R1 Clinical Psychologist; AP

Equal Opportunities

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.

• Location: Clinical Psychology – Learning Disabilities Specialist Inpatient Services, The Islay Centre, Royal Edinburgh Hospital
• Contract: Permanent – Part Time
• Grade: Band 8B
• Hours: 21.09 (0.57 WTE); salary pro‑rata.

You will play a key clinical leadership role in our specialist learning disability inpatient services at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Your clinical input will focus on the Islay Centre, our specialist service for people with learning disabilities who present with significantly distressed behaviours that cannot be safely managed in the community. You will provide direct assessment, formulation and intervention around complex casework requiring a multi‑disciplinary approach, and provide psychological consultation to the MDT.

You will also work closely with colleagues in other leadership roles to embed high quality psychological care across our inpatient learning disability services, with a particular focus on implementation of Positive Behaviour Support and trauma‑informed care. This is a newly created post, in recognition of the key clinical leadership role that psychology plays within the inpatient learning disability service.

• Provide direct assessment, formulation and intervention for complex casework requiring multi‑disciplinary approach.
• Provide psychological consultation to the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
• Work closely with other leadership roles to embed high quality psychological care across inpatient learning disability services.
• Implement Positive Behaviour Support and trauma‑informed care.
• Supervise and lead qualified psychologists, multi‑disciplinary colleagues and pre‑qualified team members.

• Demonstrable passion for providing excellent psychological services to people with learning disabilities and their support staff.
• Substantial post‑qualification experience of working with this group.
• Skilled and confident in addressing the needs of people with learning disabilities who present with significant behaviours of distress.
• Demonstrable aptitude for systemic, multi‑disciplinary working.
• PVG Scheme membership/record required; if not a current member, an application will be required.

NHS Lothian is committed to fair and equitable conditions of employment and recognises that employees may need to change their place of residence as a result of taking up a post – reimbursement will be provided where appropriate. To work in the United Kingdom, you must demonstrate relevant permission to work in the country. The post requires PVG Scheme membership; if not a current member for the required regulatory group, an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland.

Dr Reed Cappleman
Consultant Clinical Psychologist / Professional Lead for Learning Disabilities
Email: reed.capp
Tel:

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.

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.

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, with a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.