Principal Clinical Psychologist in Exeter

Overview

We are looking for an 8a Principal Clinical Psychologist to join the Exeter and East Devon multidisciplinary Learning Disability teams, to help support the wellbeing of this vulnerable and marginalised group. Candidates should have experience of intellectual disability and be able to conduct complex assessment and formulation, design multi‑component interventions, and deliver therapies, care planning, training and consultation. We expect psychometric assessment experience and at least two therapeutic interventions (e.g., Positive Behaviour Support, CBT or DBT) and an understanding of current evidence around interventions.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the systematic provision of a high‑quality psychological service to people with learning disabilities in Devon as a key component of the Health and Social Care Partnership.
• Provide clinical leadership, coordination and supervision for staff, trainees and volunteers employed by or attached to the psychology service.
• Take a leadership role in the delivery and development of psychological therapies for people with learning disabilities.
• Maintain a specialist caseload of clients, providing therapy, advice and consultancy to patients and professionals.
• Work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team.
• Receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and the Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the HCPC and the British Psychological Society.
• Contribute to the management of psychology services in the locality.
• Communicate complex, sensitive and distressing information to service users, families and carers in a highly skilled and sensitive manner.
• Support other staff in dealing with highly distressing situations (family breakdown, abuse, verbal aggression, challenging behaviour) through supervision and debriefing.
• Carry out specialist psychological, psychometric and neuro‑psychological assessments, prepare reports and communicate findings.
• Draw on multiple sources to formulate difficulties, deliver specialist interventions and contribute to care plans.
• Make highly skilled evaluations and decisions regarding intervention and the psychological management of patients, including risk management.
• Provide advice and guidance through the process of consultation on psychological aspects of a person’s care to colleagues, other service providers, supporters and families.
• Plan and organise the work of psychology within the multidisciplinary team and contribute to the development and improvement of psychological services.
• Plan and prioritise own workload balancing individual responsibilities with roles in audit, service development, consultancy and training.
• Implement Trust policies and propose changes to practice, policies and procedures as required.
• Maintain and apply psychometric tests and equipment to assess people with learning disabilities and evaluate progress.
• Provide therapy supervision to non‑psychology staff providing psychological therapies within the service.
• Lead and supervise junior psychology staff, trainees and volunteers.
• Compile clinical reports, maintain accurate records and perform administrative duties related to clinical work.
• Carry out research activities, contribute to service development and audit outcomes.
• Maintain awareness of research findings concerning psychology, learning disabilities, assessment and therapeutic interventions.
• Supervise and provide a clinical placement for trainee clinical psychologists on the D.Clin. Psych course (Exeter/Plymouth Universities).

Qualifications

• Qualified Clinical Psychologist (D.Clin. Psych or equivalent) and registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council.
• Further training in psychological therapies.
• Further training and experience in interventions with people with learning disabilities.
• Excellent verbal, non‑verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly skilled in specialist interventions.
• Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills.
• Consultation skills.
• Planning and organisational skills.
• Organisation and time‑management skills.
• Ability to integrate complex data, make highly skilled evaluations and decisions, and take a long‑term perspective.
• Knowledge of learning disabilities services in the NHS and of the knowledge base, skills and practice of clinical psychology.
• Extended experience assessing and working with people with learning disabilities and working within learning disability services.
• Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.

Personal attributes and values

• Commitment to the quality of care and to improving lives of others.
• Respect, dignity and compassion.
• Open to new ideas, willing to challenge yourself and others.
• Ability to give a smile and make time for people.

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, and a range of specialist and secure services for the wider south west region and nationally. We are committed to promoting good mental health and wellbeing, delivering high‑quality services that are safe and focussed on people’s recovery, and developing a culture of coproduction involving patients, families and carers.