Job requirements
Essential
23 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Other
Highly skilled in specialist interventions with the client group.
- Other
Advanced psychotherapeutic assessment and formulation skills including risk assessment.
- Knowledge
Broad knowledge of specialist services and of the services in the NHS where psychotherapy /psychological therapy is commonly applied.
- Knowledge
Extensive knowledge of the skills, practice and knowledge base of psychotherapy /psychological therapy.
- Knowledge
Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychotherapy / psychological services within the organisation and of clinical leadership arrangements in this setting.
- Experience
Experience of working with services users who present with Complex Emotional Needs / personality disorders and complex lives in a range of settings
- Experience
Experience of delivering teaching/ training and supervision.
- Experience
Experience and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality.
- Qualifications
Qualified Clinical / Counselling Psychologist (D.Clin.Psychol. or equivalent) or Qualified Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist.
- Qualifications
Additional specialist experience and/or training working with people who have complex emotional needs including personality disorder diagnoses.
- Qualifications
Recognised mentalization based Treatment: Practitioner Level Qualification
- Qualifications
Registration with BPC/ UKCP/ HCPC or other regulatory/professional body for psychological therapy consistent with NHSE recognised registers guidance.
- Skills and abilities
Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.
- Skills and abilities
Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty.
- Skills and abilities
Skills in managing conflict, negotiation and achieving consensus in complex situations in the pursuit of agreed strategic aims.
- Skills and abilities
Competent IT skills
- Skills and abilities
Ability to integrate complex data, make highly skilled evaluations and decisions and take a long-term perspective.
- Skills and abilities
Proven organisational, planning and time management skills.
- Skills and abilities
Ability to understand flow of patients and forward planning of service to prevent unnecessary gaps in provision
- Skills and abilities
Ability to work under pressure and cope with deadlines.
- Skills and abilities
Clear telephone voice
- Skills and abilities
Calm, methodical approach, friendly but concise
- Skills and abilities
Good communication skills when presenting/facilitating to varying groups of people
Desirable
5 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Experience of undertaking leadership roles within psychotherapy services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi disciplinary, multi agency contexts.
- Qualifications
Further Qualification/ training in a relevant clinical specialism such as: Adaptive Mentalisation Based Integrative Treatment (AMBIT)
- Qualifications
Supervisors Qualification in MBT and or other
- Qualifications
Reflective Practice training
- Skills and abilities
Project management skills/ experience.
Job summary
Are you an experienced Psychotherapist or Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with a passion for improving care for people with complex emotional needs?
We are looking for a skilled and compassionate clinician to join the Exeter Core Teams within Devon Partnership NHS Trust.
This Band 8a, 0.8 WTE role offers an exciting opportunity to provide highly specialist psychological assessment and intervention, with a particular focus on Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT). You will hold a specialist caseload, support the delivery and clinical oversight of the Exeter MBT programme, and help develop a coherent pathway for people with complex emotional needs across the Eastern locality.
Working closely with community mental health teams, Psychology and Psychological Therapies, inpatient and community services, you will provide expert consultation, supervision, teaching and leadership to support wider workforce capability and psychologically informed care.
You will practise autonomously within professional and Trust governance frameworks while contributing to service development and high-quality, evidence-based care.
Applicants must hold an appropriate professional qualification and registration, alongside MBT Practitioner-level training and experience of working with people with complex emotional needs.
Main duties of the job
You will undertake highly specialist psychological and psychotherapeutic assessments, develop complex formulations and deliver individual and group interventions, principally Mentalisation-Based Treatment. You will manage a specialist caseload and work sensitively with people, families and carers where communication, risk and emotional needs may be complex.
As a locality link clinician for complex emotional needs, you will provide expert advice, consultation and guidance to multidisciplinary colleagues across community and inpatient services. You will support teams with care planning, engagement, and promote psychologically informed and reflective practice.
You will provide clinical oversight to the Exeter MBT programme, support fidelity to the model and contribute to provision across the wider locality. The role includes supervising and developing staff, trainees and volunteers; delivering teaching and training; and contributing to service redesign, audit, research and evaluation. You will maintain accurate clinical records, collect outcome data and work collaboratively with senior leaders and partner services to strengthen an integrated, evidence-based pathway across Devon.
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.
Details
- Date posted: 12 October 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 8a
- Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year pro rata (30 hours per week)
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: C9369-26-0815
- Job locations: Wonford House, Dryden Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5AF, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 8 Psychology roles in Exeter
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or Psychotherapist with Devon Partnership NHS Trust in Exeter, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £57528.00 to £64750.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 08 Nov 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (12 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.