Job summaryAn exciting leadership opportunity in Clinical Health Psychology
We are seeking an experienced and inspiring Principal Clinical Psychologist to lead our Adult Clinical Health Psychology Service. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of psychological care within physical health services while joining a thriving Clinical Health Psychology Department with a reputation for innovation, collaboration and high-quality patient care. You will combine strategic leadership with highly specialist clinical practice, influencing services across acute and community healthcare settings.
Main duties of the jobProvide operational, professional, strategic and clinical leadership for the Adult Clinical Health Psychology Service.
Lead and manage the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based psychological services for adults living with physical health conditions and complex psychological adjustment difficulties.
Work collaboratively with the Head and Deputy Head of Clinical Health Psychology to support service development, workforce planning, quality improvement and performance management.
Provide line management, professional leadership and clinical supervision to psychological professionals within the service.
Maintain a highly specialist clinical caseload involving complex presentations and consultation to multidisciplinary teams.
Promote psychologically and trauma-informed approaches across healthcare services and pathways.
About usWhy Work With Us
The Adult Clinical Health Psychology Service is a specialist service within Clinical Health Psychology Department. We are a well-established department providing specialist psychological care across a range of physical healthcare pathways within the acute trust & wider healthcare system.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a respected service while contributing to the ongoing development of Psychology across the Trust. You will join a supportive and ambitious department with a strong commitment to high-quality patient care, staff wellbeing & continuous improvement. We offer:
- A balance of leadership, service development & highly specialist clinical practice.
- A collaborative & welcoming culture that values kindness, curiosity & shared learning.
- Flexible & agile working arrangements.
- Strong professional support through supervision, peer consultation & reflective practice.
- Excellent opportunities for CPD, teaching, research, quality improvement & leadership development.
- Established links with universities, regional training programmes & Psychology services across South West.
We are looking for an experienced clinical leader who is passionate about psychological care in physical health settings & motivated by the opportunity to shape services, support staff & improve outcomes for patients & families. This role offers a rare opportunity to shape services, develop the workforce & influence the role of psychology within an acute NHS trust.
DetailsDate posted: 05 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year pa pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 388-8142056-PC&S
Job locations: Hengrave House, Torbay Hospital, Newton Road, Torquay, TQ2 7AA, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesClinical Leadership- Lead the Adult Clinical Health Psychology Service, ensuring safe, effective and equitable service delivery.
- Provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for adults with complex physical health conditions, taking into account theoretical and therapeutic models.
- Undertake highly complex clinical decision-making involving significant levels of uncertainty and risk.
- To undertake risk assessment and risk management for relevant individual clients and to provide both general and specialist advice for psychologists and other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management.
- Act as an expert resource to multidisciplinary teams regarding psychological aspects of physical health conditions.
- Promote psychologically informed approaches across healthcare services.
- To provide clinical and service development consultation to other health and social care staff and foster reflective practice in teams.
- To monitor and evaluate progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.
Leadership and Service Development- Lead service planning, development and transformation initiatives within Adult Clinical Health Psychology.
- Lead the development and implementation of policies, practices and procedures for ACHP and wider CHP service
- Develop and implement service objectives aligned with Trust priorities and national policy.
- Monitor service performance and activity, ensuring delivery against agreed standards and performance indicators.
- Contribute to business planning, workforce planning and service redesign initiatives.
- Support the development and integration of psychological care pathways across acute and community settings.
Management Responsibilities- Hold line management responsibility for designated psychology staff.
- Undertake recruitment, achievement and development reviews, performance management and workforce planning activities.
- Support compassionate and inclusive staff wellbeing, engagement and retention.
- Ensure effective deployment of staff resources and management of waiting lists and workload allocation.
- Manage delegated resources where appropriate.
Professional Leadership- Provide professional leadership and support to staff within the Clinical Health Psychology Service.
- Maintain high standards of psychological practice in accordance with HCPC, BPS and Trust governance requirements.
- Lead on professional standards, policies and procedures relating to psychological practice.
- Support the development of trainees and junior colleagues.
- Contribute to professional leadership, service meetings and departmental development activities.
- Act with integrity and professionalism, modelling Trust values and leadership behaviours.
Supervision, Teaching and Training- Provide clinical and professional supervision to qualified and trainee psychological professionals.
- Deliver consultation, teaching and training to psychology and multidisciplinary colleagues.
- Support training placements and relationships with regional training programmes and universities.
- Maintain ongoing professional development and contribute to departmental learning initiatives.
Research, audit and quality improvement- Promote a culture of evidence-based practice, service evaluation and continuous improvement.
- Lead, support and participate in audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activities.
- Lead, support and contribute to research activity where appropriate.
- Ensure clinical practice reflects current evidence and professional standards
Person SpecificationQualifications and Professional RegistrationEssential- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or equivalent HCPC-recognised qualification).
- HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist.
- Evidence of ongoing CPD.
Desirable- Post-doctoral training relevant to Clinical Health Psychology.
- Leadership/management qualification.
- Clinical supervision qualification.
Clinical ExperienceEssential- Significant post-qualification experience within Clinical Health Psychology/Physical Health settings.
- Experience working with adults with complex physical health conditions and psychological adjustment difficulties.
- Experience managing complex clinical risk.
Desirable- Experience at Band 8A/8B level or equivalent.
- Research experience within Clinical Health Psychology.
Leadership & Management ExperienceEssential- Experience of service leadership and service development
- Experience of line management and performance management
- Experience of workforce planning and supervision of qualified and trainee staff
Desirable- Experience leading service transformation and change programmes
- Experience of business planning and strategic workforce development
KnowledgeEssential- Advanced knowledge of psychological theory and evidence-based interventions relevant to Clinical Health Psychology
- Understanding of NHS structures, governance and health policy
- Knowledge of professional, ethical and legal frameworks
- Understanding of supervision models and quality improvement approaches
Desirable- Knowledge of integrated care systems, commissioning processes and national policy relating to physical health psychology services
Clinical SkillsEssential- Highly developed assessment, formulation and intervention skills
- Ability to provide expert consultation to multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to manage highly complex clinical presentations and uncertainty
Desirable- Additional specialist therapeutic skills relevant to physical health settings
Leadership & Communication SkillsEssential- Excellent leadership and people management skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities and complex workloads
- Ability to build effective relationships across professional and organisational boundaries
Desirable- Experience representing services at regional or national forums
Service Development & Quality ImprovementEssential- Experience of audit, service evaluation and quality improvement
- Ability to lead service development initiatives and monitor service performance
Desirable- Experience leading transformation projects or research programmes
Teaching, Training & SupervisionEssential- Experience providing clinical supervision to qualified and trainee psychological professionals
- Experience delivering teaching and training
Desirable- Experience developing training or working with doctoral training courses
Personal qualitiesEssential- Collaborative and inclusive leadership style
- Commitment to compassionate, person-centred car
- Professional credibility and integrity
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Resilience and ability to work under pressure
- Commitment to staff wellbeing and development
Desirable- Strategic thinker with enthusiasm for innovation and service improvement
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.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK RegistrationApplicants 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.Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer name: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Hengrave House, Torbay Hospital, Newton Road, Torquay, TQ2 7AA, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:Head of Clinical Health Psychology
Dr Jennie Norris
jennie.norris3@nhs.net
01803654573
Supporting documentsPrivacy noticeTorbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
