Lead Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

We 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 job

We 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.

Person Specification

Experience

Desirable

• 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.

Qualifications

Essential

• 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 Ability

Essential

• 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.

Desirable

• Group work skills.

Closing Date: 7 August 2026