Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Specialist Psychotherapist

The closing date is 27 April 2026

Job summary

If you are a passionate & dynamic psychotherapist, dedicated to high quality, evidence-based psychological interventions with significant mental health needs & keen to progress your career within a NHS trust that is well-known for its compassionate leadership, then this job could be ideal for you!

We are looking for a senior Psychodynamic Psychotherapist to join the Community Mental Health Psychological Therapies service. We provide a psychological therapy service to adults through our centralised network. We value joint working with multi-disciplinary community mental health teams, to ensure service-users remain at the heart of our work, & deliver psychologically- & trauma-informed care through consultation & supervision.

We offer a wealth of opportunities to our staff to further develop clinical skills and CPD, as well as leadership opportunities through involvement in service development & quality improvement projects.

We welcome applicants who are looking for a part-time or full-time role. The role can be flexibly configured as a full-time role split across Wokingham Mental Health Services (0.6wte based at Resource House) & Bracknell Mental Health Services (0.4wte based at Church Hill House) Or it can be a stand-alone role in Wokingham (0.6wte based at Resource House). You will work in a hybrid model that can include some home-based working, allowing some flexibility in how you choose to work. Both roles will require office-based days in Wokingham and Bracknell.

Main duties of the job

  • Manage a clinical caseload & deliver high quality, safe & effective psychological interventions within CMHPT and across all sectors of related care.

  • Conduct highly specialist assessments, case formulations and deliver evidence-based psychological interventions to service users within the area of specialism.

  • Conduct comprehensive risk assessments, formulating & facilitating the utilisation of effective risk management plans, and working alongside other agencies .

  • Work in collaboration with other psychological therapists& members of the MDT& wider system in developing & formulating individualised treatment plans & supporting the delivery of psychologically informed care.

  • Line manage, supervise &deliver specialist teaching, training & support to junior & trainees & other members of the clinical team.

  • Engage in service development projects, utilise audit &research skills, suggest & implement improvements , & participate in the development & delivery of service improvement initiatives.

  • Champion diversity, foster inclusiveness, ensure ease of access to psychological treatments& provide neuro-affirmative, trauma-informed & culturally sensitive care.

  • Work autonomously alongside building competence in collaborative, inclusive & multi-agency working & user engagement.

  • Travel to sites across the Trust to meet the clinical needs of the population and undertake relevant tasks, alongside online delivery of services .

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

20 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

371-MHS1016-A

Job locations

Resource House

20 Denmark Street

Wokingham

RG40 2BB


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  1. You will be accredited with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) as a psychotherapist.

  1. You will have 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.

  2. You will have the ability to complete clear and detailed psychological assessments and collaboratively derived formulations of a service users presentation.
  3. You will have experience of dealing with highly distressing or emotional circumstances, such as serious mental illness, child and sexual abuse, exploitation, and complex family dynamics.
  4. An enhanced DBS check.

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 Gareth Mitchell (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) on01189044800or email: Gareth.Mitchell@berkshire.nhs.uk or Anne Reilly (Consultant Psychotherapist) on 01189047030or email: Anne.Reilly@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. You will be accredited with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) as a psychotherapist.

  1. You will have 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.

  2. You will have the ability to complete clear and detailed psychological assessments and collaboratively derived formulations of a service users presentation.
  3. You will have experience of dealing with highly distressing or emotional circumstances, such as serious mental illness, child and sexual abuse, exploitation, and complex family dynamics.
  4. An enhanced DBS check.

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 Gareth Mitchell (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) on01189044800or email: Gareth.Mitchell@berkshire.nhs.uk or Anne Reilly (Consultant Psychotherapist) on 01189047030or email: Anne.Reilly@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

  • Graduate qualification in relevant mental health or social care related discipline or equivalent, e.g. Practitioner Psychologist registered with HCPC, Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC), Occupational Therapist registered with HCPC, or Social Worker registered with HCPC
  • Postgraduate Masters in psychodynamic psychotherapy from a course that is registered with UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
  • Accreditation with UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) as a psychotherapist
  • Nationally recognised supervision training appropriate for supervising psychotherapy trainees, and registration as a supervisor with the relevant professional body
  • Additional training and accreditations (or working towards these) in relevant therapeutic approaches or psychological models to reflect post qualification interests/ specialism (e.g., specific therapy models, Health Psychology, Neuropsychology etc.)

