Principal Psychologist - Forensic Clinical psychology-Community

NHS National Services Scotland; Scotland; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Scotland is excited to invite applications for a permanent Clinical Psychologist post within the Directorate of Forensic Mental Health. This role requires providing assessments and interventions for patients with severe mental disorders, while contributing to various initiatives across services. Candidates must possess postgraduate qualifications and experience handling complex cases, with support available for skill development.

Qualifications

• Experience with complex cases, psychosis, and learning disability.
• PVG Scheme membership required.
• Active multidisciplinary working experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological assessments and interventions.
• Contribute to initiatives across the Directorate.
• Travel to various locations for service referrals.

Skills

Clinical psychology expertise

Therapeutic approaches

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Psychological assessments

Education

Post-graduate doctor level training

Eligibility for Chartering with BPS

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is one of the largest healthcare systems in the UK employing around 40,000 staff in a wide range of clinical and non‑clinical professions and job roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health care services to a population of over 1.15 million and a wider population of 2.2 million when our regional and national services are included.

The shift pattern for this post is 9-5.

The salary is Pro Rata for part-time posts.

Role

We are excited to invite applications for this permanent post within the Directorate of Forensic Mental Health and Learning Disabilities which has a large and thriving psychology department. This post is both varied and interesting, and provides opportunities to use and apply a wide range of psychological skills. It involves providing psychological assessments and interventions with male and/or female patients suffering from severe mental disorder, including major mental illnesses, personality disorder and learning disabilities, whether they may be inpatients or living in the community; as well as systemic, formulation‑based working and the delivery of training in order to facilitate psychologically informed care.

You must be prepared to work in any of the Directorate’s services and for their role and/or base to change when required to meet service needs. However this post is currently configured to be based in our Forensic Community Mental Health Team.

You will also be expected to contribute to initiatives across the Directorate and more widely across services in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Forensic Network in Scotland. Occasional travel to various locations in Scotland may be required, for example to assess referrals to the service.

Qualifications and Experience

• Post‑graduate doctor level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent) accredited by the BPS, including models of psychopharmacology, clinical psychology, psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct therapeutic approaches and life‑span developmental psychology.
• Eligibility for Chartering with the BPS and registration with the HCPC.
• PVG Scheme membership required.
• Previous work in forensic services or experience of working with complex cases or those with psychosis, personality difficulties, cognitive impairment and/or learning disability.
• Experience of active multidisciplinary working and violence risk assessment using a structured professional judgement approach.

Development and Support

Support and supervision are available to those who wish to develop these skills and current Clinical Psychology Trainees are encouraged to apply.

Information for Candidates

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates. Contact the Recruitment Service for application portal issues: Jobtrain support hub.

Contact

Informal contact: Dr Judi Bolton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, 0141 201 9250, [e-mail]

Equality and Diversity

Information: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – NHS Scotland encourages applications from all sections of the community. We promote a culture of inclusion across the organisation and are proud of the diverse workforce we have.

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

Application Guidance

Candidates should 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 application process.