Professional Lead Practitioner Psychologist/Psychotherapist

NHS; Exeter; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading mental health organization as a Clinical Psychologist, providing operational management and clinical leadership to enhance psychological care for older adults. You'll work within a supportive team to develop services aligned with best practices, ensuring high-quality delivery and training opportunities while shaping new approaches to client care.

Qualifications

• Qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist eligible for Chartered status.
• Experience in psychological assessment and intervention for older adults.
• Experience in leadership roles within NHS mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of psychological therapy staff.
• Develop integrated access to psychological therapies.
• Coordinate service development and redesign projects.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical assessment

Therapeutic interventions

Education

D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

This is an established role, providing clinical leadership and operational management to Psychological Professionals across the Northern and Eastern Localities.

The successful candidate would be joining passionate, dedicated and supportive colleagues. Managed by the OPMH Strategic Lead for Psychological Professionals, they would work closely with a small team of other Professional Leads, to work on a range of development projects and ensure the smooth running of the service. Clinically, the post would be based in the Mid Devon OPMH Community Team, providing a range of MDT and therapeutic work.

Interviews will be held face to face during the week beginning 23rd June at Tiverton Hospital.

Join our supportive, friendly Directorate. We are happy to be approached for informal discussions about the role, so do get in touch.

Main duties of the job

You would be contributing to developing responsive community based therapy and assessment services for older people in Devon. This includes service development in response to national guidance and best practice. The successful candidate, alongside their Professional Lead colleagues would be aiming for the service to provide an integrated offer of psychological care, including the direct delivery of psychotherapy and supporting others in their provision of psychologically informed practice.

There would be opportunities to inform training and develop strategy in the Directorate to advance in our vision of high quality, responsive, trauma informed care.

We are committed to providing placements for Trainee Practitioner Psychologists and Psychotherapists and the candidate would be expected to contribute to these.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We 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.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These 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 conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Details Date posted

30 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£62,215 to £72,293 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0390

Job locations

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

Job description Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the psychological health & wellbeing of older people with mental health difficulties who are using community Older Peoples Mental Health services.

A key responsibility of this role will be coordinating specific service areas of development and delivery within OPMH services. Working at an operational level this will ensure improved access to psychological therapies, is an integrated part of all relevant clinical pathways, delivers high clinical standards, makes best use of its scarce resources and develops evidence based practice that meets needs and choices of people using the service.

This will be achieved in this post through undertaking the following areas of responsibility:

To be one of a team of Professional Leads with responsibility for day to day management of PPT staff primarily based in Northern and Eastern Devon and coordinating smooth running of the local older adult psychology services.

To support the Head of Psychology and Practice, OPMH Senior Leadership Team and the Practice and Strategic Lead by undertaking service development and redesign projects and coordinating the resulting work within the team, proposing and implementing policy changes within this domain and taking a lead in locality service redesign.

To be responsible for the management of Applied Psychologists and Psychological Professionals working within Older Peoples Mental Health teams. Ensure that staff work within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within these services.

Provide input to the local multidisciplinary community teams, developing new ways of working across services and auditing the impact of team working.

Carry a specialist caseload of clients as well as offering advice and consultation on clients psychological care to MH colleagues and carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the services policies and procedures.

The post holder with receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body.

Take a broad psychological approach to developing capacity of the workforce, inputting to planning and coordinating delivery of a range of activities that build capacity for psychological interventions in community settings including consultation, reflective practice, supervision and training.

As directed by the Strategic Lead, embed practice-based evidence and evidence based practice across service area. This will include working with people using the service to ensure their involvement in service design and evaluation.

The post holder will work collaboratively to ensure a whole systems integrated approach to service delivery and development. All Psychological Professionals will be responsible for ensuring involvement and experience, social inclusion and race equality agendas inform and support their work.

Job description Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the psychological health & wellbeing of older people with mental health difficulties who are using community Older Peoples Mental Health services.

A key responsibility of this role will be coordinating specific service areas of development and delivery within OPMH services. Working at an operational level this will ensure improved access to psychological therapies, is an integrated part of all relevant clinical pathways, delivers high clinical standards, makes best use of its scarce resources and develops evidence based practice that meets needs and choices of people using the service.

This will be achieved in this post through undertaking the following areas of responsibility:

To be one of a team of Professional Leads with responsibility for day to day management of PPT staff primarily based in Northern and Eastern Devon and coordinating smooth running of the local older adult psychology services.

To support the Head of Psychology and Practice, OPMH Senior Leadership Team and the Practice and Strategic Lead by undertaking service development and redesign projects and coordinating the resulting work within the team, proposing and implementing policy changes within this domain and taking a lead in locality service redesign.

To be responsible for the management of Applied Psychologists and Psychological Professionals working within Older Peoples Mental Health teams. Ensure that staff work within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within these services.

Provide input to the local multidisciplinary community teams, developing new ways of working across services and auditing the impact of team working.

Carry a specialist caseload of clients as well as offering advice and consultation on clients psychological care to MH colleagues and carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the services policies and procedures.

The post holder with receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body.

Take a broad psychological approach to developing capacity of the workforce, inputting to planning and coordinating delivery of a range of activities that build capacity for psychological interventions in community settings including consultation, reflective practice, supervision and training.

As directed by the Strategic Lead, embed practice-based evidence and evidence based practice across service area. This will include working with people using the service to ensure their involvement in service design and evaluation.

The post holder will work collaboratively to ensure a whole systems integrated approach to service delivery and development. All Psychological Professionals will be responsible for ensuring involvement and experience, social inclusion and race equality agendas inform and support their work.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical/Counselling Psychologist Status in the British Psychological Society Or Professional Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology as accredited by the HCPC (or equivalent qualifications as assessed by the HCPC) Or Equivalent Qualification and Experience in another area of therapy. ie- Psychotherapy, Arts Therapies with accreditation/registration with HCPC/UKCP/Other or other relevant Professional Standards Authority accredited professional register.

Desirable

• Further training in at least one psychological therapy.

Experience Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment, including neuropsychological assessment and psychological interventions for older people with mental health problems across the full range of care settings, including memory service, community and in patient settings.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology/psychological therapy services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi disciplinary, multi agency contexts.
• Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality.

Desirable

• Project management skills / experience.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical/Counselling Psychologist Status in the British Psychological Society Or Professional Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology as accredited by the HCPC (or equivalent qualifications as assessed by the HCPC) Or Equivalent Qualification and Experience in another area of therapy. ie- Psychotherapy, Arts Therapies with accreditation/registration with HCPC/UKCP/Other or other relevant Professional Standards Authority accredited professional register.

Desirable

• Further training in at least one psychological therapy.

Experience Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment, including neuropsychological assessment and psychological interventions for older people with mental health problems across the full range of care settings, including memory service, community and in patient settings.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology/psychological therapy services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi disciplinary, multi agency contexts.
• Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality.

Desirable

• Project management skills / experience.

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).

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).

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)