Specialty Doctor - Forensic Psyciarty

Specialty Doctor – Forensic Psychiatry

Apply to join NHS Ayrshire & Arran as a two‑post Specialty Doctor in Forensic Psychiatry. The posts are at the State Hospital, Carstairs – Scotland’s only high secure psychiatric hospital.

Salary – £64,158–£99,975 per annum plus allowances (High Secure Environmental Allowance £1,750.47, High Secure Clinical Responsibility Allowance £4,201.29 per annum) and a 3 % On‑call Availability Supplement.

Hours – Post 1: 40 h per week;
Post 2: 32 h per week.
Contract duration – Permanent.

• Diagnose, assess, plan, and deliver care and treatment for individuals with severe and complex mental health needs.
• Work within a well resourced, multi‑disciplinary team of Consultant Psychiatrists, medical colleagues and others.
• Participate in a 1:6 non‑residential on‑call rota (half a day per fortnight of on‑call participation, which can be combined with SPA time for professional development).
• Develop interests in research, audit and psychological therapies (core clinical duties plus additional development opportunities).

• Suitable for applicants with psychiatry experience at CT2 level and above, as outlined on the Scottish SMT website.
• CT2 level and above, as per Scottish SMT, and 18 years and older (clinical role).

Applications close at 11:59 pm 20/01/2026. For an informal discussion, contact Duncan Alcock, Associate Medical Director at 01555 842013.

If you have any queries or require assistance regarding the application form or recruitment process, contact the HR team st.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among its workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society. The State Hospital is a high secure hospital. Applicants for clinical roles must be 18 years or older. To be eligible for a clinical role, applicants should have the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship;

the State Hospital is NOT licensed to issue certificates of sponsorship.

You must have valid permission granted by UK Visas and Immigration. NHS Scotland Boards check this as part of pre‑employment checks. For details, visit the  website. Some posts may allow sponsorship under the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visa, but only if the employer is a licensed sponsor and the role meets salary thresholds. Applicants must confirm right to work before applying.