Job summary
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:

• Ensuring the systematic provision of a high quality psychological service to people with Learning Disabilities who are admitted.
• Providing clinical leadership, co-ordination and supervision for staff, trainees and volunteers employed by or attached to the psychology service.
• Taking a leadership role in the development and delivery of psychological interventions for people with Learning Disabilities
• Overseeing the delivery of psychological support of the patients on the unit, and providing advice and consultancy to patients and professionals.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team.
• 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.
• 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.

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 Employer.

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

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 (opens in a new window).

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.