Job Description

We are looking to appoint an inspiring and enthusiastic Arts Principal Lead to join the Adult Directorates Community Services.
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 Adult Mental Health Community settings, provision of supervision 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 for the Arts Therapists and support the provision of psychologically informed care. You would also support access to effective and efficient evidence based 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 the 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.
Details
Date posted
09 October 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8b
Salary
64,455 to 74,896 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
C9369-25-0796
Job locations
The Briars
Crabb Lane
Exeter
EX2 9JD
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
The principal purpose of the job is to provide leadership, clinical governance and management support to the Creative Therapies service for the adult community services.
To improve the psychological health & wellbeing of people across the range of ability through the use of creative therapies in any one or more area of specialism such as in Art, Music, Drama, Dance or Movement) This will be achieved in this post by:
1. To ensure the systematic provision of high quality creative therapies using a range of modalities and media
2. To ensure equitable access to populations with diverse mental health needs, including people with varied learning needs.
3. Providing clinical leadership, managerial responsibility, co-ordination and supervision for staff, trainees and volunteers employed by or attached to the creative therapy service.
4. Carrying a specialist caseload of clients, 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 creative therapies
6. The post holder with receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance to Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by Health Professions Council and appropriate designated Professional Body.
7. Observe, and abide by all relevant Professional Codes of Conduct and Practise. The post holder will be fully registered with the Health Professions Council as a condition of employment.
8. Contributing to the management of the Psychology and Psychological Therapies Unit.
9. Providing Clinical and professional leadership, advice to other managers and ensuring appropriate supervision of arts therapists across the whole trust.
10. Involvement nationally with other arts therapies leads to raise profile of DPT and move arts therapies progress in line with other NHS trusts
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
The principal purpose of the job is to provide leadership, clinical governance and management support to the Creative Therapies service for the adult community services.
To improve the psychological health & wellbeing of people across the range of ability through the use of creative therapies in any one or more area of specialism such as in Art, Music, Drama, Dance or Movement) This will be achieved in this post by:
1. To ensure the systematic provision of high quality creative therapies using a range of modalities and media
2. To ensure equitable access to populations with diverse mental health needs, including people with varied learning needs.
3. Providing clinical leadership, managerial responsibility, co-ordination and supervision for staff, trainees and volunteers employed by or attached to the creative therapy service.
4. Carrying a specialist caseload of clients, 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 creative therapies
6. The post holder with receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance to Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by Health Professions Council and appropriate designated Professional Body.
7. Observe, and abide by all relevant Professional Codes of Conduct and Practise. The post holder will be fully registered with the Health Professions Council as a condition of employment.
8. Contributing to the management of the Psychology and Psychological Therapies Unit.
9. Providing Clinical and professional leadership, advice to other managers and ensuring appropriate supervision of arts therapists across the whole trust.
10. Involvement nationally with other arts therapies leads to raise profile of DPT and move arts therapies progress in line with other NHS trusts
Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Experience of work in Creative Therapies in a range of service settings or agencies
• 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

Qualifications
Essential

• Specialist professional knowledge acquired through arts or other appropriate degree with Additional training in the relevant arts psychotherapy to masters degree plus experience to accreditable standard - Registered with HCPC.
• OR
• Qualified Post doctoral Applied Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent), with specialist interest and experience in one or more Creative therapy to a professional standard - Registration with HCPC

Desirable

• Further training and specialist training and experience (post-masters degree) in clinical specialism/arts therapy method

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Experience of work in Creative Therapies in a range of service settings or agencies
• 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

Qualifications
Essential

• Specialist professional knowledge acquired through arts or other appropriate degree with Additional training in the relevant arts psychotherapy to masters degree plus experience to accreditable standard - Registered with HCPC.
• OR
• Qualified Post doctoral Applied Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent), with specialist interest and experience in one or more Creative therapy to a professional standard - Registration with HCPC

Desirable

• Further training and specialist training and experience (post-masters degree) in clinical specialism/arts therapy method

Skills Required