Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Lived Experience Practitioner & Trainer

The closing date is 12 November 2025

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a full time (37.5 hours/week) band 5 Lived Experience Practitioner and Trainer, to join our Psychologically Informed Consultation and Training (PICT) team. This team sits within the Intensive Management of Personality Disorder and Clinical Therapies Team (IMPACTT).

The role of PICT is to support Berkshire Healthcare staff and partner organisations who work with clients that may meet criteria for the diagnosis of 'personality disorder'. We are a team of Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Lived Experience Practitioners (people who have their own experiences of accessing services for personality disorder and living with this diagnosis).

The PICT approach is to consult with the staff, individuals or teams, rather than working directly with the person using services. We offer consultation, training and support to community and inpatient settings, and to Primary Care Networks across Berkshire.

The post holder will bring lived experience and knowledge of personality disorder/difficulties to support the delivery of consultation and training, focusing on the upskilling of a wide range of professionals and teams, helping them to understand and work with compassion and confidence with people with difficulties that may be associated with the diagnosis of 'personality disorder'.

You will work closely and collaboratively with PICT colleagues to ensure a co-produced approach. You will have regular supervision and support in this role.

Main duties of the job

Your main base will be at Erlegh House, Reading, whilst also having an option to work from home when appropriate. The post will involve travel across all localities in Berkshire.

  • Co-design and co-deliver our trainings and consultations

  • Be confident inworkingboth online and face to face.

  • Bring self-reflection and self-awareness when drawing upontheir ownlived experienceofdifficulties associated with the diagnosis of 'personality disorder'inrelation tothe role.

  • Work collaboratively with PICT colleagues as well as colleagues across thewiderIMPACTT service.

  • Take a compassionate approach to understandingthe needs of bothclient and colleagues.

  • Attend monthlyLived Experiencesupervision, as well as PICT reflective spaces.

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

06 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,602 to £39,686 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS916

Job locations

University of Reading

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • Lived experience of difficulties associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
  • Experience and passion for working as a team and working with and supporting lived experience colleagues.
  • An ability to be self-reflective, open to learning and to reflect sensitively on your personal experience to support others.
  • Willingness to bring compassion and empathy to both training and consultations.

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 call: Jennie Parker on 0300 365 8000 or email: Jennie.Parker@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help (Tuesday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm).

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:

  • Lived experience of difficulties associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
  • Experience and passion for working as a team and working with and supporting lived experience colleagues.
  • An ability to be self-reflective, open to learning and to reflect sensitively on your personal experience to support others.
  • Willingness to bring compassion and empathy to both training and consultations.

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 call: Jennie Parker on 0300 365 8000 or email: Jennie.Parker@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help (Tuesday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm).

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

  • Degree in relevant subject such as health and social care or equivalent experience.

Desirable

  • Completed an accredited peer support training or coaching.

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of, or willingness to undertake continuing personal development.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Personal lived experience of the difficulties associated with the diagnosis of personality disorder.
  • Experience of teaching or training facilitation.
  • Previous experience of using lived experience in a work role (either voluntary or paid employment).

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a health or social care-related setting
  • Trained in Knowledge & Understanding Framework (KUF).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Well-developed listening skills and effective verbal communication skills to be able to engage appropriately with colleagues, statutory and voluntary agencies - face to face, online and by telephone.
  • Able to work reflectively, drawing on knowledge around and lived experience of the difficulties associated with the diagnosis of personality disorder.
  • Willingness to appropriately share your own life experiences, where relevant to the role.
  • Ability to understand and create healthy boundaries.
  • Ability to remain calm and respond in a professional manner across a range of situations.
  • Able to manage own workload in an effective and timely manner.
  • Ability to use initiative appropriately, making decisions within the guidelines set.
  • Demonstrate a general understanding of mental health difficulties with a positive non-judgemental approach.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and work within local policy framework.
  • Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
  • Ability to be non-judgmental, demonstrate empathy, compassion, and patience.
  • Ability to engage effectively in supervision and to be able to raise concerns or personal difficulties which may affect the work being undertaken.
  • Enthusiasm for learning and development.
  • Flexible and adaptable to change.
  • Skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, basic Excel skills, and online working
  • Ability to use / learn to use on-line social communication platforms (Teams, Zoom)
  • Willingness to run trainings on-line as well as face to face.

Desirable

  • Good understanding of NHS mental health services and trauma-informed ways of working.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Access to transport and able to travel freely and flexibly across the local area in order to work effectively with colleagues.
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Degree in relevant subject such as health and social care or equivalent experience.

Desirable

  • Completed an accredited peer support training or coaching.

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of, or willingness to undertake continuing personal development.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Personal lived experience of the difficulties associated with the diagnosis of personality disorder.
  • Experience of teaching or training facilitation.
  • Previous experience of using lived experience in a work role (either voluntary or paid employment).

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a health or social care-related setting
  • Trained in Knowledge & Understanding Framework (KUF).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Well-developed listening skills and effective verbal communication skills to be able to engage appropriately with colleagues, statutory and voluntary agencies - face to face, online and by telephone.
  • Able to work reflectively, drawing on knowledge around and lived experience of the difficulties associated with the diagnosis of personality disorder.
  • Willingness to appropriately share your own life experiences, where relevant to the role.
  • Ability to understand and create healthy boundaries.
  • Ability to remain calm and respond in a professional manner across a range of situations.
  • Able to manage own workload in an effective and timely manner.
  • Ability to use initiative appropriately, making decisions within the guidelines set.
  • Demonstrate a general understanding of mental health difficulties with a positive non-judgemental approach.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and work within local policy framework.
  • Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
  • Ability to be non-judgmental, demonstrate empathy, compassion, and patience.
  • Ability to engage effectively in supervision and to be able to raise concerns or personal difficulties which may affect the work being undertaken.
  • Enthusiasm for learning and development.
  • Flexible and adaptable to change.
  • Skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, basic Excel skills, and online working
  • Ability to use / learn to use on-line social communication platforms (Teams, Zoom)
  • Willingness to run trainings on-line as well as face to face.

Desirable

  • Good understanding of NHS mental health services and trauma-informed ways of working.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Access to transport and able to travel freely and flexibly across the local area in order to work effectively with colleagues.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

University of Reading

Whiteknights Road

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

University of Reading

Whiteknights Road

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:

Consultant Psychologist PICT

Chloe Forster

chloe.forster@berkshire.nhs.uk

03003658000

Details

Date posted

06 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,602 to £39,686 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS916

Job locations

University of Reading

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Supporting documents

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