Job Advert
Trainee Health Psychologist (Stage 2) – 3 posts
NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire
Grade: Agenda for Change Band 6 (entry at first spine point, currently £43,231)
Please read all the information provided in this advert before proceeding to ensure you are eligible.
Public Services Delivery Scotland (formerly NHS Education for Scotland) in partnership with Health Boards in Scotland is funding 3 Trainee Health Psychologists to explore the contribution health psychology can make in supporting NHS Scotland to meet its health improvement targets across a range of priority areas.
These are two-year fixed term posts designed to allow Trainee Health Psychologists successful completion of the British Psychological Society’s Stage 2 Training whilst employed by the NHS to undertake a programme of approved work.
Applicants should hold:
A BPS accredited MSc in Health Psychology (stage 1 qualification)
A good Psychology undergraduate degree (2:1 or above)
where candidates have received a Merit or above at Masters level (60% or above) they will be considered for selection if a 2:2 has been achieved at undergraduate level
Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Candidates will demonstrate knowledge of health psychology theory and a clear understanding of its application to the Health Improvement Agenda and Scottish Government Health targets. Knowledge of the Scottish NHS context will be advantageous.
Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential, with a strong emphasis on establishing a rapport and working relationships across a range of contacts. You will be expected to work independently at times, plan and organise work autonomously, balancing the needs of Stage 2 Training with a day-to-day workload. Excellent organisational, timekeeping and IT skills are therefore expected.
Interviews take place on the 14th January with Trainees starting in post in April 2027.
Any general enquiries should be sent to psychology@nes.scot.nhs.uk
AI guidance: AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be helpful for planning and preparing your application, but your answers must be your own. Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically. Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.
If you have previously received, or are currently in receipt of funding for any of the following programmes, you will not normally be eligible to receive funding for this programme until either:
a minimum of 18 months after the award for the previous PSD (or NHS Education for Scotland) funded training is recommended by a qualifying examination board or by chair’s action after the qualifying exam board (or achieved by other recognised route)
a period of 24 months after exiting from a programme where you enrolled but did not complete the award
The 18- or 24-month period is from the date of award/exit from the previous training to the date of commencing the subsequent training.
This applies to the following programmes:
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University of Edinburgh/NHS Scotland and University of Glasgow/NHS Scotland)
MSc Psychological Therapies in Primary Care (Universities of Dundee & Stirling/NHS Scotland)
MSc Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (University of Edinburgh/NHS Scotland)
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training (Human Development Scotland/NHS Scotland)
Enhanced Psychological Practice Educational Programme
NES/PSD Scotland funded certificates and diplomas in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), and Family Therapy (FT).
You are ineligible to apply if you:
Do not have Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
You must have Graduate Basis for Chartership, so if your Undergraduate was not a BPS accredited Psychology degree, or you gained an undergraduate degree from abroad, you must have GBC at the time of application (or have this secured by the interview date). For more information see: What does the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) mean? | BPS
Do not hold a BPS-accredited MSc in Health Psychology. Accredited courses are listed here: https://portal.bps.org.uk/Accredited-Courses.
Before applying, check that your MSc course is BPS-accredited by visiting https://portal.bps.org.uk/Accredited-Courses. Under ‘Programmes’, select ‘Postgraduate programmes’. Under ‘Accredited status’, select ‘Currently accredited programmes’. Then, under ‘Area of psychology’, select ‘Health psychology’. If your MSc course is not listed, you are not eligible to apply, and your application will be rejected.
You do not have a BPS accredited Stage 1 qualification specifically titled ‘MSc in Health Psychology’. This includes, for example:
MSc in Psychological Research,
MSc in Psychology
MSc in Clinical Health Psychology
If your course is not listed as Stage 1 Qualification MSc in Health Psychology, you are ineligible to apply
If you haven’t completed your MSc yet (you need your qualification confirmed by the interview date of 14th January 2026).
You must have suitable right to work status in place. You will be required to confirm your right to work status as part of the employer’s pre-employment checks
Please check that you meet ALL of the eligibility criteria before applying.
CLOSING DATE: Midnight on 19th November 2026.