Aspiring Clinical Psychologist (ACP) Scheme Assistant Psychologist


Company:	Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£28,392 - £31,157 per annum (incl of HCAS)
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Reading, RG30 4EJ
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	12 Nov 2026
Closing date:	13 Dec 2026

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Summary

A Vacancy at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Do you aspire to be a Clinical Psychologist? 

Are you being held back from your dream, because of the financial burden of an unpaid role to gain the experience you need?  

Do you have additional responsibilities (e.g., being a carer for someone) that mean unpaid experience is not an option?   

Have you had fewer opportunities to go further in your education because you didn’t have the support of a family behind you? 

If you are a psychology graduate who, due to socioeconomic disadvantage, has been unable to enter the clinical psychology profession e.g. through unpaid work opportunities, the NHS England-funded Aspiring Clinical Psychologist (ACP) Scheme could be your chance to get a step up on the career ladder at Berkshire Healthcare. 

Working part-time (2.5 days a week) for 6 months, the post holder will contribute to multi-disciplinary service delivery, by assisting the work of the psychological professionals working within Older Peoples’ Mental Health Services (OPMH) across Berkshire. The aim will be to provide valuable experience, insight and preparation for taking the next step towards a Clinical Psychology career. In addition to the supervision provided by a Clinical Psychologist, the post holders will have access to continuous professional development opportunities, and the option to join our temporary staff Bank.

We strongly encourage all applicants to read the Application Guidance Notes before submitting their application.

You will act as an assistant to the work of the psychological professionals, contributing to multi-disciplinary service delivery.

Supervised by a Clinical Psychologist, you will work jointly with psychological professionals to support the delivery of psychologically informed care through group working, individual work and/or work with families and carers.

Under supervision, you will assist in the assessment and formulation of a service user’s difficulties, and where relevant assist with the delivery of psychologically informed treatment planning, including case consultation.

You will have opportunities to enhance your skills in research, audit, data management and service development

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:

An upper second class (2:1) honours degree or higher in psychology,or an equivalent qualification, which confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Demonstrable interest and/or learning in relevant areas of applied psychology and mental health practice

Experience that supports working with people with mental healthdifficulties,neurologicaldifficultiesor learningdisability: Thiscould havebeenobtainedthrough employment, volunteering, lived experienceorresearch or education.

Ability to conduct service evaluation and research particularly within a clinical setting

Ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position, with minimal impact on daily productivity

Experience of socio-economic disadvantage that has caused barriers to access to unpaid work experience opportunities, relevant to pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology.

This advert closes on Thursday 19 Nov 2026

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