Clinical Psychologist Academy Lead in England

Permanent full-time role - Hybrid working, working from home and otherwise typically one day a week in Barnstaple, North Devon - to be discussed. Salary band £65,000.00 to £75,000.00 DOE Pro-rata.

Why this role exists: As Held Health continues to grow, we are investing intentionally in how we support, develop, and sustain excellent clinical practice. This role exists to ensure that our values, evidence base, and neuro‑affirming approach are consistently reflected in day‑to‑day work — and that our clinicians feel supported to grow with confidence.

In the early stages, the role will focus on understanding current practice, identifying strengths and capability gaps, and co‑creating the foundations of the Academy alongside clinical and operational leaders. Over time, this will evolve into a structured, supportive learning environment that enhances quality, consistency, and clinician experience.

Role overview: This is a dual‑focused senior role working across two core pathways: clinical practice and Academy leadership. You will spend approximately half of your week providing specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and evidence‑based interventions for children and young people. This may include work within our trauma‑informed pathway; participation in multi‑disciplinary assessments (MDAs) for the Adoption Support Fund (ASF); delivery of therapy (including CBT and DBT‑informed interventions within your scope of practice); and contribution to our Right to Choose neurodevelopmental pathway.

The remaining portion of your time will focus on your role as Academy Lead, where you will play a central role in shaping and embedding our internal Clinical Academy. Working closely with Clinical Leads and the People Manager, you will help define, develop, and embed clinical standards, translate these into meaningful learning and development experiences, and support a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement across the organisation.

Key responsibilities:

• Deliver high‑quality psychological assessment and intervention with children and young people across relevant service pathways.
• Contribute to MDT working, formulation, and clinical decision‑making.
• Maintain clear, professional clinical documentation in line with regulatory standards.
• Co‑design and develop the organisation’s internal Clinical Academy.
• Translate clinical standards and evidence into practical learning pathways.
• Support supervisors and Clinical Leads to embed shared expectations and good practice.
• Promote reflective learning, CPD, and continuous quality improvement.
• Contribute to regulatory readiness by supporting understanding of CQC expectations in practice.

The Experience we are looking for:

• Registered Clinical Psychologist with 5+ years post‑qualification experience, currently registered with the HCPC (or equivalent professional body, e.g. Social Work England where relevant).
• Strong experience delivering psychological assessment and intervention with children and young people.
• Demonstrable commitment to CPD, reflective practice, and evidence‑based care.
• Deep alignment with neuro‑affirming language, practice, and culture.
• Confident communicator with the ability to engage, facilitate learning, and support others’ development.
• Experience leading, contributing to, or shaping an academy, learning function, or clinician development initiative.
• Coaching or supervisory experience.
• Working knowledge of CQC standards and regulatory expectations, and how these translate into day‑to‑day clinical practice.
• Experience working within evolving or growing services.

Who you are:

You are passionate about developing others and recognise the direct link between clinician support, service quality, and family outcomes. You are comfortable working in a fast‑paced, evolving environment and enjoy helping to build systems and structures where they are not yet fully formed. You can work independently while also thriving within multidisciplinary teams, building trusted relationships across clinical, operational, and people functions. You bring a calm, empathetic, and patient‑centred approach, with strong listening and reflective skills. You are highly organised, communicate clearly, and take pride in follow‑through and accountability. You are confident holding professional responsibility while remaining curious, collaborative, and values‑led in your approach.

Our investment in you:

• Salary up to £65,000.00 to £75,000.00 (pro rata), DOE.
• Company Pension scheme where applicable.
• Induction Programme.
• Opportunities for professional learning and development with career advancement.
• Supportive and collaborative work environment, including a proactive Multi-disciplinary Team.
• Maternity / Paternity / Adoption Leave.
• Regular Team events.
• Cycle to work scheme.

All roles at Held Health are subject to full background and reference checks.