About this role
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.
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, Berkshire
Parking: 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
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.
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 don't hesitate to contact Dr Rashmi Shankar (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) by emailing [email protected] be happy 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 Essential
Postgraduate doctorate in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996 or for those who completed their training overseas) Registered as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (Eligibility for) Chartered Membership of British Psychological Society (BPS)
Desirable
Additional training and accreditations (or working towards these) in relevant therapeutic approaches or psychological models to reflect post qualification interests/ specialism (e.g., specific therapy models and accreditations, Health Psychology, Neuropsychology etc).
Continuous Professional Development Essential
Evidence of training and/or interest and knowledge in psychological models or 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 environments Experience of service development and carrying out clinical audits, 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 the service
Desirable
Experience of delivering teaching and training to staff Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring and structured guidance to other staff
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential
Demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of assessment, formulation and intervention, relevant to the specialist modality and service area Knowledge and understanding of service evaluation, audit and research and how to undertake these activities in an NHS context, including how to implement learning Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, complex, technical and/or sensitive information to service users, their carers/families and other professional colleagues, both within and outside of an NHS setting 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 positive relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of the service within 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 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).
Employer details Employer name Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address Hillcroft House, London Road, Thatcham, Newbury, Berkshire, RG18 3HR
London Road
Thatcham
RG18 3HR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)