Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Req#: C9371-25-0400?language=en&page=15&sort=publicationDateDesc

Job summary

Are you an enthusiastic and innovative Clinical/Counselling Psychologist looking to progress and develop your clinical and leadership skills within a thriving adult community mental health service? If so, why not join us and be on the cutting edge of transformation underway in adult mental health.

We are looking to recruit a full-time, highly motivated Clinical/Counselling Psychologist dedicated to providing high quality, evidence-based interventions for adults with significant mental health needs. We provide a psychological therapy service to adults living in the west of Berkshire (including Newbury and Thatcham), as well as across the whole of Berkshire through the centralised Community Mental Health Psychological Therapies (CMHPT) service.

We offer a wealth of opportunities to further develop clinical skills through CPD, as well as leadership opportunities through service development projects, supervision experience and training. This is a developmental role, allowing you to progress from a Band 7 to Band 8a as you achieve the required competencies over a period of 18-24 months. Please see details of this in the attached document regarding the developmental process.

The postholder will work from the team's base in Thatcham at least 3 days a week, while working from home for the remainder of the week. Travel across Berkshire for meetings and training will occasionally be required.

Work base: Hillcroft House, Thatcham, BerkshireParking: Free parking on site

Main duties of the job

• Conduct specialist psychological assessments and develop a clear and detailed formulation of the service user's presenting difficulties and/or the systemic issues present.
• In collaboration with service users, develop personalised treatment plans based on assessment findings and service user needs, in collaboration with service users, to support their recovery and improve quality of life.
• Deliver evidence based therapeutic interventions using a range of psychological techniques and modalities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team clinicians and multi-agency representatives to ensure the delivery of integrated and holistic client care.
• In line with experience and role development plans, provide supervision and mentorship to junior clinicians and trainees, contributing to their professional development and enhancing the treatment they offer.
• Regularly undertake applied research, adding to the evidence base for practice, development activities and participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance the overall effectiveness of clinical services.
• Actively engage in the improvement and development of mental health services, implementing new treatment approaches, providing insights and expertise to enhance the overall quality of care.

About us

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. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

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

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the 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
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Date posted

24 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS736-A

Job locations

Hillcroft House

Rookes Way

Thatcham

RG18 3HR




Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

A post graduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Experience of and interest in working with adults with significant mental health needs An enhanced DBS check

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.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to contact Dr Rashmi Shankar (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) by emailing rashmi.shankar@berkshire.nhs.uk or Gareth Mitchell (Principal Clinical Psychologist) on 0118 904 3200 or email: gareth.mitchell@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

A post graduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Experience of and interest in working with adults with significant mental health needs An enhanced DBS check

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.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to contact Dr Rashmi Shankar (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) by emailing rashmi.shankar@berkshire.nhs.uk or Gareth Mitchell (Principal Clinical Psychologist) on 0118 904 3200 or email: gareth.mitchell@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training for Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Essential

• Post graduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996 or for those who completed their training overseas) which provides eligibility for Chartered Membership of British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Registered and accredited with Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist

Desirable

• Additional training/ accreditations (or working towards these) to reflect post qualification interest/ specialism (e.g., Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, BABCP, UKCP, ACAT, BPS).

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

• Evidence of training and/or interest and knowledge in psychological models and therapeutic approaches relevant to the post
• Commitment to continuing professional development as recommended by the relevant accrediting body.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in evidence-based ways with services users (and their carers/families) presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the range of settings, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
• Experience of dealing with highly distressing or emotional circumstances, such as serious mental illness, child and sexual abuse, exploitation, and complex family dynamics
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environment
• Experience of service development and carrying out clinical audit, evaluative research and applying the findings
• Experience of working with, and addressing issues of diversity, including experience of working with diversity, multiculturalism, and equality of access to service.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering teaching and training to staff
• Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring, or providing structured guidance to other staff

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of psychological/neuropsychological or psychotherapeutic assessment, formulation and intervention, relevant to the service area.
• Ability to manage difficult situations with service users that have complex presentations and/or challenging behaviours and to manage a demanding and complex caseload.
• Knowledge and understanding of service evaluation, audit and research and completing this in the NHS.
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, technical and/or sensitive information to service users, their carers/families and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to support, influence and engage with clinicians, stakeholders and service users to create change and improvement
• The ability and skills to act as an advocate for the service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system.
• Advanced IT skills and the ability to navigate various systems and software packages (such as RiO, Outlook, databases, MS office/Teams, One Consultation and the internet).

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Able to work flexibly around working patterns as required, and ability to travel independently between locations in Berkshire to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training for Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Essential

• Post graduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996 or for those who completed their training overseas) which provides eligibility for Chartered Membership of British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Registered and accredited with Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist

Desirable

• Additional training/ accreditations (or working towards these) to reflect post qualification interest/ specialism (e.g., Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, BABCP, UKCP, ACAT, BPS).

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

• Evidence of training and/or interest and knowledge in psychological models and therapeutic approaches relevant to the post
• Commitment to continuing professional development as recommended by the relevant accrediting body.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in evidence-based ways with services users (and their carers/families) presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the range of settings, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
• Experience of dealing with highly distressing or emotional circumstances, such as serious mental illness, child and sexual abuse, exploitation, and complex family dynamics
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environment
• Experience of service development and carrying out clinical audit, evaluative research and applying the findings
• Experience of working with, and addressing issues of diversity, including experience of working with diversity, multiculturalism, and equality of access to service.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering teaching and training to staff
• Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring, or providing structured guidance to other staff

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of psychological/neuropsychological or psychotherapeutic assessment, formulation and intervention, relevant to the service area.
• Ability to manage difficult situations with service users that have complex presentations and/or challenging behaviours and to manage a demanding and complex caseload.
• Knowledge and understanding of service evaluation, audit and research and completing this in the NHS.
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, technical and/or sensitive information to service users, their carers/families and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to support, influence and engage with clinicians, stakeholders and service users to create change and improvement
• The ability and skills to act as an advocate for the service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system.
• Advanced IT skills and the ability to navigate various systems and software packages (such as RiO, Outlook, databases, MS office/Teams, One Consultation and the internet).

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Able to work flexibly around working patterns as required, and ability to travel independently between locations in Berkshire to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position

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.

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.

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

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Hillcroft House

Rookes Way

Thatcham

RG18 3HR




Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Hillcroft House

Rookes Way

Thatcham

RG18 3HR




Employer's website

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

National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.