NHS Scotland
Child and Adolescent Therapist - Specialist Children’s Services
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.
The Role
This is a fixed term early intervention focused post with West Dunbartonshire CAMHS focusing on delivering manualised tier 2 level interventions for school aged children and young people.
West Dunbartonshire CAMHS is a small team friendly team based within Acorn Centre at the Vale of Leven Hospital. Part of the small psychology service within this multidisciplinary team.
You will be part of a grouping of more than 100 psychologists in Specialist Children’s Services and of around 350 psychologists in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. There are good links both to the West of Scotland Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme (University of Glasgow) and to the MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (University of Edinburgh).
The postholder will undertake specialised psychological assessments and evidence based interventions with individual or groups of children, young people and their families. Work independently on allocated caseload, receiving clinical supervision form clinical psychologist at regular intervals. To contribute to improving access to psychological therapies for children and young people in the West Dunbartonshire area. You will support research, audit and service evaluations.
Duration, Location, and Working Pattern
- Location: Based in The Acorn Centre / Vale of Leven Hospital
- Hours: Full-time position (36 hours per week)
- Contract Type: Fixed-term Contract until 31/03/2027
- Shift Pattern: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
Key Responsibilities
- Works as part of a Psychology Service within Specialist Children’s Services.
- Carries out supervised psychological assessments with children, young people and families and carers including psychometric testing.
- Formulates the nature, causes and maintaining factors of highly distressing psychological difficulties and presentations informed by a broad range of potentially conflicting clinical, theoretical and conceptual models, the empirical, experimental and clinical literature base and the results of assessment. Communicates such formulations professionally, sensitively and diplomatically frequently in an emotive atmosphere to clients, relatives, carers and other healthcare professionals relevant to the case.
- Plans and implements bespoke, formulation-driven psychological interventions, or programmes empathically, sensitively and independently, with a range of children & young people and families /groups of clients and evaluates the impact of such intervention.
- Plans and delivers group sessions for children young people and families.
- Consults with relevant external agencies such as social services and education, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels.
- Is required to travel across a large geographical area and visits a range of settings, including home visits.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Knowledge, Training, Qualifications and/or Experience Required
- Single or Joint Honours degree in Psychology (2:1 or above).
- Must have and continue to hold Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the British Psychological Society via qualification recognition or by alternative route.
- Full understanding of professional level/requirements of role.
- Specialist level knowledge of psychological theory and research with children and young people.
- Knowledge and awareness of Applied Psychology in the NHS.
- Professional knowledge and experience of policy implementation in relation to the law relevant to children and young people.
- Experience of working psychologically with children, young people and their families with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
- Specialist knowledge of psychology acquired through relevant NHS experience.
- Evidence of structured experience of working as a reflective practitioner.
- Participation in continuing professional development in applied psychology.
- Experience of delivering psychological assessments and interventions to children, young people and their families from assessment to discharge.
- Theoretical knowledge and experience of delivering structured evidence based approaches, e.g., parenting programmes, anxiety management, social skills etc.
- Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written.
- Ability to communicate diplomatically, confidently, empathically.
- Excellent organisational skills and an understanding of working with multiple priorities.
- Flexible approach to working, balancing a variety of clinical demands.
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
- IT skills to a level required to work regularly with Microsoft Office packages and local specialist packages as required.
- