Job summary

BHFT is an Advanced Foundation Trust and has an outstanding rating from the CQC. Our staff survey results are one of the best in the country, and we are leaders in digital maturity. We have a mature Quality Improvement approach to innovation and development.

Berkshire Healthcare Trust was also named third best performing NHS non-acute Trust in England in September 2025. In 2021 Berkshire Healthcare was 4th out of the 48 community and mental health trusts for the number of research projects we recruited to and have refreshed our research strategy and are looking for enthusiastic colleagues to develop and implement our research programme.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be working in a new post as the Consultant Psychiatrist for the new AO function across the Reading and Slough localities. They will be expected to case manage a cohort of around 30 patients in each location, giving a total full caseload of 60 for the AO function in Reading and Slough. This is open to review. Those patients will be selected by the place MDT (including input from the AO team members) from the cohort of patients with psychosis as those most requiring an AO approach for their wellbeing and for the safety of our communities.

The post holder will be expected to take a lead role in the clinical management of patients and to be the Responsible Clinician. Some of these patients with be subject to community treatment orders. The majority of these patients will be under existing services and the postholder will be expected to receive transfer of care of these patients in a manageable agreed timescale.

About us

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

Details
Date posted: 08 July 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 371-D736
Job locations: New Horizons, Pursers Court, Slough, SL2 5BX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Consultant job description together with the person specification for this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications
Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• MRCPsych
• Additional clinical qualifications, especially relevant to clinical role.

Eligibility
Essential

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months.
• Approved Clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.

Desirable

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Excellent knowledge of evidence-base for management of psychosis, especially risk in psychosis, treatment innovations, Assertive outreach.
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others.
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA.

Desirable

• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
• Experience in Assertive Outreach, Assertive Community Treatment, FACT or Rehabilitation Psychiatry.
• Experience of Addiction's Psychiatry or Dual Diagnosis.
• Any experience in forensic psychiatry or with patients subject to part III of the act.

Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training.
• Ability to work in and lead team
• Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement.
• Participated in continuous professional development
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes.

Desirable

• Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post.
• Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation.
• Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• Has led clinical audits leading to service change or improved outcomes to patients.

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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