Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust


Company:	Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£57,528 - £64,750 per annum pro-rata
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Portsmouth, PO1 4JT
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	21 Aug 2026
Closing date:	23 Sept 2026

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Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 8a, Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist join the Op COURAGE Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. This role is part of a multi-disciplinary team offering mental health treatment and wellbeing support within a stepped care model to veterans.

Your role will combine both clinical and service development responsibilities.  You will provide specialist assessments, formulations and evidence-based treatment for PTSD and C-PTSD, in both individual and group settings. You must have experience of using trauma-focused CBT interventions working with traumatised people, including those with PTSD and Complex PTSD. Through CPD, there will also be the opportunity to develop your skills.

You will contribute to the supervision and line management of qualified clinical/counselling psychologists, CBT therapists, and trainee and assistant psychologists as appropriate. You will contribute to service development, the development of our treatment pathways, research and service evaluation.

We are a dynamic and friendly team committed to providing the best care for veterans. This is a busy service and clinicians’ self-care is important to us. We offer a blended model of delivery including face to face and online and there are opportunities for home working to ensure a good work / life balance. This role will require you to work from our base in Portsmouth at least 2 days a week, including Friday.

• To support the Clinical Service Manager and Operational Service Manager in managing and providing an exemplary and comprehensive specialist assessment and treatment for all eligible veterans referred with PTSD and other mental health problems. 

• Support the multi-disciplinary team to develop and embed psychological support across the stepped care model as appropriate

• Provide expert assessment and management advice of clinical difficulties utilising the most up-to-date knowledge, validated assessment / diagnostic tools and interventions.  

• Provide clinical supervision for therapists in the assessment, management and rehabilitation of veterans with mental health needs using the most up-to-date clinical protocols for therapeutic interventions and management.  

• To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of OpCourage through the deployment of professional skills in service management, research, service evaluation and audit.  

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. Holder of an HCPC-registered Clinical/Counselling Psychology qualification.

2. Evidence of experience of working with traumatised people including those with PTSD and Complex PTSD.

3. A minimum of 18 months experience working in a prior relevant role.

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 that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s 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. AI must 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.

We’re 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 don’t hesitate to contact Mark Bruce on email: mark.bruce2@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 Thursday 17 Sep 2026

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