Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Applied Psychologist

The closing date is 29 April 2026

Job summary

Are you someone looking to start a career in one of the UKs most respected mental health trusts?

Would you like to do a job that makes a difference every day?

We are seeking a Clinical Psychologist to join the Devon Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disorder team (FIND) based at Easby House, Langdon Hospital in Dawlish Devon.

FIND aims to reduce length of stay for secure care patients with a primary diagnosis of Learning Disability (LD), Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and/or Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and reduce the use of out of area or specialist placements. This involves direct work with patients (e.g. intervention, specialist assessment, case management) as well as indirect work with staff teams (e.g. consultation, training, supervision).

FIND undertakes gatekeeping assessments for individuals with a primary diagnosis of Learning Disability (LD), Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and/or Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), monitors transitions between levels of security and oversees patients placed outside their home area. They also provide specialist clinical advice and recommendations on the most appropriate care pathways and sequencing of treatment for each individual.

For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact Beverley Geary, Principal Clinical Psychologist (07805587706 / Beverley.geary2@nhs.net).

Main duties of the job

As a Clinical Psychologist in FIND, you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team who provide psychologically informed support to people with a primary diagnosis of Learning Disability (LD), Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and/or an acquired brain injury.

This role involves working both directly with service users but also indirectly supporting the staff team around the person. You will be able to apply your knowledge and experience of mental health and forensic settings across assessment, formulation, and intervention to help support service users through their care pathway. The role involves providing systemic support to teams including provision of consultation, reflective practice, supervision, teaching and training.

You will provide expert assessment and intervention for people with LD, ASC and/or ABI, work to develop relationships with parents, carers and care providers and liaise with a wide range of statutory and non-statutory agencies.

You will be provided with opportunities for additional training, joint working and receiving supervision, as well as peer professional spaces.

We are looking for someone with good organisational skills, and you will need to work well autonomously and as part of a team.

The post includes visiting a number of sites and services within the region and nationally and a certain amount of travel is involved.

About us

About DPT

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

16 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9369-26-0298

Job locations

Easby House

Langdon Hospital, Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR


Job description

Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the psychological health and wellbeing of people under the ForensicIntellectualNeurodevelopmentalDisorder (FIND) Service and provide peer support to psychologists in the Community Forensic Services and wider secure services directorate.

This will be achieved in this post by:

Using theoretical and practical knowledge to provide a psychological service to service-users and to their families as required as well as members of clinical teams working in the Secure Services Directorate and outside agencies. To provide complex specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment and provide specialist advice/consultation and reflective practice to other professionals.

The role will include:

1. Being an autonomous practitioner responsible for own clinical activity and accountable for observing and interpreting professional and Trust guidelines for professional conduct including accurate record keeping.

2. Being part of the systematic provision of a high-quality psychological services in a specialist field of practice, across identified locality area, as a key component of mental health and secure services across Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

3. Providing specialist advice, consultancy and training to professionals as well as direct therapeutic work with patients.

4. Providing supervision and line management to assistant, trainee clinical psychologists, psychologists other professionals where appropriate, and providing consultation and supervision to partner agencies (e.g. inpatient teams, community teams, housing providers) where agreed.

5. Undertaking regular service development, research, clinical audit, teaching and lecturing as job responsibilities as required and engage in activities for continuing professional development.

6. Supporting service developments associated with the Secure Services Directorate.

7. The post holder will receive regular professionals and clinical supervision in accordance to Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines as set out by the British Psychological Society or appropriate designated body.

8. Meeting appropriate standards of practice in the quality and timeliness of the service provided. Standards of practice will include those defined by: the British Psychological Society (including the Division of Clinical Psychology); the HCPC; and Devon Partnership Trust

Job description

Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the psychological health and wellbeing of people under the ForensicIntellectualNeurodevelopmentalDisorder (FIND) Service and provide peer support to psychologists in the Community Forensic Services and wider secure services directorate.

This will be achieved in this post by:

Using theoretical and practical knowledge to provide a psychological service to service-users and to their families as required as well as members of clinical teams working in the Secure Services Directorate and outside agencies. To provide complex specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment and provide specialist advice/consultation and reflective practice to other professionals.

The role will include:

1. Being an autonomous practitioner responsible for own clinical activity and accountable for observing and interpreting professional and Trust guidelines for professional conduct including accurate record keeping.

