Senior Clinical Psychologist - Preceptorship opportunity

Senior Clinical Psychologist - Preceptorship opportunity

We are delighted to be recruiting a Senior Clinical Psychologist (Band 8a) to join the Mood, Emotions and Relationships (MERs) Pathway within Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD), based in North Devon. This is a 1.0 WTE post, and can also be offered at Band 7 under a preceptorship, with a clear structure to progress to Band 8a upon meeting agreed competencies.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality psychological care for children and young people experiencing moderate to severe mental health needs.

The MERs pathway is part of our wider integrated model of care in CFHD, supporting young people with difficulties such as low mood, anxiety, emotional dysregulation and relational challenges. You will be part of a supportive, multi-disciplinary team, working closely with colleagues across health, education and social care to deliver formulation-driven, trauma-informed interventions.

We are particularly excited to offer the opportunity to lead the development of our DBT-informed approach in North Devon. There are also opportunities to pursue training in EMDR, depending on your clinical interests and service needs.

This is an ideal role for Clinical Psychologists looking to take on senior responsibilities with a blend of therapeutic work, clinical leadership and service development, in a beautiful part of the country.

Main duties of the job

We Offer:

• A senior clinical role in a well-established multi-disciplinary team
• The opportunity to lead DBT-informed service development in North Devon
• CPD opportunities, including training in DBT and EMDR
• Regular clinical supervision, a dedicated job plan, and access to a strong psychology network within CFHD

Main Duties of the Job:

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments, formulations, and interventions for children, young people, and their families
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary team working, offering consultation and shared formulation
• Offer clinical supervision and support to colleagues within the MERs pathway
• Engage in service development, evaluation, and quality improvement, aligned with the THRIVE framework
• Support trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive practice across the team
• Pursue ongoing CPD, including training in EMDR, depending on interest and service need
• Collaborate with young people, families, and professionals across systems to ensure joined-up, person-centred care

About us

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health which are provided by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services, based on the i-Thrive Framework.

CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Job responsibilities

Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification and ensure you evidence essential criteria in your application.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent e.g. Masters level qualification in Clinical Psychology if qualified before 1996.
• Active registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC.
• Post qualification specialist therapy/assessment training relevant to children and young people.
• Post qualification training or proven equivalent experience in supervision

Experience

• Experience of undertaking specialist psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions for CYP with a wide variety of mental health problems and/or neurodiversity and/or learning disability, reflecting all levels of clinical severity; including risk assessments of self-harming/dangerous/challenging behaviour.
• Experience of teaching and/or training
• Experience of delivering clinical supervision
• Experience of work in psychological interventions with children, young people and their families in a range of service settings or agencies
• 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

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Specialist knowledge of child development and the impact of adverse childhood experiences.
• Broad knowledge of psychological services; and of the services in the NHS where psychology is applied to the needs of children and young people
• Extensive knowledge of the knowledge base, skills and practice of Clinical Psychology in relevant health settings.
• Able to travel and work across the area covered by the trust as requested by Line Manager

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.

Joint Lead for Psychological Professions