248841 (MG) Clinical/Counselling/Applied Psychologist

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

NHS Lothian

Post: Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Band: 8A

Service: Edinburgh AMH Psychological Therapies Service

Hours and WTE: 36 (1 WTE)

Contract Type: FIXED TERM FOR 6 MONTHS

We are delighted to invite applications for this opportunity to work as a Clinical/Counselling/Applied Psychologist within the Edinburgh Psychological Therapies Service. We are looking for enthusiastic and committed psychologists to support the further development of psychological services. The role involves:

• A varied individual clinical caseload across the spectrum of psychological and mental health difficulties.
• Regular individual and group supervision by the Senior Psychologists in the service.
• Opportunities to provide supervision to staff within the service, including trainees/newly qualified practitioners (eligibility for this is desirable but not essential, training can be provided).
• Opportunities to deliver staff training across a range of topics.
• Consultancy/MDT working to a range of professionals across primary and secondary care, and third sector.
• Development of, and contribution to, the growth of the group programme.
• Development of treatment pathways for a population with complex needs.
• Significant scope for role and service development.
• Opportunities to further research interests as well as service evaluation.

We are committed to investing in relevant training and career development opportunities. We are also keen to promote the development of areas of special interest and team champions in a number of areas.

You will have support links with other clinicians across the wider psychological services. There is also a wide range of mental health services within the Edinburgh HSCP with which the Psychological Therapies Service have strong links.

The department is supported by Royal Edinburgh Associated Services (REAS), and there are reporting lines to the Services Director of Royal Edinburgh Associated Services (REAS), however all posts are managed within Psychological Therapies. This is led by the Director of Psychology with a team of senior staff who are committed to supporting and developing staff alongside quality improvement and other programmes that enhance the quality of care provided.

The main base for this post is the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside, Edinburgh, with some work in the Community and optional hybrid working for both clinical and administrative work.

Please review the job description and person specification for further details and note that you will be required to hold a relevant postgraduate qualification on appointment (Doctorate or equivalent in Clinical or Counselling Psychology), as a minimum requirement and are eligible for HCPC registration.

More about Psychology: Psychology - Video

Provisional Date of Interview: week of 15/06/26

If you would like to know more about the posts, please do not hesitate to contact:

Dr Norma Martin, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Co-Lead for Edinburgh PTS, Telephone: 0131 537 6905 or Dr Sharon Edmunds, Consultant Counselling Psychologist, Co-Lead for Edinburgh PTS, Telephone: 0131 537 6905

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

As from 1st April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early.

The email address you provide will be used for notifications. Please check your Junk and Spam inboxes as notifications may go directly to these.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.