Job Description

We are excited to be advertising for a Principal (8b) Clinical Psychologist to join us as Clinical Lead in our Urgent Care Pathway. We are looking for an experienced colleague to work collaboratively with the Operational and Medical Leads in leading this multi-disciplinary pathway forwards.
OurUrgent Care Pathwayis a community pathway for children and young people who require responsive and/or intensive support with risk and mental health presentations. The Pathway has strong links with other CFHD pathways of care as well as the regular interface with acute care systems.
The Pathway is guided byAdaptive Mentalisation Based Integrative Therapy (AMBIT),a model that emphasisesthe importance of the well-connected team supporting practitioners working with higher risk needs.
We would love to hear from experienced colleagues who can bring advanced level clinical thinking and formulation, skills in supervision and consultation and compassionate leadership to this progressive, responsive pathway.
Main duties of the job
As a Principal Clinical Psychologist, you will hold a Clinical Lead role within Urgent Care, working jointly with Operational and Medical Leads, as well as providing lead contributions to service developments across CFHD.
You will offer advanced formulation, strong supervisory and consultation skills as well as high-quality psychological care to young people. You will have proven experience in working positively with inter-agency colleagues, able to mentalize, contain and respond to multi-layered needs in struggling networks.
There will be CPD opportunities including access to training in the pathway e.g. AMBIT, EMDR, DBT skills and training to further progress your leadership capabilities.
You will join a group of multi-disciplinary clinical leaders across CFHD who will be your peers, your phone a friend network and your inspiring colleagues. As part of a collaborative structure of leadership, you will be well supported as you work together with colleagues to lead forward high-quality care.
There is a strong, friendly and connected network of Clinical Psychologists working across CFHD, enjoying shared CPD and professional support. We also have excellent links with local Doctoral courses for teaching and Trainee placements.
We encourage interest from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences, both personal and professional.
The Pathway is county-wide with flexibility of base possible.
About us
At Children and Family Health Devon, we are dedicated to improving the mental and physical health of children and young people across Devon and Torbay. We aim to create an environment where children and young people can thrive and are committed to reducing health inequalities and providing specialised support, empowering them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Our children and young people say
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.
We are an alliance of NHS organisations led by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Devon Partnership Trust. We are a group of professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, nurses and many other professions.
Join us in beautiful Devon
With access to moors, sea and cities, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Devon. Whether you enjoy spending time in the cultural hub of Exeter, exploring the Jurassic coastline or discovering the world surfing reserve in North Devon there really is something for everyone.
Details
Date posted
25 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8b
Salary
64,455 to 74,896 a year pro rata (30 hours per week)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours
Reference number
C9369-25-0761
Job locations
Children & Family Health Devon
Bittern Road
Sowton Industrial Estate
Exeter
EX2 7FW
Job description
Job responsibilities
Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached /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.
Information regarding the Urgent Care Pathway can be found on the Children and Family Health Devon website.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached /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.
Information regarding the Urgent Care Pathway can be found on the Children and Family Health Devon website.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• 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 training in supervision.
• Post qualification training or proven equivalent experience in leadership or management
• Post qualification specialist therapy/assessment training relevant to children and young people

Experience
Essential

• Experience of delivering effective evidence-based, outcomes-informed psychological therapy interventions with children, young people and families, including risk assessment and risk management
• Experience of working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers, including shared decision making and the use of both clinician and patient rated outcome measures
• Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary services and across organisational boundaries
• Experience of working with a wide variety of child mental health problems, across the whole age range, reflecting all levels of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems
• Experience of obtaining service user feedback and data to improve outcomes and services
• Experience in teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
• Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies as appropriate.
• Experience of using an equality and diversity framework in clinical, supervisory and leadership practice
• Experience of initiating, chairing, attending and contributing to multi-professional and interagency meetings.
• Experience of working as an autonomous individual, taking on responsibility, making decisions and seeking support as needed.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision, undertaking appraisals, developing job plans, recruitment, managing performance, absence and staff development.

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Frequent requirement to travel across Devon
• Highly developed ability to integrate complex clinical information into a coherent formulation and share this with others including service users and professionals
• The ability to work as an autonomous senior clinician, make decisions under pressure and seek support as appropriate.
• The ability to communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with children and young people, parents, carers and others as appropriate, conveying information that may be contentious or highly distressing concerning assessment, clinical formulation and treatment, at times during emotionally difficult situations
• The ability to present complex, often sensitive information in a variety of formats, both written and verbal, in a professional, clear and organised manner, including public speaking to a range of audiences

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• 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 training in supervision.
• Post qualification training or proven equivalent experience in leadership or management
• Post qualification specialist therapy/assessment training relevant to children and young people

Experience
Essential

• Experience of delivering effective evidence-based, outcomes-informed psychological therapy interventions with children, young people and families, including risk assessment and risk management
• Experience of working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers, including shared decision making and the use of both clinician and patient rated outcome measures
• Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary services and across organisational boundaries
• Experience of working with a wide variety of child mental health problems, across the whole age range, reflecting all levels of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems
• Experience of obtaining service user feedback and data to improve outcomes and services
• Experience in teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
• Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies as appropriate.
• Experience of using an equality and diversity framework in clinical, supervisory and leadership practice
• Experience of initiating, chairing, attending and contributing to multi-professional and interagency meetings.
• Experience of working as an autonomous individual, taking on responsibility, making decisions and seeking support as needed.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision, undertaking appraisals, developing job plans, recruitment, managing performance, absence and staff development.

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Frequent requirement to travel across Devon
• Highly developed ability to integrate complex clinical information into a coherent formulation and share this with others including service users and professionals
• The ability to work as an autonomous senior clinician, make decisions under pressure and seek support as appropriate.
• The ability to communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with children and young people, parents, carers and others as appropriate, conveying information that may be contentious or highly distressing concerning assessment, clinical formulation and treatment, at times during emotionally difficult situations
• The ability to present complex, often sensitive information in a variety of formats, both written and verbal, in a professional, clear and organised manner, including public speaking to a range of audiences

Skills Required