Job summaryWe are looking for an 8b Principal Clinical Psychologist (0.8 WTE) to join the Devon Learning Disability Service, to help us support the wellbeing of one of the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of our population.
You will be part of the Clinical Psychology leadership team across Devon, as well as providing clinical leadership to the Mid and North Devon Psychology teams. You will contribute to service development and training as well as providing a Clinical Psychology service via complex assessment, intervention and consultation. You will oversee clinical supervision within your team as well as providing clinical supervision to Psychologists at 8a and below. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team including Nursing, Psychiatry, Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language therapy. You will maintain and develop relationships with partner agencies and local providers. You will find that our team is experienced, cohesive and mutually supportive.
The LD Psychology family is a valuable and valued part of the LD service. We work closely with our colleagues in a caring and mutually supportive culture. We are committed to compassionate, respectful and equitable care for people with Learning Disabilities using a biopsychosocial model that is trauma-informed and sensitive to the individual. We have close links with both the Plymouth and Exeter Doctoral Programmes.
Main duties of the jobWe are looking for candidates with experience of working with individuals with a Learning Disability. You will be undertaking complex assessments and supporting clinicians carrying out assessments; developing individual formulations; contributing to MDT formulation; best practice reviews; designing complex and multicomponent interventions and delivering these directly and indirectly via individual or group therapies, care planning, training and consultation. We would expect you to have experience of psychometric assessment, consultation and at least two forms of therapeutic intervention (such as Positive Behaviour Support, CBT or DBT), as well as an understanding of the latest evidence around interventions.
Working alongside Operational and Clinical Team Managers, Clinical Psychology Professional Lead and other senior Psychologists, you will take a role in promoting clinical effectiveness, developing and reviewing service provision; including assessment and intervention pathways and outcome measures in order to improve our service user journey; maximising the wellbeing of individuals with a Learning Disability in Devon.
To help you maintain your skills in a specialist therapeutic approach, we have an arrangement with Psychological Professions colleagues across Adult Mental Health. We can therefore arrange protected sessions for you, outside of the LD team if necessary, to deliver therapy and access specialist supervision to maintain your accreditation.
About usAbout Devon Partnership TrustWe provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
Our valuesWe not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Employer.DetailsDate posted: 10 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year pro rata (30 hours per week)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: C9369-26-0556
Job locations:- Oaklands Court, Tiverton Way, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6TG
- Abbotsvale, Bideford Hospital, Abbotsham Road, BIDEFORD, Devon, EX39 3AG
- Okehampton Community Hospital, Cavell Way, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1PN
- Northern Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, BARNSTAPLE, Devon, EX31 4JB
Job responsibilitiesTo improve the psychological health & wellbeing of people with Learning disabilities and to provide psychological services to people who use services and staff in the South/Torbay and West Learning Disability Intensive Assessment and Treatment Teams.
This will be achieved in this post by:
- Ensuring the systematic provision of a high quality psychological service to people with Learning Disabilities Services in Devon.
- Providing clinical leadership, co-ordination and supervision for staff, trainees and volunteers employed by or attached to the psychology service.
- Taking a leadership role in the delivery and development of psychological services for people with Learning Disabilities
- Carrying a specialist caseload of clients, and providing interventions, advice and consultancy to patients and professionals.
- Working autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team.
- Receiving regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the Health and Care Professions Council and British Psychological Society.
- Contributing to the management of psychology services in the locality.
Communication and Working Relationship Skills- Service Users, family and carers: To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with service users who have specific difficulties in understand and/or communicating and who may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotionally disturbed.
- Multidisciplinary team colleagues: To work closely with colleagues in the multi-professional integrated service on a day to day basis.
- Health & social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the services care. To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
- Senior managers & professional staff: To maintain and build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in Devon Partnership Trust , service provider organisations and across partner agencies, to foster a positive approach to the integrated mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective negotiation
Analytical and Judgemental Skills- Responsibility for Assessment, Judgement and Analysis
- Assessment: Responsible for providing a psychological service to a range of people with learning disabilities experiencing a variety of serious psychological disorders and/or presenting behaviours that challenge. Carrying out specialist psychological, psychometric assessments, the preparation of reports and the communication of complex, sensitive and distressing information to people with learning disabilities and carers. To effectively draw on a variety of sources to establish care plans and treatment formulations in the context of much data being unavailable because of the persons inability to express themselves. Treatment may require interventions involving the social and professional network of the person and where expert opinion may vary. To make highly skilled evaluations and decisions about treatment, about the psychological management of peoples difficulties and experiences (including management of risk).
