Job summaryWe are seeking an experienced and dynamic Lead Practitioner Psychologist to play a key leadership role in developing and delivering integrated health services for adults experiencing mental health difficulties. The post holder will provide a high level of specialist psychological expertise within community mental health settings, supporting complex and challenging cases and ensuring the delivery of effective, evidence-based care.
Main duties of the jobAs the lead psychologist, you will be responsible for overseeing the allocation of referrals, ensuring interventions are provided by appropriately skilled staff, and maintaining high clinical standards across the service. You will offer specialist assessments, interventions, and evaluations, while also contributing to the development and implementation of psychological care packages for individuals with significant mental health needs or challenging behaviours.
This is a community-based role that requires frequent travel to various locations throughout the county including areas that may not be accessible by public transportation. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate how they will manage these travel requirements.About usWe're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.
We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.
Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.
We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to to work and a great partner.
Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of of people who live in Cornwall are supported by by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.
DetailsDate posted: 28 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 201-26-485-B
Job locations: Banham House, Bodmin, East Cornwall Locality, PL31 2QT, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesTo view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.
Person SpecificationEducation & QualifcationsEssential- Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (as approved by HCPC/BPS) Or Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (as approved by HCPC/BPS). Or Doctorate in Forensic Psychology / BPS doctoral-level Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage 2) (as approved by HCPC/BPS) Or Qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist (Postgraduate doctoral level training in Clinical/Counselling Psychology or its equivalent for those trained before 1996 or outside the UK), as approved by the HCPC; including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment modalities in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. co-morbid/complex presentations ).
- Additional further training in the use of specific psychometric and/or neuropsychological assessment tools.
- Current registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist.
Desirable- Formal training in the supervision of other psychologists including Doctoral Trainees.
ExperienceEssential- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across a range of care settings
- Substantial experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist with children and young people with Learning Disability/Autism/Neurodivergence.
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care coordinator and also within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan.
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
- Experience of working with adults presenting with high risk and emotionally dysregulated presentations
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Banham House, Bodmin, East Cornwall Locality, PL31 2QT, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Operational Lead Community Mental Health Services, Gilly Constance, gilly.constance@nhs.net, 01208834300
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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. 
