Job Overview
Are you a qualified (or about to qualify) Family and Systemic Psychotherapist seeking a varied role in a supportive, collaborative team? We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 psychotherapist to join our Berkshire CAMHS West Specialist Community Team, covering Reading, Wokingham, and Newbury. Your main base will be Erlegh House, in the beautiful grounds of the University of Reading.
About Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Available
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Job Location and Environment
The position is based at Erlegh House, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading RG6 6BZ, situated in the beautiful grounds of the University of Reading. The Specialist Community Teams provide assessments, therapeutic interventions, and care coordination for children and young people with moderate to severe complex mental health difficulties.
Salary and Benefits Package
Salary: £50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum, pro rata (Incl of HCAS). This is a Band 7 position under Agenda for Change pay scheme. The position is permanent and part-time. 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.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Working with a complex, diverse and varied caseload across social, cultural, and individual differences, your role includes: Delivering assessments, interventions and care, Offering individual and family sessions and running reflective clinics, Collaborating with schools, social care, and other agencies, Being involved in service development, Receiving regular supervision ongoing learning opportunities.
Specific Responsibilities
Provide comprehensive assessments and therapeutic interventions to young people and their families, as appropriate. Provide care co-ordination for young people open to the Service. Independently manage an appropriately sized caseload. Use supervision effectively. Offer supervision and training to junior colleagues and other agencies as appropriate. Work with colleagues to support the clinical leadership of the team. Work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and within a multiagency system. Work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice. Contribute to audit, service development and research, as appropriate. Maintain own continuing professional development and contribute to team professional development initiatives.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
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, Psychotherapist registered with UKCP. Postgraduate Masters in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy from a course that is accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT). Accreditation with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist. Evidence of training and/or interest and knowledge in psychological models and therapeutic approaches relevant to the post.
Essential Experience Requirements
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 working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environment. Experience of service development and carrying out clinical audit, evaluative research and applying the findings. Experience of working with, and addressing issues of diversity, including experience of working with diversity, multiculturalism, and equality of access to service.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
Demonstrable knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of psychological/neuropsychological or psychotherapeutic assessment, formulation and intervention, relevant to the service area. Knowledge and understanding of service evaluation, audit and research and completing this in the NHS. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, technical and/or sensitive information to service users, their carers/families and other professional colleagues, 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 good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with 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
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. A UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the equivalent ability to effectively reach rural locations.
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 Requirements
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website. This requirement applies to international applicants seeking sponsorship as well.
Application Process
Applications for this role will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply ASAP, as vacancies may close early. Apply via NHS Jobs website. The closing date is 01 October 2025.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact: Catherine Moulds (Talent Acquisition Partner) Email: [email protected]. We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Christina Subrai, Team Manager on 07815485190 or email: [email protected].
Equal Opportunities Commitment
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.
Supporting Documentation
Job Description & Person Specification.pdf (PDF, 232 KB), Values & Behaviour Framework.pdf (PDF, 454 KB), Working for Us.pdf (PDF, 767 KB). Supporting links: Working for our CAMHS Service, Belong at Berkshire Healthcare.
Privacy Notice
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust’s privacy notice is available on our website for your reference.
Why Join Our Team?
You might be a newly qualified therapist seeking excellent learning opportunities from senior therapists and psychologists, or an experienced practitioner looking for a flexible role in a compassionate service. This part time role could be four full days or five shorter days to fit around any other commitments. Our Trust is rated “Outstanding” by the CQC and is recognised for its supportive culture, where staff feel valued.
International Applicants Welcome
We particularly welcome applications from international qualified Family and Systemic Psychotherapists seeking to relocate to the United Kingdom. With our Certificate of Sponsorship offering, we provide comprehensive support for skilled workers looking to build their career in the UK’s outstanding healthcare system. Join our diverse and inclusive team at Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.
