and sexual abuse, and exploitation
• Working effectively in multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams
• Service development, clinical audit and evaluative research, applying the findings
• Working with diversity, multiculturalism and equality of access to the service

Skills & knowledge

• Assessment, formulation and intervention skills relevant to the specialist modality and service area
• Knowledge of service evaluation, audit and research, and how to undertake them in an NHS context
• Communicating complex or sensitive information orally and in writing to service users, carers and professionals
• Interpersonal skills to influence and engage clinicians and stakeholders, and to advocate for the service within the wider health system
• Advanced IT skills, including RiO, Outlook, MS Office/Teams, One Consultation and databases

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check

Other

• Commitment to continuing professional development as recommended by the accrediting body, with evidence of training or interest in relevant psychological models or therapeutic approaches
• Ability to work flexibly around working patterns as required

Nice to have

• Additional training or accreditation, or working towards it, in relevant therapies such as CBT for Psychosis or EMDR
• Delivering teaching and training to staff
• Providing clinical supervision, mentoring and structured guidance to other staff

What’s offered

• 27 days' annual leave rising with service, with an option to buy and sell leave
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• Excellent learning, career development, CPD and clinical support
• Cycle to Work and car leasing, including electric vehicles, plus free parking across Trust sites
• Wellbeing tools and services, and staff networks for race, diversity, disability, environment and armed forces
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Discounts at hundreds of retailers and restaurants