Job summary
Interview will be held on 10th Sept 2025
We are looking for a Band4 assistant Psychology to join East Specialist Community Teams (SCT) which cover Bracknell, Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead. This role is a fixed term contract for 1 year( maternity cover). This is a full-time (1.0 wte) role based at Fir Tree House, Upton Hospital, Slough however traveling to other sites would be required.
Our SCT Teams are multi-disciplinary teams that deliver treatments to young people with more complex, severe, and enduring mental health problems. As a result, you will find yourself working jointly with other professions such as Children's Social Care.
The ideal clinician will be thoughtful and reflective, and someone who is a team player. We are an experienced team and as a Service we are able to provide a supportive structure and regular supervision.
The team is warm, compassionate, and welcoming. You will be provided with a supportive introduction, regular supervision and in-house training opportunities. We also have our free parking on-site.
Staff wellbeing and development is a priority for the team, alongside clinical and management supervision, there is dedicated time for reflective case discussion and team formulation, wellbeing activities and support.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the role are:
This post covers Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead and Bracknell locality in Specialist Community CAMHS teams and includes direct clinical work with children, young people and families presenting to CAMHS, under the supervision of qualified professionals, to support the work of the multi-disciplinary clinical team within the locality. Responsibilities include:
Teaching, training and supervision
1. In common with all clinical psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
2. To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.
3. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
4. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
The Assistant Psychologist is expected to join the training/audit/clinical governance/ research and peer supervision sessions every month.
Management, recruitment and service development
1. To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
2. To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
IT responsibilities (other than those used for research) should be added as an additional Key.
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
Themust haves for you to be considered for this role:
- Have obtained an upper second-class honours degree or higher in Psychology.
- Experience in working with people with mental health difficulties.
- An empathetic and caring nature.
- Should have full driving licence and owns a car.
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 or any questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact: Bharti Kumar by email bharti.kumar@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
Themust haves for you to be considered for this role:
- Have obtained an upper second-class honours degree or higher in Psychology.
- Experience in working with people with mental health difficulties.
- An empathetic and caring nature.
- Should have full driving licence and owns a car.
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 or any questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact: Bharti Kumar by email bharti.kumar@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
- An upper second class (2:1) honours degree or higher in psychology or equivalent, which confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Entitlement to graduate membership of British Psychological Society
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Can demonstrate additional interest and/or learning in relevant areas of applied psychology and mental health practice
- Evidence of an interest in pursuing a career in psychological professions
Desirable
- Undertaken additional training (e.g. practice-based training and workshops) in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, neuropsychology, health and social care practice and/or research design and analysis
Previous Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working with people with any of the following: mental health difficulties; neurological difficulties, learning disabilities, eating disorder, personality difficulties or people with emotion regulation difficulties, or equivalent within an in-patient or community setting
- Experience of audits/evaluations or other forms of research
Desirable
- Experience of providing direct care provision
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Awareness of evidence-based psychological interventions as relevant to this role
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotional
- Appreciation of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge within a mental health and/or learning disabilities context
- Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office including high standard of letter and report writing
Desirable
- Experience conducting service evaluation and research, particularly within a clinical setting
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to interact and engage with people who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to work under supervision, using own initiative to think quickly on the spot in often challenging situations and to deliver work as agreed and managed at regular intervals
- Ability to recognise the limits of own competencies and to seek supervision and support as required to practice safely and within professional guidelines
- Able to work flexibly as required.
- Able to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position, with minimal impact on daily productivity.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- An upper second class (2:1) honours degree or higher in psychology or equivalent, which confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Entitlement to graduate membership of British Psychological Society
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Can demonstrate additional interest and/or learning in relevant areas of applied psychology and mental health practice
- Evidence of an interest in pursuing a career in psychological professions
Desirable
- Undertaken additional training (e.g. practice-based training and workshops) in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, neuropsychology, health and social care practice and/or research design and analysis
Previous Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working with people with any of the following: mental health difficulties; neurological difficulties, learning disabilities, eating disorder, personality difficulties or people with emotion regulation difficulties, or equivalent within an in-patient or community setting
- Experience of audits/evaluations or other forms of research
Desirable
- Experience of providing direct care provision
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Awareness of evidence-based psychological interventions as relevant to this role
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotional
- Appreciation of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge within a mental health and/or learning disabilities context
- Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office including high standard of letter and report writing
Desirable
- Experience conducting service evaluation and research, particularly within a clinical setting
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to interact and engage with people who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to work under supervision, using own initiative to think quickly on the spot in often challenging situations and to deliver work as agreed and managed at regular intervals
- Ability to recognise the limits of own competencies and to seek supervision and support as required to practice safely and within professional guidelines
- Able to work flexibly as required.
- Able to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position, with minimal impact on daily productivity.
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).
