Principal Clinical Psychologist

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The role:

Clinical psychologists within Specialist Children’s Services in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provide specialist psychology services within a variety of care group and geographical areas: Child and Adolescent Mental Health inpatient and community services, Paediatrics, Maternity and Neonatology services and Paediatric Neuropsychology.

There are eight Tier 3 CAMHS in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area: four within Glasgow and four others in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde. Within this group, there is a wide range of specialist interests and opportunity to share knowledge and experience across teams.

All clinical psychologists within Specialist Children’s Services are part of a professional network of around 70-80 psychologists in this care group across the board area and are also part of a wider grouping of around 250 psychologists employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. There are links with both the University of Glasgow Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and also the University of Edinburgh MSc course for Applied Psychology for Children and Young People.

The post holder may be required to provide clinical psychology input across the service area and at different bases as required.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

Permanent, Full time

West Centre

Shift Pattern - Monday - Friday

Key responsibilities:

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessments using complex data from multiple sources.
• Formulate and implement evidence-based psychological treatment plans across care settings.
• Deliver and adapt psychological interventions for individuals, families, carers and groups.
• Evaluate treatment options considering complex theoretical, historical and developmental factors.
• Exercise autonomous responsibility for assessment, treatment and discharge.
• Provide specialist psychological consultation and advice to other professionals.
• Contribute to psychologically informed care across teams, settings and agencies.
• Undertake and advise on risk assessment and risk management.
• Act as care coordinator where appropriate, leading care planning and review.
• Communicate assessment, formulation, treatment plans and progress effectively.

Provide specialist psychological assessments using complex data from multiple sources.

Formulate and implement evidence-based psychological treatment plans across care settings.

Deliver and adapt psychological interventions for individuals, families, carers and groups.

Evaluate treatment options considering complex theoretical, historical and developmental factors.

Exercise autonomous responsibility for assessment, treatment and discharge.

Provide specialist psychological consultation and advice to other professionals.

Contribute to psychologically informed care across teams, settings and agencies.

Undertake and advise on risk assessment and risk management.

Act as care coordinator where appropriate, leading care planning and review.

Communicate assessment, formulation, treatment plans and progress effectively.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

• Receive regular clinical supervision from senior psychologists.
• Develop advanced specialist clinical psychology skills.
• Develop and deliver teaching, training and supervision to MDT staff.
• Supervise doctoral trainees and assistant clinical psychologists.
• Supervise CAAPS and MSc psychological therapy trainees.
• Contribute to pre- and post-qualification teaching.
• Provide consultation, training and advice across agencies.

Receive regular clinical supervision from senior psychologists.

Develop advanced specialist clinical psychology skills.

Develop and deliver teaching, training and supervision to MDT staff.

Supervise doctoral trainees and assistant clinical psychologists.

Supervise CAAPS and MSc psychological therapy trainees.

Contribute to pre- and post-qualification teaching.

Provide consultation, training and advice across agencies.

Management, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development

• Contribute to service development, evaluation, audit and policy implementation.
• Advise management on psychological and organisational issues.
• Undertake service development within own area.
• Manage workloads of assistant and trainee psychologists.
• Participate in recruitment and selection processes.

Contribute to service development, evaluation, audit and policy implementation.

Advise management on psychological and organisational issues.

Undertake service development within own area.

Manage workloads of assistant and trainee psychologists.

Participate in recruitment and selection processes.

Research and Service Evaluation

• Apply research and evidence-based literature to clinical practice.
• Undertake and advise on research activities.
• Manage audits and service evaluation projects to support service improvement.

Apply research and evidence-based literature to clinical practice.

Undertake and advise on research activities.

Manage audits and service evaluation projects to support service improvement.

IT Responsibilities

• Use IT systems to record and report clinical activity and service performance.
• Collect, analyse and report data using appropriate software.
• Use NHS e-library and IT systems to maintain up-to-date practice.

Use IT systems to record and report clinical activity and service performance.

Collect, analyse and report data using appropriate software.

Use NHS e-library and IT systems to maintain up-to-date practice.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS or HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Further post-doctoral training, research and study across a range of areas, including advanced clinical skills.
• It is a requirement of these posts to provide clinical placements and supervision to Trainee Clinical Psychologists undertaking a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. To enable the post-holder to do so they must be eligible for the relevant training which meets University accreditation criteria. Eligibility for this requires post-doctoral clinical experience.
• Registration with the HCPC as a clinical psychologist.

What we offer:

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion, please contact:Lynn Esdale, Consultant Clinical Psychologist - [email protected] - 0141 207 7100

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates

This post may close early to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to provide shortlisting feedback.

From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part-time working hours will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Candidates must provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools or other third-party assistance to generate, draft or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the recruitment process.

