Clinical/Counselling Psychologist – Development Role | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust for mental health in Reading seeks an enthusiastic Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to provide evidence-based psychological interventions for adults. The role includes conducting assessments, delivering treatments, and mentoring junior staff within a supportive environment. This position offers flexible working options and excellent professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Learning and career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Wellbeing tools and services

Staff discounts

Free parking

Qualifications

• Experience of working with adults with significant mental health needs.
• An enhanced DBS check is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist psychological assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Supervise and mentor junior clinicians.

Skills

Evidence-based psychological interventions

Therapeutic interventions

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Clinical assessments

Education

Post graduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology

Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Job description

Overview

If you are a passionate and ambitious Clinical/Counselling Psychologist, dedicated to high quality, evidence-based psychological interventions for adults with significant mental health needs and keen to progress your career within a trust that is well-known for its compassionate leadership, then this job could be ideal for you!

We are looking for an enthusiastic Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to join the Community Mental Health Psychological Therapies team Reading. We provide a psychological therapy service to adults living in the Reading locality, as well as across the whole of Berkshire through our centralised network. We value joint working with multi-disciplinary community mental health teams to ensure service-users remain at the heart of our work, and we deliver psychologically- and trauma-informed care through consultation and supervision. Staff health and wellbeing matters to us. We offer opportunities for staff to develop clinical skills through supervision and CPD, as well as leadership opportunities through involvement in service development and quality improvement projects.

The postholder will be based at Prospect Park Hospital, with a hybrid model that includes some home-based working to suit flexible needs. This is a Band 7 to 8a developmental post. As a preceptorship, you will have a career development plan that sets out the required competencies for the transition to an 8a role.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist psychological assessments and develop a clear and detailed formulation of the service user’s presenting difficulties and/or the systemic issues present.
• Develop personalised treatment plans based on assessment findings and service user needs, in collaboration with service users, to support 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, contributing 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 and providing expertise to enhance the overall quality of care.

About Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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 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.

Benefits

• 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 schemes including electric vehicles
• Access to wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications and requirements

• 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.

We’re 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 call Dr Helen Kyritsi (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) on 0118 960 5063 or email [e-mail]. We’ll 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. Interview will be held on 10th Oct 2025. This advert closes on Wednesday 1 Oct 2025.