Royal Edinburgh Hospital
NHS LOTHIAN
THE ORCHARD CLINIC
ROYAL EDINBURGH HOSPITAL
EDINBURGH
SENIOR PRINCIPAL CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST Band 8B
Fixed term December 2026
Please note: As this post is part-time, the salary will be pro-rata.
The successful applicant will work with the Professional Lead for Forensic Clinical Psychology/Head of Service for Complex Care in order to provide a high-quality specialist clinical and forensic psychology service to mentally disordered offenders subject to mental health legislation.
The post involves working with forensic patients within the Orchard Clinic medium secure unit and during follow-up to other services or the community. The service also has Regional and National commitments. This requires the provision of high-quality psychological assessment, treatment and evaluation in addition to providing specialist support and consultation to clinical teams and other professionals.
In addition there is a need to provide teaching, supervision, consultancy and research expertise to Clinical Psychology trainees and other mental health professionals, and to contribute to the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service. In liaison with the Forensic Professional Lead there is a requirement to utilise high level research skills for audit, policy and service development as a major requirement of the job. The postholder will have a role in service development projects and have delegated management functions within the psychology service.
There is some flexibility to accommodate to the needs and interests of suitable candidates and the development of specialist areas of clinical and forensic expertise will be encouraged. There are close links with the East of Scotland Clinical Psychology Training course and other forensic services in Scotland and England.
For further information or to arrange an informal visit please email the central Psychology Admin Hub at and reference this post.
A secondment would be considered with appropriate managerial approval.
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.
As from 1/4/26, 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.
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.
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. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
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.
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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 (child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.
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: Disclosure Scotland Changes.
The use of the term Senior or Junior in this post refers only to the level of experience and responsibility required for this post rather than age. As such, applications from people of all ages are welcomed, subject to meeting the relevant criteria.
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