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of post-qualification training and expert knowledge in multiple psychological models and therapeutic approaches relevant to the post and service area. Comprehensive and up to date knowledge of the current evidence-base and developments within the area of specialism.
  • Training, and where relevant, accreditation in clinical supervision.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable post qualification experience working as a qualified specialist practitioner in the area of specialism
  • 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 delivering interventions across different modalities (e.g. individual, group and systemic-based approaches)
  • Experience of working effectively in multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environments
  • Experience of providing specialist advice and consultation to multi-disciplinary and multi-agency colleagues to support the psychological care of service users
  • Experience of providing effective clinical supervision, mentoring and leadership to junior staff
  • Experience of developing and delivering teaching to a range of staff groups
  • Experience of carrying out clinical audit, evaluative research and applying the findings
  • Experience of service evaluation, quality improvement work and of implementing change from this and from a national and local health or social care change agenda that impacts across services and professions
  • 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 line managing staff (including junior psychological roles)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of highly specialised assessment, formulation and intervention, relevant to the specialist modality and service area
  • Up to date knowledge of evidence, theory, research, policy and legislation in relation to the service area
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
  • Well-developed verbal and written communication skills enabling the sensitive communication of complex, technical and/or sensitive information to multiple stakeholders 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 positive relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of the service within 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
  • Ability to travel independently between locations in Berkshire to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Graduate qualification in relevant mental health or social care related discipline or equivalent, e.g. Practitioner Psychologist registered with HCPC, Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC), Occupational Therapist registered with HCPC, or Social Worker registered with HCPC
  • Postgraduate Masters in psychodynamic psychotherapy from a course that is registered with UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
  • Accreditation with UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) as a psychotherapist
  • Nationally recognised supervision training appropriate for supervising psychotherapy trainees, and registration as a supervisor with the relevant professional body
  • Additional training and accreditations (or working towards these) in relevant therapeutic approaches or psychological models to reflect post qualification interests/ specialism (e.g., specific therapy models, Health Psychology, Neuropsychology etc.)

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of post-qualification training and expert knowledge in multiple psychological models and therapeutic approaches relevant to the post and service area. Comprehensive and up to date knowledge of the current evidence-base and developments within the area of specialism.
  • Training, and where relevant, accreditation in clinical supervision.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable post qualification experience working as a qualified specialist practitioner in the area of specialism
  • 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 delivering interventions across different modalities (e.g. individual, group and systemic-based approaches)
  • Experience of working effectively in multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environments
  • Experience of providing specialist advice and consultation to multi-disciplinary and multi-agency colleagues to support the psychological care of service users
  • Experience of providing effective clinical supervision, mentoring and leadership to junior staff
  • Experience of developing and delivering teaching to a range of staff groups
  • Experience of carrying out clinical audit, evaluative research and applying the findings
  • Experience of service evaluation, quality improvement work and of implementing change from this and from a national and local health or social care change agenda that impacts across services and professions
  • 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 line managing staff (including junior psychological roles)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of highly specialised assessment, formulation and intervention, relevant to the specialist modality and service area
  • Up to date knowledge of evidence, theory, research, policy and legislation in relation to the service area
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
  • Well-developed verbal and written communication skills enabling the sensitive communication of complex, technical and/or sensitive information to multiple stakeholders 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 positive relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of the service within 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
  • 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

Resource House

20 Denmark Street

Wokingham

RG40 2BB


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Resource House

20 Denmark Street

Wokingham

RG40 2BB


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Gareth Mitchell

Gareth.Mitchell@berkshire.nhs.uk

01189044800

Details

Date posted

20 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

371-MHS1016-A

Job locations

Resource House

20 Denmark Street

Wokingham

RG40 2BB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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