For application portal or log-in issues, please contact the Jobtrain Support Hub in the first instance.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The role:

Clinical psychologists within Specialist Children’s Services in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provide specialist psychology services within a variety of care group and geographical areas: Child and Adolescent Mental Health inpatient and community services, Paediatrics, Maternity and Neonatology services and Paediatric Neuropsychology.

There are eight Tier 3 CAMHS in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area: four within Glasgow and four others in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde. Within this group, there is a wide range of specialist interests and opportunity to share knowledge and experience across teams.

All clinical psychologists within Specialist Children’s Services are part of a professional network of around 70-80 psychologists in this care group across the board area and are also part of a wider grouping of around 250 psychologists employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. There are links with both the University of Glasgow Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and also the University of Edinburgh MSc course for Applied Psychology for Children and Young People.

The post holder may be required to provide clinical psychology input across the service area and at different bases as required.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

Permanent, Full time

West Centre

Shift Pattern - Monday - Friday

Key responsibilities:

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessments using complex data from multiple sources.
• Formulate and implement evidence-based psychological treatment plans across care settings.
• Deliver and adapt psychological interventions for individuals, families, carers and groups.
• Evaluate treatment options considering complex theoretical, historical and developmental factors.
• Exercise autonomous responsibility for assessment, treatment and discharge.
• Provide specialist psychological consultation and advice to other professionals.
• Contribute to psychologically informed care across teams, settings and agencies.
• Undertake and advise on risk assessment and risk management.
• Act as care coordinator where appropriate, leading care planning and review.
• Communicate assessment, formulation, treatment plans and progress effectively.

Provide specialist psychological assessments using complex data from multiple sources.

Formulate and implement evidence-based psychological treatment plans across care settings.

Deliver and adapt psychological interventions for individuals, families, carers and groups.

Evaluate treatment options considering complex theoretical, historical and developmental factors.

Exercise autonomous responsibility for assessment, treatment and discharge.

Provide specialist psychological consultation and advice to other professionals.

Contribute to psychologically informed care across teams, settings and agencies.

Undertake and advise on risk assessment and risk management.

Act as care coordinator where appropriate, leading care planning and review.

Communicate assessment, formulation, treatment plans and progress effectively.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

• Receive regular clinical supervision from senior psychologists.
• Develop advanced specialist clinical psychology skills.
• Develop and deliver teaching, training and supervision to MDT staff.
• Supervise doctoral trainees and assistant clinical psychologists.
• Supervise CAAPS and MSc psychological therapy trainees.
• Contribute to pre- and post-qualification teaching.
• Provide consultation, training and advice across agencies.

Receive regular clinical supervision from senior psychologists.

Develop advanced specialist clinical psychology skills.

Develop and deliver teaching, training and supervision to MDT staff.

Supervise doctoral trainees and assistant clinical psychologists.

Supervise CAAPS and MSc psychological therapy trainees.

Contribute to pre- and post-qualification teaching.

Provide consultation, training and advice across agencies.

Management, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development

• Contribute to service development, evaluation, audit and policy implementation.
• Advise management on psychological and organisational issues.
• Undertake service development within own area.
• Manage workloads of assistant and trainee psychologists.
• Participate in recruitment and selection processes.

Contribute to service development, evaluation, audit and policy implementation.

Advise management on psychological and organisational issues.

Undertake service development within own area.

Manage workloads of assistant and trainee psychologists.

Participate in recruitment and selection processes.

Research and Service Evaluation

• Apply research and evidence-based literature to clinical practice.
• Undertake and advise on research activities.
• Manage audits and service evaluation projects to support service improvement.

Apply research and evidence-based literature to clinical practice.

Undertake and advise on research activities.

Manage audits and service evaluation projects to support service improvement.

IT Responsibilities

• Use IT systems to record and report clinical activity and service performance.
• Collect, analyse and report data using appropriate software.
• Use NHS e-library and IT systems to maintain up-to-date practice.

Use IT systems to record and report clinical activity and service performance.

Collect, analyse and report data using appropriate software.

Use NHS e-library and IT systems to maintain up-to-date practice.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS or HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Further post-doctoral training, research and study across a range of areas, including advanced clinical skills.
• It is a requirement of these posts to provide clinical placements and supervision to Trainee Clinical Psychologists undertaking a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. To enable the post-holder to do so they must be eligible for the relevant training which meets University accreditation criteria. Eligibility for this requires post-doctoral clinical experience.
• Registration with the HCPC as a clinical psychologist.

What we offer:

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion, please contact:Lynn Esdale, Consultant Clinical Psychologist - [email protected] - 0141 207 7100

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates

This post may close early to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to provide shortlisting feedback.

From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part-time working hours will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Candidates must provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools or other third-party assistance to generate, draft or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the recruitment process.

For application portal or log-in issues, please contact the Jobtrain Support Hub in the first instance.