Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 20 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £66,653 - £77,094 per annum, pro-rata (inc. of HCAS) |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 19 April 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, RG6 6BZ |
| Company: | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7887867/371-CFS707-A |
Summary
We are seeking a highly specialist psychological practitioner to lead, coordinate and deliver a high-quality psychological therapy service for young people and their parents/carers within the Access, Advice and Getting Help services in Berkshire CAMHS. The role combines direct clinical work with the provision of consultation, supervision, and specialist guidance to colleagues and clinical leads across the service.
Initially, the post holder will work within the CAMHS Anxiety Disorders Treatment Team (ADTT), offering expert psychological input for children and young people with complexanxiety presentations, intensive risk management, and multiagency involvement. The role will then transition into a Berkshire wide Getting Help model, supporting services that deliver prevention and early interventions.
You will join a dynamic, skilled and supportive CAMHS team committed to delivering high-quality care to children, young people and their families. The role provides the opportunity to influence service development, lead on specialist areas of clinical practice, and support the growth of the Getting Help model across Berkshire.
Clinical Responsibilities
• Provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for children and young people with complex emotional and mental health needs.
• Hold and manage a clinical caseload within the Getting Help pathway, ensuring timely and effective care coordination.
• Offer consultation, clinical advice and supervision to colleagues and associated professionals.
• Contribute to high-quality clinical decision making, particularly in relation to complex presentations, risk management and multiagency working.
Leadership & Service Development
• Work collaboratively with the CAMHS leadership team to lead, shape and contribute to ongoing service development and transformation initiatives.
• Support the delivery of evidence-based interventions in line with national and local guidelines, service priorities and available resources.
• Provide strong and effective clinical leadership, supporting a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring safe, efficient and effective service delivery.
Professional & Operational Responsibilities
• Support the development and maintenance of wider service functions, including the advice and consultation offer, digital support services and online resources.
• Ensure practice is in line with relevant legislation, professional standards, safeguarding procedures and Trust policies.
Travel
• Travel to sites across Berkshire will be required to meet the clinical needs of the population and support service delivery.
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
The “must haves” for this role:
1. Post graduate doctoral qualification in clinical psychology (or equivalent).
2. Registered and accredited with Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) or UKCP/BPC
3. Evidence of post-doctoral specialist training to accreditable level in at least 2 areas of psychological practice directly related to the clinical requirements of this post.
4. Leadership experience and a successful track record in leading service delivery and contributing to service transformation
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and ‘Other’ Ethnic Groups.
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 contact Dr Jo Cocksey, Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Tel: 7866787757; Email: joanne.cocksey@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.
This advert closes on Monday 6 Apr 2026
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