Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

CAMHS Berkshire Link Team Manager (inc CIC & H&J)

The closing date is 18 February 2026

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Job summary

The post holder will provide operational management across our West of Berkshire dedicated Mental Health Team for Children in Care (CIC). West of Berkshire Health & Justice Service (H&J) who are locatedwithin the three local authority Youth Offending Services, alongside managing our Berkshire LINK team. The LINK team forms part of the Thames Valley-wide programme for children and young people with complex cases, is centred around the implementation of a practice framework known as the 'Framework for Integrated Care'.It is designed to improve outcomes for a cohort of vulnerable children and young people with complex cases who experience some of the highest levels of health inequality in society.

Staff for theCiCand LINK teams will be based atErleghHouse Reading University. Like the Health and Justice team theCiCteam will work in partnership with three Local Authorities in West Berkshire,Readingand Wokingham. The LINK team will work across Berkshire. The LINK programme is a Hub and spoke model. The Hub is by our colleagues in Oxfordshire Health with three spoke teams within Berkshire Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire making up the Thames Valley wide programme.

Main duties of the job

  • Promote continuous quality improvement by embedding lean methodologytools into the team to support patient care, quality of service, staffwellbeingand engagement.

  • Accountable for the delivery of high quality, effective and integrated intervention that safeguards children and promotes their development and welfare, so that children, youngpeople, and their families are offered quality andtimelyassessment, intervention, and support as commissioned.

  • To support the delivery of high-quality decision making to ensure targeted andappropriate support to children and families is delivered.

  • Empower staff to solve problems and support each other to deliver the highest possible quality of care.

  • Working with the professional leads, and other service managers develop an effective and motivated workforce within the area of responsibility which delivers services that are fit for purpose and areequitableand consistent across Berkshire where contracts allow.

  • Working with the professional leads, lead the development of all the team roles and structure the teams within the area of responsibility to promote joined integrated working for children, young people, and their families.

  • Budget holder for Berkshire Link team

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

11 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum (Incl of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS657-A

Job locations

Erlegh House, University of Reading, Earley Gate

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must have's for this role:

  • Qualified experience of working with young people with mental health difficulties

  • Passion for providing collaborative and evidence-based mental health care

  • Enthusiasm for multi-professional and multi-agency working

  • Excellent communication skills and previous management experience.

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 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.

Interview will be held on 25th Feb 2026

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must have's for this role:

  • Qualified experience of working with young people with mental health difficulties

  • Passion for providing collaborative and evidence-based mental health care

  • Enthusiasm for multi-professional and multi-agency working

  • Excellent communication skills and previous management experience.

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 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.

Interview will be held on 25th Feb 2026

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Postgraduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent for those who trained before 1996)
  • Registered and accredited with HCPC
  • Eligible for Chartered status with the BPS OR Masters level qualification OR Masters level qualification or equivalent training in Systemic Family Therapy OR UKCP registered OR Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC) OR Occupational Therapy degree level qualification and registered with HPCP OR Registered Social Worker with relevant social work qualification OR Qualified Psychotherapist registered with professional body i.e. ACP approved Child Psychotherapist OR Other Health professional with relevant post graduate qualification
  • Relevant post graduate qualification in CAMHS related subject

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Management qualification or substantial and relevant management experience.
  • A supervisory qualification in the relevant professional discipline e.g. AFT or HPC Approved Clinical Supervisor or substantial supervision experience.

Desirable

  • Good knowledge of psychological models relevant to CAMHS and evidence base for related interventions
  • Research experience, including a working knowledge of statistics, data analysis and report writing

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of managing highly complex situations concerning safeguarding and/or risk management
  • Post qualifying clinical experience in CAMHS.
  • Management experience in health care.
  • Experience of staff management.

Desirable

  • Experience working in mental health across various care settings such day patient and community settings
  • Proven ability to work in partnership with a range of organisations.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Ability to devise and implement local policies and procedures.

Desirable

  • Working knowledge of arrangements for children's health services and early help including knowledge of legislation, SEND, statutory guidance, government policy, practice guidance and best practice.
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Postgraduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent for those who trained before 1996)
  • Registered and accredited with HCPC
  • Eligible for Chartered status with the BPS OR Masters level qualification OR Masters level qualification or equivalent training in Systemic Family Therapy OR UKCP registered OR Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC) OR Occupational Therapy degree level qualification and registered with HPCP OR Registered Social Worker with relevant social work qualification OR Qualified Psychotherapist registered with professional body i.e. ACP approved Child Psychotherapist OR Other Health professional with relevant post graduate qualification
  • Relevant post graduate qualification in CAMHS related subject

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Management qualification or substantial and relevant management experience.
  • A supervisory qualification in the relevant professional discipline e.g. AFT or HPC Approved Clinical Supervisor or substantial supervision experience.

Desirable

  • Good knowledge of psychological models relevant to CAMHS and evidence base for related interventions
  • Research experience, including a working knowledge of statistics, data analysis and report writing

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of managing highly complex situations concerning safeguarding and/or risk management
  • Post qualifying clinical experience in CAMHS.
  • Management experience in health care.
  • Experience of staff management.

Desirable

  • Experience working in mental health across various care settings such day patient and community settings
  • Proven ability to work in partnership with a range of organisations.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Ability to devise and implement local policies and procedures.

Desirable

  • Working knowledge of arrangements for children's health services and early help including knowledge of legislation, SEND, statutory guidance, government policy, practice guidance and best practice.

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

Erlegh House, University of Reading, Earley Gate

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

Erlegh House, University of Reading, Earley Gate

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:

CYP MH Service Lead Targeted Services

Matthew Prouse

matthew.prouse@berkshire.nhs.uk

07775852630

Details

Date posted

11 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum (Incl of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS657-A

Job locations

Erlegh House, University of Reading, Earley Gate

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Supporting documents

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