Psychological Therapist; Enhanced

Psychological Therapist (Enhanced)

AfC Band 6 (pro rata) plus a High Secure Environmental Allowance of £1,818.72 per annum (pro rata) and a High Secure Clinical Responsibility Allowance of £4,365.11 per annum (pro rata)

Hours – 36

Contract Duration – Permanent

The State Hospital Psychology Department is delighted to advertise a permanent opportunity for a Psychological Therapist (Enhanced) Band 6 to join our highly skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team. This is an exciting opportunity to develop specialist skills within Scotland's only high secure forensic mental health hospital.

The State Hospital provides high secure care and treatment for patients from Scotland and Northern Ireland who present with complex mental health needs and significant levels of risk. Our vision is to excel in the provision of high secure forensic mental health services, support the work of the Forensic Network, and be an exemplar employer committed to staff wellbeing and development.

As a Psychological Therapist (Enhanced), you will provide psychological assessment and evidence-based psychological interventions, primarily Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), for patients presenting with complex mental health difficulties in line with Enhanced Psychological Practice (Matrix Levels 2-3). You will have your own caseload with patients from admission through to discharge, under the supervision of the Psychological Therapist (Specialist) and / or Clinical Psychologists.

The successful candidate will work across a range of services and patient groups, including individuals with severe mental illness, personality disorder, and intellectual disabilities. The role involves delivering both individual and group interventions, contributing to multidisciplinary care planning, and supporting service evaluation, audit, and continuous improvement activities.

Applicants must be registered mental health professionals, such as Registered Mental Health Nurses or Occupational Therapists, with current professional registration (e.g. NMC, HCPC or BABCP), a degree in a relevant discipline, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Candidates should have experience of working with a range of mental health conditions and delivering CBT interventions within agreed clinical frameworks and supervision arrangements.

The Psychology Department is committed to supporting professional development and offers regular supervision, opportunities for continuing professional development, involvement in service development initiatives, and strong collaborative links with secure forensic services across Scotland, and other UK high secure hospitals.

This post offers an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated practitioner wishing to develop specialist forensic mental health skills while working within a nationally important service.

The closing date for applications is 06/09/2026.

For an informal discussion please contact Dr Joe Judge, Consultant Clinical Psychologist on ext. 2052 or email joe.judget

If you have any queries or require assistance regarding the application form or recruitment process, please contact the HR Team on tsh.jobst to discuss your requirements.

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. NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society. It should be noted that the State Hospital is a high secure hospital and the current organisational position based on a risk assessment is that we welcome applications from people 16-18 for non clinical roles however to be eligible for a clinical role applicants should be 18 years and older.

Should you have any questions in relation to this please contact TSH.Jobst

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