Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time Band 4 Assistant Psychologist to join the Berkshire West CAMHS Specialist Community Team (SCT), covering Reading, Wokingham and Newbury.

The role is Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, based at Erlegh House, University of Reading, with travel to Lower Henwick Farm, Newbury. Both sites offer free parking.

CAMHS SCT provides specialist, formulation-led interventions for children and young people experiencing complex mental health difficulties or requiring urgent or intensive support. We work collaboratively with young people, families and partner agencies to develop holistic assessments, shared formulations and tailored care plans.

Working alongside experienced multidisciplinary clinicians, you will support assessments, care coordination and evidence-based psychological interventions.

You will help develop and deliver group interventions, provide occasional individual support to young people and families, and contribute to training for carers, staff and partner agencies.

You will also undertake administrative duties, clinical audits, service evaluations and associated reports and presentations.

We offer regular clinical and management supervision, a supportive induction, in-house training and dedicated time for reflective practice and team formulation.

We welcome thoughtful, reflective team players to our compassionate and supportive team, where staff wellbeing and manageable caseloads are prioritised.

Main duties of the job

• Assist and work jointly with senior clinicians, following their clinical recommendations.
• Respond to the needs of the service, gathering data reports and information as the service requires.
• Undertake administrative tasks to support the multidisciplinary team and senior staff including taking accurate clinical meeting notes and engaging in audit and service evaluation.
• Use supervision effectively.
• Work with colleagues to support the clinical and operational leadership of the team.
• Work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and within a multi-agency system.
• Maintain own continuing professional development and contribute to team professional development initiatives.

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

26 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£29,812 to £32,715 a year per annum (Incl. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS847-A

Job locations

Erlegh House, University of Reading - Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6BZ

Whiteknights Road,

Reading

RG6 6BZ

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

• To work as part of a team.

• To have an invested interest in the mental health of children, young people and their families.

• To support the clinical and operational leadership of the team

• IT, data and reporting Skills

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise thatAItools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants.However, its important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process.AImust not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, 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: Christina Subrai on 0118 9046780 or email : [email protected] 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: To work as part of a team. To have an invested interest in the mental health of children, young people and their families. To support the clinical and operational leadership of the team IT, data and reporting Skills For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise thatAItools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants.However, its important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process.AImust not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey. In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted. Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, 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: Christina Subrai on 0118 9046780 or email : [email protected] 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 or training

Essential

• An upper second class (2:1) honours degree or higher in psychology, or an equivalent qualification, which confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Desirable

• 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 the 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 inpatient or community setting
• Experience of audits, service evaluation and/or research, ideally within a clinical setting

Desirable

• Experience of providing direct clinical or social care
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

• Awareness of psychological theory, practice and 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 challenges face by people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
• Ability to apply existing psychological theory and knowledge within a mental health, dementia and/or learning disabilities context
• Ability to appropriately communicate sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues
• Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office including a high standard of letter and report writing

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 reviewed 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 or training Essential An upper second class (2:1) honours degree or higher in psychology, or an equivalent qualification, which confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Desirable 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 the 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 inpatient or community setting Experience of audits, service evaluation and/or research, ideally within a clinical setting Desirable Experience of providing direct clinical or social care Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team Knowledge, skills and abilities Essential Awareness of psychological theory, practice and 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 challenges face by people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities Ability to apply existing psychological theory and knowledge within a mental health, dementia and/or learning disabilities context Ability to appropriately communicate sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office including a high standard of letter and report writing 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 reviewed 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.

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Erlegh House, University of Reading - Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6BZ

Whiteknights Road,

Reading

RG6 6BZ

United Kingdom

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, Berkshire, RG6 6BZ

Whiteknights Road,

Reading

RG6 6BZ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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