Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Deputy Service Manager, Berkshire Psychological Medicine Service

The closing date is 22 December 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen forthe role of Deputy Service Manager for the Psychological Medicines Service,Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.

The post-holder will bean enthusiastic and self-motivatedmental health clinicianwho willact as the clinical leadforthis busypsychological medicine service.

Thisdynamic liaison psychiatryservice assesses and supportspeople with mental health problems who have been referred by the Emergency Departmentandthe Wards, and the age rangeincludes adults over 18 years old and older adults over 65 years old.

The services are delivered by multi-disciplinary teams which operate24 hours per day.

Part of this role will be developingandmaintainingrelationships with key stakeholder colleagues.

You will work 37.5 hours per week, over five days andbe based inRoyal Berkshire Hospital.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for ensuring the delivery of high standard, evidence-based service that puts safety,qualityand the service user experience at the centre oftheservice.

Maintain staffing levels and the high quality of service delivered, in collaboration with the Service Manager

To provide innovative professional leadershiptoensure andconsistently develop a high quality, safe and cost-effective service for service users, working in partnership with key stakeholders internal and external to the Trust.

To line manage service teams and provide leadership andclinical supportacross the service, addressing staffing issues across the service whererequired

To plan and manage resource requirements to meet the needs of the service

To support team members to work independently to carry out skilled and comprehensive psychosocial assessments.

To ensure the team providesthe Acute hospital staff with specialist advice,supportand supervision.

To ensure provision of evidence based high quality,timelyand comprehensive assessments andtreatmentto patientsreferred.

To develop our understanding of liaison psychiatry workin order toimprove theclinicalcare patientsreceivewithin the emergency department and ward settings

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

10 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS933-A

Job locations

West Psychological Medicine Service

Reading

RG1 5AN


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • Professional mental health qualification such as RMN,Social Workeror Occupational therapist
  • Built up substantialexperience as a band 7clinician
  • ExperienceofworkinginMental Health Urgent Care Services
  • Experience of working with complex caseloads

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.

Werecommitted 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. Pleasedonthesitate to call:Sue Barclayon07890 606956or email:Suzanne.barclay@berkshire.nhs.ukwhollbe 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 pleasesubmityour application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • Professional mental health qualification such as RMN,Social Workeror Occupational therapist
  • Built up substantialexperience as a band 7clinician
  • ExperienceofworkinginMental Health Urgent Care Services
  • Experience of working with complex caseloads

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.

Werecommitted 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. Pleasedonthesitate to call:Sue Barclayon07890 606956or email:Suzanne.barclay@berkshire.nhs.ukwhollbe 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 pleasesubmityour application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Professional Qualification in mental health (degree or equivalent e.g. Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker)
  • Current Registration with appropriate professional body

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio
  • Leadership Qualification

Previous Experience

Essential

  • 5 years post qualification experience
  • Experience as a Team Lead Band 7 within acute psychiatry and/or community mental health.
  • Experience in carrying out independent clinical assessments including risk assessments.
  • Experience managing a caseload which has included individuals at risk of self-harm
  • Experience providing therapeutic interventions
  • Providing clinical and or managerial supervision
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary working

Desirable

  • Formal/informal teaching and experience of supervising student placements
  • To have a good knowledge of community services
  • Clinical audit and or research
  • Liaison with acute hospital
  • Working with people who have complex needs

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Proven skills in effective leadership within a multi-disciplinary setting
  • A specialist knowledge and clinical expertise in assessing people who have acute mental health problems
  • To understand and have experience of risk management, to have a good understanding of clinical governance
  • To have excellent English verbal and written communication skills
  • To be IT literate and able to use e-mail, internet, word, spreadsheets and databases
  • To be able to prioritise effectively
  • To show evidence of advanced problems solving skills
  • To be able to reflect and appraise own performance and pursue self-directed work/learning
  • To have training and or qualifications in using IT
  • To have experience in producing reports and presenting data

Desirable

  • Awareness of a range of interventions that can be used with the client group
  • To understand the legal framework of mental health service and professional accountability
  • To have experience in user and carers involvement/consultation

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Adaptable, flexible and keen to learn
  • Able to use own initiative when appropriate
  • Ability to challenge practice
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Understanding of and commitment to Equal opportunities
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Professional Qualification in mental health (degree or equivalent e.g. Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker)
  • Current Registration with appropriate professional body

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio
  • Leadership Qualification

Previous Experience

Essential

  • 5 years post qualification experience
  • Experience as a Team Lead Band 7 within acute psychiatry and/or community mental health.
  • Experience in carrying out independent clinical assessments including risk assessments.
  • Experience managing a caseload which has included individuals at risk of self-harm
  • Experience providing therapeutic interventions
  • Providing clinical and or managerial supervision
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary working

Desirable

  • Formal/informal teaching and experience of supervising student placements
  • To have a good knowledge of community services
  • Clinical audit and or research
  • Liaison with acute hospital
  • Working with people who have complex needs

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Proven skills in effective leadership within a multi-disciplinary setting
  • A specialist knowledge and clinical expertise in assessing people who have acute mental health problems
  • To understand and have experience of risk management, to have a good understanding of clinical governance
  • To have excellent English verbal and written communication skills
  • To be IT literate and able to use e-mail, internet, word, spreadsheets and databases
  • To be able to prioritise effectively
  • To show evidence of advanced problems solving skills
  • To be able to reflect and appraise own performance and pursue self-directed work/learning
  • To have training and or qualifications in using IT
  • To have experience in producing reports and presenting data

Desirable

  • Awareness of a range of interventions that can be used with the client group
  • To understand the legal framework of mental health service and professional accountability
  • To have experience in user and carers involvement/consultation

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Adaptable, flexible and keen to learn
  • Able to use own initiative when appropriate
  • Ability to challenge practice
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Understanding of and commitment to Equal opportunities

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

West Psychological Medicine Service

Reading

RG1 5AN


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

West Psychological Medicine Service

Reading

RG1 5AN


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Manager

Sue Barclay

suzanne.barclay@berkshire.nhs.uk

07890606956

Details

Date posted

10 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS933-A

Job locations

West Psychological Medicine Service

Reading

RG1 5AN


Supporting documents

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