- Consultation & guidance: To provide advice, guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.
Planning and Organisational Skills- The psychology service: To plan and organise the work of the psychology service within the Intensive Assessment and Treatment team, and to contribute to the development and improvement of provision of psychological services for people with learning disabilities to best meet the organisations strategy and priorities.
- The multidisciplinary service: To provide psychology leadership to the multi-professional planning, development and marketing of mental health and wellbeing services for people with learning disabilities.
- Partnership To work as part of Devon Partnership Trust management structures to contribute to the planning and implementation of service developments.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy- Responsible for formulating and implementing plans for a range of evidence-based psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families, groups and service delivery systems adjusting and refining psychological formulations, drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses based upon the analysis of each individual case. In addition to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
- Responsible for providing specialist advice and consultation to other service members on psychological aspects of learning disability and mental health; including appropriate treatment approaches, complex issues of engaging clients and maintaining change, and working with the wider systems which affect clients wellbeing (e.g. family, day services).
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation- The post holder is accountable for their own professional actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice Guidelines.
- Policy & service: To interpret and develop policies and procedures for the provision of psychology and psychological therapy services in the service for people with learning disabilities.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources- To maintain and apply psychometric tests and equipment in order to assess people with learning disabilities and evaluate progress.
Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management- There is a requirement to support learners on a regular basis which includes the achievement and updating of profession specific training to the required standard to fulfil this role
- Leadership & supervision: To lead and professionally supervise psychology staff, trainees and volunteers.
- To provide therapy supervision for non-psychology staff providing psychological therapies within the service for people with Learning Disabilities.
- To provide psychology leadership in the Intensive Assessment and Treatment team.
Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties- The Post holder will be required to compile clinical reports, maintain accurate records using the appropriate IT system and be responsible for any other administrative tasks e.g. clinical audit reports.
- The Post holder is responsible for liaising with other team members and health and social services employees, both in verbal and written form in order to co-ordinate effective and appropriate care for service users
Responsibility for Research and Development- To organise the R&D activities of the psychology service, and to undertake a research programme as agreed within the service.
- To ensure all psychology staff participate in appropriate audit and evaluation of outcomes of the psychology and psychological therapy services
- To carry out research activities applying knowledge of research methodology and to contribute research knowledge and expertise to the research activities of other disciplines as required by the service.
- To take responsibility and develop effective means of auditing and evaluating the outcomes of individual work, team activity and clinics within the service.
- The post holder will be involved in identifying and implementing service developments which will enhance the treatment opportunities provided to service users and carers, through consultation and collaboration with managers, team members and locality wide facilities.
Freedom to Act- The post holder is accountable for their own professional actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice Guidelines (HCPC).
- To work autonomously within clinical professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the governance of psychological practice within the Devon Partnership Trust Learning Disability Service.
- To provide expert and specialist clinical psychologist intervention, expertise and advice guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to colleagues, patients, other service providers, supporters and families.
Any Other Specific Tasks Required- To ensure all clinical care and treatment provided by psychologists is carried out under appropriate supervision and leadership.
- To ensure that all relevant staff groups continuously update the skills and techniques relevant to their clinical work.
Person SpecificationExperienceDesirable- Extended experience of assessing and working with people with learning disabilities and working within Learning Disability Services.
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
- Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
QualificationsEssential- Qualified Clinical Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist Status in the British Psychological Society and registered with the Health Professionals Council (HPC).
Desirable- Further training in psychological therapies.
- Further training and experience in interventions with people with learning disabilities.
- IT Skills
Knowledge, Skills and AbilityEssential- Knowledge of Learning Disabilities services in the NHS and of the knowledge base, skills and practice of Clinical Psychology.
- At least 2 years Post-Graduate (D.Clin Psych) experience
- Excellent verbal, non verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty. Skills in managing conflict, negotiation & achieving consensus in complex situations in the pursuit of agreed strategic aims
- Ability to integrate complex data, make highly skilled evaluations and decisions, and take a long term perspective.
- Organisation and time management skills.
- Project Management
- Highly skilled in specialist interventions.
- Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills including risk assessment.
DesirableAdditional informationCertificate of SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address: Oaklands Court, Tiverton Way, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6TG
Employer's website: https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Psychology Professional Lead
Magnus Cormack
mcormack@nhs.net
07425605575
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