Assistant Psychologist

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in an innovative service within Berkshire Healthcare
- the Family Safeguarding Service. This service forms the mental health component of the broader multidisciplinary ‘Family Safeguarding Model’ (FSM). FSM is a collaboration between health services and local authority Children’s Social Care services. It offers a ‘whole-system’ reform of safeguarding children which aims to improve the mental health and social care interventions with families. It brings together partnership agencies including mental health, domestic violence practitioners, police and substance misuse services. Evaluations of the service to date illustrate that improving the mental health of parents within these families, improves the family functioning and the outcomes for the children.

We are looking for an enthusiastic assistant psychologist who will work under supervision of qualified psychologists to provide psychological interventions and undertake other tasks as required to support service delivery within Family Safeguarding in Bracknell and West Berkshire. There will also be opportunities to support psychological interventions within the perinatal mental health service.

Interviews will be held on 1st August 2023

You will already have experience of working in mental health, preferably under the supervision of a qualified psychologist, and have an interest in, and experience of, using cognitive behavioural techniques and emotional ‘first aid’ skills, whilst having awareness of the impact of parental mental health on children. We are looking for someone who is well-organised and able to manage administrative procedures, with good knowledge of IT. You will have a positive, pro-active approach as you will be working in a busy multi-agency service as part of the Family Safeguarding Model and will need to communicate with colleagues (both NHS and Children’s Social Care), and other teams and agencies as required, as well as contributing to clinical audit and service developments.

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.

We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you’ll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.

**Our values at Berkshire Healthcare**:

- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

**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
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
- Free parking across Trust sites

**The“must haves” for you to be considered for this role**:

- A team player with experience of multidisciplinary working
- A flexible practitioner
- A holistic understanding of mental health needs
- A desire to improve the lives of vulnerable families