Job overview
We are committed to developing our Clinical/Counselling/Forensic psychologists and are expanding our psychology leadership structure. We are looking for a practitioner psychologist to join our growing psychological professions team, lead on the clinical supervision of psychological professionals, develop and deliver specialist psychology services. We are looking for those who are innovative, flexible, and passionate about transforming and delivering services that provide trauma-informed, person-centred care in adult community mental health. There will be opportunities to lead on the development of a model of integrated primary and community mental health linking Community Mental Health with Integrated Neighbour Teams and Primary Care Networks.
The Lead Practitioner (Clinical/Counselling/Forensic) Psychologist role is a varied one providing balance between clinical work, supervision, consultation, leadership, and service development. Skills and experience in supporting psychological practice in community mental health by contributing a psychological perspective to a NHS, Council and VCSE multidisciplinary team’s working and treatment planning are valued. Training and supervision in leadership, and clinical interventions to deliver and support our NICE informed care pathways is encouraged.
Main duties of the job
Please see attached JD. An advert can only tell you so much, so if you are interested in this post and feel that you have the skills and passion for this work that we are looking for, please get in touch and we will happily fill in the gaps. Even if you do not yet meet the essential criteria for the post, we are keen to create development opportunities and to provide training for the role. We are keen to talk with you. Interviews will be held in person on 6 August 2026.
Please note that, whilst working patterns will be flexible and include some remote working, there will be a requirement for the successful applicants to be physically based within team bases in Cornwall for most of the week. If you are applying from out of county, there may be an option to work fully remotely for an initial period to allow you the time to organise relocation to this beautiful part of the world. A relocation package is available for discussion.
This job is currently only open to people who already work for the NHS in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly. We are committed to supporting our dedicated staff, so only current employees of the following organisations can apply:
- Cornwall Foundation Trust
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board
If you do not currently work for one of these NHS organisations, your application will not be considered at this time.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see ‘supporting documents’.
Person specification
Knowledge and abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of contemporary legislation relating to the delivery of mental health and psychological services and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management.
- Knowledge and experience of the application of clinical governance; risk assessment and management; and safeguarding policy and practice with vulnerable groups
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific, difficult to treat groups.
Education / Qualifications and Relevant Experience
Essential
- 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.
- Current registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist
- 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.
- Substantial experience of working as a qualified practitioner psychologist with people with complex and challenging mental health presentations.
- Substantial experience of working as a qualified practitioner psychologist with adults in a community mental health setting.
- 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.
- 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
- Significant experience in the clinical supervision of psychological professionals and other clinical staff at various levels of training.
- Experience of working with adults presenting with high risk and emotionally dysregulated presentations
Desirable
- Formal training in the supervision of other psychologists including Doctoral Trainees.
- Additional further training in the use of specific psychometric and/or neuropsychological assessment tools.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Lead Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical/Counselling/Forensic) with Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Bodmin, South West, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 Per Annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Jul 2026.
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