Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Clinical /Counselling Psychologist in CAMHS Learning Disability Team

The closing date is 09 July 2025

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative and dynamic Clinical Counselling Psychologist who enjoys working collaboratively and interacting with other multi agency partners, children, young people and their families.

The CAMHS Learning Disability Team is an exciting new team that will transform the support mechanisms for children and young people with a moderate to severe learning disability. The new team will be based at Erlegh House which is situated on the Reading University Campus with some travel across Berkshire.

Main duties of the job

  • To provide specialist psychological and behavioural assessments of children and young people referred to the CAMHS Learning Disabilities Team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data from a variety of sources including psychological (and neuropsychological tests), self-report measures, rating scales, direct structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client's care. Seek supervision around interpretation of psychometric assessment when appropriate.

  • To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a child/young person's psychological issues that significantly impair their quality of life based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client's problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.

  • To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses, with sensitivity to the therapeutic relationship.

  • To provide innovative professional leadership to ensure and consistently develop a high quality, safe and cost-effective service for users, working in partnership with key stakeholders.

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

Details

Date posted

02 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£48,270 to £54,931 a year per annum ( Incl of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS528

Job locations

CYP MH LD Service , Erlegh House

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. Post graduate doctoral qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent)

2. Registered and accredited with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

3 Experience of exercising clinical responsibility under supervision E E for clients psychological care and treatment.

4 Some experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across they whole life course and presenting with the full range of care setting including outpatient, community, primary care, inpatient and residential care settings

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 are 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 call: Matthew Prouse on 07775852630 or email: Matthew.Prouse@berkshire.nhs.uk who'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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. Post graduate doctoral qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent)

2. Registered and accredited with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

3 Experience of exercising clinical responsibility under supervision E E for clients psychological care and treatment.

4 Some experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across they whole life course and presenting with the full range of care setting including outpatient, community, primary care, inpatient and residential care settings

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 are 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 call: Matthew Prouse on 07775852630 or email: Matthew.Prouse@berkshire.nhs.uk who'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.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • For Clinical/Counselling Psychologist: 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

  • For All : Additional training/ accreditations 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 providing clinical supervision, mentoring, or providing structured guidance to other staff
  • 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

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of psychological/psychotherapeutic or Systemic assessment, formulation and intervention, relevant to the service area.
  • 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

Essential

  • For Clinical/Counselling Psychologist: 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

  • For All : Additional training/ accreditations 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 providing clinical supervision, mentoring, or providing structured guidance to other staff
  • 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

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of psychological/psychotherapeutic or Systemic assessment, formulation and intervention, relevant to the service area.
  • 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

CYP MH LD Service , Erlegh House

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

CYP MH LD Service , Erlegh House

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

CYP MH Service Lead Targeted Services

Matthew Prouse on or email:

Matthew.Prouse@berkshire.nhs.uk

07775852630

Details

Date posted

02 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£48,270 to £54,931 a year per annum ( Incl of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS528

Job locations

CYP MH LD Service , Erlegh House

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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