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.
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NHS Borders is delighted to announce that we have a permanent vacancy available at Band 8a within Renew, our Primary Care Mental Health Team.
We have one 0.79 WTE vacancy within this team. This team is managed by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and is comprised of an 3x 8B Clinical Psychologist 3x 8a Clinical Psychologists, 10x CAAPs, 5x Assistant Psychologists and Enhanced Psychological Practitioners to provide assessments and treatment to primary care patients with mental health needs.
Responsibilities will include, direct clinical work with patients, including assessment and treatment) of people referred to the service this could be individual or group; supervision of staff and contributing to the delivery and governance of the service. We pride our service in being responsive to the needs of the primary care population, therefore there are a range of quality improvement projects members of the team can be involved in.
Whilst candidates are able to work remotely in this service for much of the time, there is a requirement for in person work and therefore the successful candidate would have to have the ability to travel to the Borders regularly. We have a large office base available in Newtown St Boswells where staff can work from.
NHS Borders Psychology Services is a dynamic and supportive service that aims to offer delivery, training and supervision in psychological therapies to the NHS Borders, a rural population of people. We are currently undergoing an exciting transformation process which aims to develop mental health services and psychological therapies in a range of intensities and contexts from primary care to inpatient and rehabilitation.
We are in easy reach of Edinburgh. The Tweedbank rail service from Edinburgh has made travel to Tweedbank (45 minutes from Edinburgh and a 20 minute walk to the Borders General Hospital) an attractive commute.
The Scottish Borders is a lovely area to live in, with excellent schools, abundant local amenities and easy access to Edinburgh and transport links. There are superb leisure facilities and good quality affordable housing which provide ideal opportunities for a high quality of life in this scenic part of the country.
This is an exciting time for the NHS Borders psychology service, and we are looking for enthusiastic professionals who can make a contribution to the service. In return we offer a supportive team, with good opportunities for growth and career development.
If you would like an informal discussion or to discuss this post in more detail, please contact Dr Louise Keir, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Primary Care
email: tel:
As from 1 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.
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: .
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.
As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website.
For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or 'going rate'. Further information on these criteria can be found.
It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsoredBEFORE submitting your application form.
PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early
Please note: the salary quoted is for full-time hours (37 hrs per week). For appointments to part-time hours, the salary will be pro-rata.