262847 (GH) Clinical Psychologist - Band 8A

NHS Scotland; Haddington; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 64,000; Part time

Job summary

NHS Scotland invites applications for an applied psychologist (clinical or counselling) to join the Psychological Therapies Service in East Lothian. The role offers a varied clinical caseload in adult mental health with regular supervision and MDT collaboration.

The post is based at East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington, with optional hybrid working for clinical and administrative work; HCPC registration is required and PVG checks apply.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration is required.
• Experience in adult mental health.
• Ability to work in MDT with primary/secondary care and third sector.
• PVG Scheme membership/clearance or eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied individual clinical caseload across mental health difficulties.
• Receive regular supervision with Senior Psychologists.
• Be embedded as part of the Joint Mental Health Team in East Lothian.
• Support trainee placements for DClinPsych trainees.

Skills

Clinical psychology

Counselling psychology

Education

HCPC registration

Job description

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.

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• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn.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.

NHS Lothian

Post: Clinical or Counselling Psychologist

Band:8A

Service East Lothian Psychological Therapies Service

Hours and WTE: 0.65 WTE 23.4 hours

Contract Type: Fixed Term Maternity leave cover

1 year contract.

Role

We are delighted to invite applications for this opportunity to work as an applied psychologist (clinical or counselling psychologist) in the Psychological Therapies Service (PTS) in East Lothian working in adult mental health. We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed applied psychologist to be part of our team This post provides fantastic variety in the role:

• A varied individual clinical caseload across the spectrum of psychological and mental health difficulties
• Regular individual and group supervision with the Senior Psychologists in the service.
• Embedded as an integral part of the Joint Mental Health Team in East Lothian.
• Consultancy/MDT working with a range of professionals across primary and secondary care, and third sector.
• Development of treatment pathways for a population with complex needs.
• Supporting trainee placements to DClinPsych trainees.

You will have support links with other clinicians across the wider psychological services. There is also a wide range of mental health services within East Lothian 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 at East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington, East Lothian with optional hybrid working for both clinical and administrative work.

Please note that you will be required to hold HCPC registration.

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

Dr Alison Wells, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and/or Bev White, Senior Counselling Psychologist on 0131 446 4208.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Please note: As this post is part-time, the salary will be pro-rata.

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for.

If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact above.