Clinical Psychologist/ Mental Health Practitioner - Autism

Job content

Due to new investment and service expansion, we have a wonderful Band 7 opportunity to work within our Autism Assessment Team that sits within the Children, Young People and Families service (CYPF). We can consider both full time (37.5 hours per week) and part time applications.

We are looking for a Clinical Psychologist or an Advanced Mental Health Practitioner who is experienced and passionate about autism to join a friendly and supportive team who are also passionate about autism. We would love to hear from you if you want to develop your career in autism and to be part of a team that is forward thinking about neurodiversity and committed to excellence across all ages, working in a county where commissioners are highlighting Autism and ADHD as an area to invest in.

This is an exciting opportunity to work for a Trust committed to workplace wellbeing and to making Berkshire Healthcare a great place to work for everyone. This is demonstrated in the latest National Staff Survey results where we achieved the highest engagement score (staff feedback on their motivation, advocacy and involvement at work) of all Community and Mental Health Trusts.

About The Job

You will join an experienced and dedicated team who work in a number of locations across Berkshire to provide autism assessments across the age, ability and complexity range. We’ve rapidly adapted during the pandemic to enable work to continue online as well as face to face where needed. We work closely with partnership agencies and voluntary services to facilitate continued support and advice for families pre assessment and beyond diagnosis and provide online pre- assessment and postagnosis support via the innovative BHFT online platform ‘SHaRON’ (Support Hope and Resources Online). Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting autism assessments for children and young people from 2-18 years, across the ability range. All assessments are conducted with 2 clinicians.
• This will include complex and second opinion autism assessments.
• Identifying when onward referral is required and managing this.
• Provision of high-quality assessment reports with recommendations.
• Clinicians in the Autism Assessment Team also offer training, consultation and supervision and clinical moderation on our online support platform.
  

The Service You Will Be Joining

• The Autism Assessment Team is part of the Neurodiversity service (which comprises the Autism Assessment Team and the ADHD assessment and Treatment Team). The Neurodiversity Service which sits within Berkshire Healthcare’s Children Young People and Families (CYPF) structure and works closely with other services. Other CYPF services include CAMHS (Common Point of Entry, Specialist Community CAMHS, the Anxiety and Depression Pathway, Eating Disorders, the Rapid Response Team, PCAMHS, Early Intervention in Psychosis, Health and Justice, and East Berkshire Getting Help Team) the Children and Young People’s Integrated Therapies (CYPIT) services (including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy) and other CYPF services including Health Visiting, School Nursing and Children’s Community Nursing. The post also requires a close working relationship with local charity providers, parent and carer forums and the Local Authorities.
  

Working pattern + Service operating hours

The Team’s current operating hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm but we encourage you to get in touch if you wish to enquire about flexible working. It is also anticipated that some of the work can be completed remotely – please contact us if you wish to discuss your circumstances.

Some Of The Benefits Of Joining Our Team

• AfC Salary ranging from £40,057 - £45,839 per annum per annum
• Up to 5% Higher Cost Area supplement available for some areas, not all
• Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance
• Annual leave – 27 days for new starters, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years NHS service. Pro rata for part time staff
• Excellent learning and development opportunities
• Salary sacrifice scheme for a new car
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff
• Advanced IT enablement and support
• Confidential telephone care service providing independent support and advice for staff.
• And so much more
  

Work Base

WEST of Berkshire: various locations (Newbury/Reading/Wokingham)

Parking

Parking is usually available for staff on site

Are you familiar with Wokingham?

If you are not familiar with the market town of Wokingham, it lies approximately 4 miles west of Bracknell and 7 miles from Reading. Transport links are excellent. Wokingham is extremely well-placed, being served by the A329 London to Reading road and by the M4, which links it to Heathrow airport, the West of England and South Wales.

Are you familiar with Reading?

If you are not familiar with the cosmopolitan town of Reading, it has fantastic shopping in the Oracle shopping centre, it is a significant business centre, a university town and it has a championship football team. and a farmers’ market twice a month. It has excellent motoring links being close to the M4, A4 and A329.

Are you familiar with Newbury?

If you are not familiar with Newbury in West Berkshire, it lies at the centre of Southern England, within an hour’s reach of London, Bristol, Oxford and the south coast. Transport links are excellent... it is easy to reach from all parts of the UK. Newbury is also home to beautiful countryside, walking and cycling trails. There’s also a range of nationally loved attractions such as the top-class Racecourse or Highclere Castle, home of Downton Abbey.

What You Need To Be Considered For This Role

• One of the core qualifications listed in the Job Description and person specification along with the applicable registration
• Interest and experience in Autism
• Car owner/driver and possess full UK driver’s licence or evidence of ability to travel to designated base and other sites.
  

Should you match up to the 3 points listed above, then we would recommend you make your application for this role today! We interview candidates for this role in the order applications are received, so don’t delay and apply today.

For Further Details / Informal Visits Contact

We are very happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call Amy Balconon 07920 846623or email: Amy.Balcon@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.