Principal Clinical Psychologist

We are looking for

an 8a Principal Clinical Psychologist to join the team for Adults with a Learning Disability at the Regional Learning Disability and Autism Unit in Dawlish (The Brook).

The Unit provides assessment and treatment to people with a Learning Disability and / or Autistic People who have a Mental Health condition and/or demonstrate distress through their behaviour. The service aims to become a centre of excellence.

You will be part of a rich

multi-disciplinary team including Nursing, Psychiatry, Occupational Therapy and

Speech and Language therapy, and provide a Clinical Psychology service via

complex assessment, intervention, training, consultation & supervision. Our

teams are experienced, cohesive & mutually supportive.

Psychology is

highly valued in the Learning Disability service. We have a caring & mutually

supportive culture that is a vital foundation for the challenging but rewarding

work that we do.

As a key part of

the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team, psychology is committed to compassionate,

respectful & equitable care for people with Learning Disabilities using a

biopsychosocial model that is trauma-informed & sensitive to the individual

contexts in which distress arises in a population with limited or no power. We

have links with both the Plymouth and Exeter Doctoral Programmes & there is a strong research department within DPT.

Main duties of the job

To improve the

psychological health & well-being of people with Learning Disabilities and

to provide psychological services to people are admitted to The Brook.

This will be

achieved in this post by:

1. Ensuring the

systematic provision of a high quality psychological service to people with

Learning Disabilities who are admitted.

2. Providing

clinical leadership, co-ordination and supervision for staff, trainees and

volunteers employed by or attached to the psychology service.

3. Taking a

leadership role in the development and delivery of psychological interventions

for people with Learning Disabilities

4. Overseeing the

delivery of psychological support of the patients on the unit, and providing

advice and consultancy to patients and professionals.

5. To work

autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the

systematic governance of psychological practice within the team.

6. The post holder

will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with

Trust policy and Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the Health

Professions Council/British Psychological Society.

7. Contributing to

the management of psychology services within the unit.

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.

Details

Date posted

07 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,

Job share,

Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-26-0181-1

Job locations

The Brook Learning Disability and Autism Unit

Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision

Desirable

• Extended experience of assessing and working with people with learning disabilities/ autism and working within learning disability services/ autism services. Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts

Knowledge, Skills and Planning

Essential

• Knowledge of Learning Disabilities services and Autism Services in the NHS and of the knowledge base, skills and practice of clinical psychology.
• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to integrate complex data, make highly skilled evaluations and decisions, and take a long-term perspective
• Organisation and time management skills
• Highly skilled in specialist interventions
• Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills
• Consultation skills

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified Clinical Psychologist (D.Clin. Psych or equivalent) and registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Further training in psychological approaches particularly Positive Behavioural Support Further training and experience in interventions with people with learning disabilities/ Autism

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision

Desirable

• Extended experience of assessing and working with people with learning disabilities/ autism and working within learning disability services/ autism services. Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts

Knowledge, Skills and Planning

Essential

• Knowledge of Learning Disabilities services and Autism Services in the NHS and of the knowledge base, skills and practice of clinical psychology.
• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to integrate complex data, make highly skilled evaluations and decisions, and take a long-term perspective
• Organisation and time management skills
• Highly skilled in specialist interventions
• Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills
• Consultation skills

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified Clinical Psychologist (D.Clin. Psych or equivalent) and registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Further training in psychological approaches particularly Positive Behavioural Support Further training and experience in interventions with people with learning disabilities/ Autism

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

The Brook Learning Disability and Autism Unit

Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

The Brook Learning Disability and Autism Unit

Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Job responsibilities

Experience

Essential

• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision

Desirable

• Extended experience of assessing and working with people with learning disabilities/ autism and working within learning disability services/ autism services. Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts

Knowledge, Skills and Planning

Essential

• Knowledge of Learning Disabilities services and Autism Services in the NHS and of the knowledge base, skills and practice of clinical psychology.
• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to integrate complex data, make highly skilled evaluations and decisions, and take a long-term perspective
• Organisation and time management skills
• Highly skilled in specialist interventions
• Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills
• Consultation skills

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified Clinical Psychologist (D.Clin. Psych or equivalent) and registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Further training in psychological approaches particularly Positive Behavioural Support Further training and experience in interventions with people with learning disabilities/ Autism