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Clinical Psychologist

Learning Disability Services

Band 8a 1 WTE Permanent

NHS Borders is delighted to invite applications for a Clinical Psychologist for Adults with Learning Disability (LD) (Band 8a, 1WTE / permanent).

We are looking for an experienced colleague with enthusiasm for supervision, training, multiagency collaboration, service development, quality improvement and clinical work to firmly commit to the Borders LD service and join us as a vital core team member for the next part of their career.

This post is an important position, central to the running of clinical psychology work on the ground, based in our friendly multidisciplinary integrated Adult Learning Disability Team. The job plan is designed to meet the needs of the general community LD team but also the forensic community LD team. The forensic team is integrated into the wider LD team, which allows fluidity in the job plan. Due to the small nature of the team we are able to offer a broad range of experiences within both aspects of the job. This makes for an exciting opportunity for anyone with a keen interest in job variety and opportunity for excellent CPD.

As a psychology service, we provide a range of different expert offerings to our service users, family/carers, stake holders, and colleagues. This includes psychological assessment and formulation, neurodevelopmental assessments and interventions, MDT consultation, forensic risk assessment and offender rehabilitation. We also have a number of exciting service developments that are unique to the Borders, including the evolution of small clinical team supporting The Coming Home Project.

This post is managed by the Lead for the LD team and will fit alongside a full time 8B colleague who together support and develop the provision of psychology to adults with an LD.

We are looking for a Clinical Psychologist with experience of working clinically in the LD speciality and experience or a keen interest in the field of forensic/forensic LD.

Applicants must have a professionally recognised doctoral training in Clinical Psychology, be currently registered with HCPC, be able to work in the UK immediately, and be eligible for a PVG for this age group and adults.



A driver's licence is essential due to the rural nature of the Scottish Borders and the need for flexibility in where service users are seen.

This role will require robust clinical competencies in evidence based assessment and interventions for people with a learning disability and skills in psychometric testing. Given the small nature of the team, the postholder will take on responsibility for areas of clinical delivery, supervision of doctoral trainees, and support of the governance or service developments linked to national drivers.

Continued career development, mentoring for career progression, and options for bespoke multi-speciality jobplans are features of our Psychology Directorate's culture.

The LD team has approximately 60 staff members across the health and social care partnership and an excellent Administrative team. Team working and colleague support is notoriously strong in this team and the integrated nature of the team allows for this reputation to be shared across both health and social care.

We provide core and specialist placements for Trainee Clinical Psychologists on the East of Scotland courses. We also have varying degrees of assistant psychology input.

Our base is the Scottish Borders Council Head Quarters, Newtown St Boswells. This is well maintained building with plenty of hot desks and a well-run café and lunch area. We support a balance of hybrid working when face-to-face working is not required.

Whilst being a beautiful rural area, the Borders is still easily commutable from south and south eastern Scotland and north eastern England.

Informal enquires and pre-application discussions are warmly encouraged.

Please contact: Dr Helen Wilson (Consultant Clinical Psychologist / Lead for LD Team, NHS Borders): 01896 827280

Whether you're early in your career or looking to take the next step into a more senior role, NHS Borders offers a supportive environment where you can grow, influence change, and make a real impact.





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 here.

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 here.

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 sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form

***PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early***

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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