2. Being part of the systematic provision of a high-quality psychological services in a specialist field of practice, across identified locality area, as a key component of mental health and secure services across Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

3. Providing specialist advice, consultancy and training to professionals as well as direct therapeutic work with patients.

4. Providing supervision and line management to assistant, trainee clinical psychologists, psychologists other professionals where appropriate, and providing consultation and supervision to partner agencies (e.g. inpatient teams, community teams, housing providers) where agreed.

5. Undertaking regular service development, research, clinical audit, teaching and lecturing as job responsibilities as required and engage in activities for continuing professional development.

6. Supporting service developments associated with the Secure Services Directorate.

7. The post holder will receive regular professionals and clinical supervision in accordance to Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines as set out by the British Psychological Society or appropriate designated body.

8. Meeting appropriate standards of practice in the quality and timeliness of the service provided. Standards of practice will include those defined by: the British Psychological Society (including the Division of Clinical Psychology); the HCPC; and Devon Partnership Trust

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of work in forensic learning disability / autism / ABI services and work with people with severe and complex needs
  • Experience of providing teaching, training and supervision
  • Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality
  • Experience of providing a range of complex assessments, formulation and therapies to address forensic as well as mental health and/or neurodiversity difficulties.
  • Experience of completing thorough assessment and risk assessment of individuals with complex need.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Broad knowledge of Forensic services; and of the services in the NHS where clinical psychology is commonly applied.
  • Extensive knowledge of the knowledge base, skills and practice of Clinical Psychology
  • Knowledge of the policy context of services to DPT.
  • Significant understanding / knowledge of working with service users with neurodiversity
  • An understanding of government policy / strategies with regard to services for people with learning disability, autism and ABI
  • A good understanding of safeguarding adults/children, the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and the CPA process.
  • Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills
  • 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.
  • Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance.
  • Organisation and time management skills. Ability to prioritise and work responsively and flexibly to manage individual, supervisee and organizational goals.
  • Ability to work autonomously, seeking guidance as necessary
  • Good communication skills when presenting / facilitating to varying groups of people

Desirable

  • Project management skills or experience

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Clinical or Counselling or Forensic Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist Status in the British Psychological Society OR Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology as accredited by the HPC (or equivalent qualifications as assessed by the HPC) OR Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (or equivalent as assessed by the HPC).
  • Registration with HCPC regulatory body.
  • IT Skills

Desirable

  • Further training or equivalent experience in relevant psychological therapies (e.g. MBT, CAT, DBT)
  • Further training or experience in delivering training programmes
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of work in forensic learning disability / autism / ABI services and work with people with severe and complex needs
  • Experience of providing teaching, training and supervision
  • Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality
  • Experience of providing a range of complex assessments, formulation and therapies to address forensic as well as mental health and/or neurodiversity difficulties.
  • Experience of completing thorough assessment and risk assessment of individuals with complex need.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Broad knowledge of Forensic services; and of the services in the NHS where clinical psychology is commonly applied.
  • Extensive knowledge of the knowledge base, skills and practice of Clinical Psychology
  • Knowledge of the policy context of services to DPT.
  • Significant understanding / knowledge of working with service users with neurodiversity
  • An understanding of government policy / strategies with regard to services for people with learning disability, autism and ABI
  • A good understanding of safeguarding adults/children, the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and the CPA process.
  • Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills
  • 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.
  • Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance.
  • Organisation and time management skills. Ability to prioritise and work responsively and flexibly to manage individual, supervisee and organizational goals.
  • Ability to work autonomously, seeking guidance as necessary
  • Good communication skills when presenting / facilitating to varying groups of people

Desirable

  • Project management skills or experience

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Clinical or Counselling or Forensic Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist Status in the British Psychological Society OR Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology as accredited by the HPC (or equivalent qualifications as assessed by the HPC) OR Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (or equivalent as assessed by the HPC).
  • Registration with HCPC regulatory body.
  • IT Skills

Desirable

  • Further training or equivalent experience in relevant psychological therapies (e.g. MBT, CAT, DBT)
  • Further training or experience in delivering training programmes

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

Easby House

Langdon Hospital, Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Easby House

Langdon Hospital, Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Clinical Psychologist

Dr Beverley Geary

beverley.geary2@nhs.net

07805587706

Details

Date posted

16 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9369-26-0298

Job locations

Easby House

Langdon Hospital, Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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