Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Urgent & Inpatient Care Professional Lead

The closing date is 27 June 2025

Job summary

We are looking to appoint an inspiring and enthusiastic Psychology / Therapist Professional Lead for Psychology and Psychological Therapy for the Acute Care Pathway.

We believe Psychology is central to the understanding of mental and physical wellbeing and the application of psychological knowledge and skill to all our services is key to ensuring they are effective, efficient and compassionate.

You will have strong leadership skills and will be responsible for leading a highly skilled team who provide services for people with severe and complex mental health needs. You will have experience of working in Acute Care settings and working in MDT teams.

Psychological professions are highly valued by the Trust and key contributors to many new developments in services and the overall strategic vision to provide efficient and trauma informed care.

You will be a member of the Psychology Professional Lead team working with the Strategic Lead for Adult Mental Health, assisting with the implementation of our Strategic Plan and ensuring good governance for the Psychological Practice.

Main duties of the job

In this role you will be providing psychological leadership and support the provision of psychologically informed care. You would also support access to effective and efficient evidence based and evidence informed psychological therapy across clinical pathways and hold a small caseload.

The Psychology Service supports close links with the local DClinPsy and DCounsPsych training courses (Exeter, Plymouth and Bristol) and we welcome trainees from all of the different psychological professions.

In addition to clinical supervision, there will be opportunities to meet regularly with other psychologists and psychological therapists for CPD events. Additional training and career development opportunities are encouraged and supported. The South West Psychology Profession Network is a well-established professional community attend by a range of professions from across the region providing a forum to discuss issues of local and national importance, networking opportunities and sharing learning.

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.

Date posted

03 June 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

C9369-25-0450

Job locations

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

North Devon District Hospital

Raleigh Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 4JB

Torbay Hospital

Lowes Bridge

Torquay

Devon

TQ2 7AA

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of specialist psychological assessment and psychological interventions for people with mental health problems across the full range of care settings, particularly for inpatient and acute care 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; and supervising psychological therapists and undertaking line-management.
Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality

Knowledge

Essential

Broad knowledge of Adult Mental Health services, including inpatient services
Extensive knowledge of the skills, practice and knowledge base of Psychology and Psychological Therapies in context of Adult Mental Health Services in particular working inpatient and acute care pathways
Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychological services within the organisation and of clinical leadership arrangements in this setting.
Knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex data analysis
A good knowledge of and ability to work with current NHS drivers in mental health

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 Psychology as accredited by the HCPC (or equivalent qualifications as assessed by the HPC) Or Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (or equivalent as assessed by the HCPC).
Registration with HCPC/UKCP/Other Specialist regulatory body
Further training or equivalent experience in working within acute mental health services
Further training in at least one psychological therapy

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of specialist psychological assessment and psychological interventions for people with mental health problems across the full range of care settings, particularly for inpatient and acute care 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; and supervising psychological therapists and undertaking line-management.
Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality

Knowledge

Essential

Broad knowledge of Adult Mental Health services, including inpatient services
Extensive knowledge of the skills, practice and knowledge base of Psychology and Psychological Therapies in context of Adult Mental Health Services in particular working inpatient and acute care pathways
Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychological services within the organisation and of clinical leadership arrangements in this setting.
Knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex data analysis
A good knowledge of and ability to work with current NHS drivers in mental health

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 Psychology as accredited by the HCPC (or equivalent qualifications as assessed by the HPC) Or Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (or equivalent as assessed by the HCPC).
Registration with HCPC/UKCP/Other Specialist regulatory body
Further training or equivalent experience in working within acute mental health services
Further training in at least one psychological therapy

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.