Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

The closing date is 26 October 2025

Job summary

Are you passionate about improving the lives of older people? We are looking for a skilled and enthusiastic Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our Exeter-based Older Peoples Community Mental Health Team.

This is a great opportunity to work at the heart of a multidisciplinary team, delivering specialist psychological and neuropsychological assessments, therapeutic interventions, and consultation for older people with complex mental health needs, and cognitive difficulties. You'd also play a key role in supervision and service development.

We offer:

  • A supportive team that values psychological perspectives
  • Opportunities to innovate and shape services for older people
  • Support for CPD, supervision, and career development
  • A workplace culture that values kindness and collaboration

Our friendly and active specialty spans community, inpatient, and memory services across Devon Partnership Trust.

Informal discussions are encouraged, please contact Dr Dickon Millet, Professional Lead Clinical Psychologist.

Please note that we will be holding the interviews as soon as possible after the closing date and may close early if sufficient applications are received - so please apply early.

If you're ready to bring your expertise where it truly matters, we'd love to welcome you.

Main duties of the job

The Clinical/Counselling Psychologist provides specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention for older people presenting with complex mental health needs and cognitive impairment, including dementia.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Delivering evidence-based psychological therapies tailored to older people
  • Conducting neuropsychological assessments and formulations
  • Contributing to service development and audit
  • Promoting psychological thinking across the MDT
  • Dedicated input to the Exeter Memory Clinic
  • Supporting and supervising a Clinical Associate Psychologist
  • Contributing to clinical placements for Trainee Psychologists
  • Engaging in peer supervision and service development

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

10 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year pro rata (22.5 hours over 3 days per week)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0614

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 people within the post holders specialist field of practice.

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

  • To ensure the systematic provision of a high quality psychological service in specialist field of practice, across identified locality area, as a key component of integrated mental health and wellbeing services across Devon Partnership NHS Trust.
  • Providing clinical leadership and supervision for less experienced staff, trainees and volunteers employed by or attached to the OPMH psychology service.
  • Carrying a specialist caseload of clients, and providing advice and consultancy to patients and professionals.
  • To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within professional and Trust guidelines as lead specialist.
  • The post holder with receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body.
  • Observe, and abide by all relevant Professional Codes of Conduct and Practice including the British Psychological Society. The post holder will be fully registered with the Health Professions Council as a condition of employment

Job description

Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the psychological health & wellbeing of people within the post holders specialist field of practice.

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

  • To ensure the systematic provision of a high quality psychological service in specialist field of practice, across identified locality area, as a key component of integrated mental health and wellbeing services across Devon Partnership NHS Trust.
  • Providing clinical leadership and supervision for less experienced staff, trainees and volunteers employed by or attached to the OPMH psychology service.
  • Carrying a specialist caseload of clients, and providing advice and consultancy to patients and professionals.
  • To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within professional and Trust guidelines as lead specialist.
  • The post holder with receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body.
  • Observe, and abide by all relevant Professional Codes of Conduct and Practice including the British Psychological Society. The post holder will be fully registered with the Health Professions Council as a condition of employment

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Practitioner Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent) and eligible for Chartered Status in the British Psychological Society. Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with HCPC Or Professional Qualification to at least Masters Level in a Psychotherapy or Psychological Therapy, including Arts Therapies and accreditation with an appropriate PSA approved body

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills
  • Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty
  • Skills in managing conflict, negotiation and 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
  • Proven organisational, planning and time management skills
  • Ability to work under pressure and cope with deadlines
  • Calm, methodical approach, friendly but concise
  • Good communication skills when presenting / facilitating to varying groups of people

Desirable

  • Further training in at least one (other) psychological therapy
  • IT Skills

Experience

Essential

  • Further training or experience in clinical specialism
  • Further training in related area
  • Broad knowledge of specialist services and of the services in the NHS where psychology is commonly applied
  • Extensive knowledge of the skills, practice and knowledge base of Clinical/Counselling Psychology
  • Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychological services within the organisation and of clinical leadership arrangements in this setting
  • Experience of work in older adult mental health services or agencies and work with people with severe and complex mental health difficulties
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
  • Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology 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
  • Highly skilled in specialist interventions with the client group
  • Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills including risk assessment

Desirable

  • Proficiency in in both individual and group therapy approaches
  • Project management skills / experience
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Practitioner Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent) and eligible for Chartered Status in the British Psychological Society. Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with HCPC Or Professional Qualification to at least Masters Level in a Psychotherapy or Psychological Therapy, including Arts Therapies and accreditation with an appropriate PSA approved body

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills
  • Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty
  • Skills in managing conflict, negotiation and 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
  • Proven organisational, planning and time management skills
  • Ability to work under pressure and cope with deadlines
  • Calm, methodical approach, friendly but concise
  • Good communication skills when presenting / facilitating to varying groups of people

Desirable

  • Further training in at least one (other) psychological therapy
  • IT Skills

Experience

Essential

  • Further training or experience in clinical specialism
  • Further training in related area
  • Broad knowledge of specialist services and of the services in the NHS where psychology is commonly applied
  • Extensive knowledge of the skills, practice and knowledge base of Clinical/Counselling Psychology
  • Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychological services within the organisation and of clinical leadership arrangements in this setting
  • Experience of work in older adult mental health services or agencies and work with people with severe and complex mental health difficulties
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
  • Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology 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
  • Highly skilled in specialist interventions with the client group
  • Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills including risk assessment

Desirable

  • Proficiency in in both individual and group therapy approaches
  • 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)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Professional Lead Clinical Psychologist

Dr Dickon Millett

dickon.millet@nhs.net

07817452758

Details

Date posted

10 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year pro rata (22.5 hours over 3 days per week)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0614

Job locations

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Devon Partnership NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)