Senior Assistant Psychologist
Job summary
Senior Assistant Psychologist (Band 5, 37.5 hours per week) at Pain Clinic, The Royal Berkshire Hospital (main site).
We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Senior Assistant Psychologist to support people with long‑term pain conditions within our Clinical Health Psychology Service.
This challenging and rewarding role offers the opportunity to work alongside a highly specialist clinical psychologist and multidisciplinary team members.
This post is jointly commissioned by Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust and Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust.
Main duties
* Contribute to multidisciplinary service delivery, offering a psychological perspective on long‑term pain experiences, under the supervision of a Registered Practitioner Psychologist.
* Work directly with service users, carers and families via face‑to‑face and virtual sessions to provide evidence‑based psycho‑educational interventions.
* Co‑ordinate and lead group and one‑to‑one education.
* Attend weekly CHPS meetings, including CPD and complex case discussions.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust, rated "outstanding" by the CQC.
Our values: Caring for and about you is our top priority; committed to providing good quality, safe services; working together to develop innovative solutions.
Benefits
* 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 wellbeing tools and services.
* Discounts at hundreds of retailers and restaurants.
* Staff networks supporting equality.
* Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
* Free parking across Trust sites.
Pay, contract and location
Permanent, full‑time, salary £31,049‑£37,796 per annum.
Location: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Craven Road, Reading RG1 5AN.
Responsibilities
* An upper second class (2:1) honours degree or higher in psychology or equivalent (eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of BPS).
* Graduate membership of British Psychological Society.
* Interest in pursuing a career in psychological therapies within a physical health setting.
* Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist with people experiencing physical/mental health or neurological difficulties.
* Additional physical health related experience and familiarity with mental health practice.
* Experience delivering group and one‑to‑one information.
Qualifications
* Upper second class honours degree or equivalent (BPS GBC).
* Graduate membership of BPS.
* Undertaken additional training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, neuropsychology, social care practice or research design.
* Evidence of an interest in pursuing a career in psychological therapies.
* Completed NIHR Good Clinical Practice training (desirable).
Previous experience
* Experience working as an Assistant Psychologist with people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties, complex needs and learning disabilities.
* Understanding of risk management in clinical presentations.
* Experience of clinical audits/service evaluations or research.
* Direct psychological interventions (e.g., psychoeducation, group work).
* Experience of group and one‑to‑one work within a physical or mental health setting.
* Experience in in‑patient settings (desirable).
Knowledge, skills and abilities
* Aware of evidence‑based psychological interventions relevant to this role.
* High level written and verbal communication skills.
* Appreciation of the needs of people with mental health issues, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities.
* Ability to apply psychological knowledge within mental health/learning disabilities context.
* Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office and statistical packages.
* Ability to interact sensitively with people with mental health, neurological or learning difficulties.
* Independent, reliable, and able to manage workload and supervision as required.
* Flexibility to travel between locations.
Disability and Equality
We are committed to equal opportunities and inclusion with accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments are available.
Application
Submit your application as soon as possible. If a high number of applications is received, the role may close earlier than advertised.
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