Head of Psychological Specialty

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.

Who we are:

NHS Ayrshire and Arran is one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland. 

In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran we are committed to a culture that is Caring Safe and Respectful. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way.

To find out more about NHS Ayrshire and Arran please visit our website - NHS Ayrshire & Arran - Home (nhsaaa.net)

Position

This post offers an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist to join a supportive, cohesive and expanding Psychology Professional Leads team for Ayrshire and Arran Psychological Services. 

The position is offered on a permanent basis.

What you will do:

You will be responsible for the provision of professional leadership, operational management and clinical strategy across the Psychological Specialties of CAMHS, Community and Medical Paediatrics and Infant Mental Health.  You will contribute to the ongoing transformational change work being undertaken across the Mental Health Service, will oversee the implementation of strategic service development and will monitor the budget associated with these Specialties.  As Head of Psychological Specialty, you will report managerially and professionally to the Head of Service for area-wide Psychological Services in NHS Ayrshire & Arran and, together with the Psychology Professional Leads Team, will ensure the highest levels of professional practice, clinical governance and service quality.

Services are delivered to the population directly through specialist therapeutic intervention with patients with complex difficulties.  Psychological Services provides expert advice, consultancy, training and supervision in order to develop the psychological skills of other health and non-health professionals.  It also enhances the delivery of psychological care across the whole healthcare system through formal contribution at strategic and planning levels.

The service places a strong emphasis on governance and has a number of internal special interest and working groups.  We provide excellent opportunities for CPD to support high-quality service delivery to patients and career development for our staff. The service has close links with the University of Glasgow, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Programme and both the Adult and Child Clinical Associates in Applied Psychology Programmes at Dundee, Stirling and Edinburgh Universities, respectively.

For further information on the role please click the link below to view the Job Description

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

Demonstrates advanced theoretical and practical knowledge as a clinical psychologists which requires to be obtained through:-

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in psychology or its equivalent as accredited by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.

• Post-doctoral training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice.

• Demonstrates experience of working as a Consultant Psychologist.

Requires experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings.  This includes skill in maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

For further information on the requirements for the role please click the link below to view the Person Specification

Hours/Shifts Pattern:

37 Hours per week

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm basis

The current post is full time Band 8D (10 sessions a week), however a variation in contracted hours would be considered (minimum 8 sessions per week).

An excellent relocation package of up to £12,000 is available depending on eligibility. 

Driving Licence/Car Ownership:

The post will be based at Ayrshire Central Hospital, but Psychological Services are pan-Ayrshire, so travel to some other bases will be necessary on occasions.  A driving licence and car ownership are not, however, essential.

If you want to find out more about the role, please contact Dr Wendy Van Riet, Director of Psychological Services on or email wendy.vanriet@aapct.scot.nhs.uk 

From 1 April 2024, the working week for NHS Agenda for Change workers in Scotland will be reduced.  Full-time hours will reduce from 37.5 to 37 hours (pro rata for part-time staff) without loss of earnings.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran will implement this change but it may not be possible to fully transition from 1 April and there may therefore be some areas of the organisation where implementation may take longer.  If the department is currently unable to safely accommodate the reduced hours from 1st April, you may be required to work 37.5 hours per week (pro rata for part-time staff)  until the department can meet the requirements without impacting patient safety - you will, of course, be remunerated accordingly. NHS Ayrshire and Arran is committed to full implementation of the 37 hour working week across all areas as soon as it is safe to do so

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

You should apply for this post by completing the application process on JobTrain.

DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for shortlisting purposes.

Posts close at midnight on the indicated date.  Late applications will not be accepted.

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Please note, for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran has a legal obligation to ensure that it does not employ any worker who has not been granted the relevant permission to work in the UK.  This permission is, without exception, granted by UK Visas and Immigrations.  We are required to check the entitlement to work in the UK of all prospective employees, regardless of nationality or job category.  Candidates who require a Certificate of Sponsorship can access further information at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk 

We are unable to provide sponsorship for bank contracts.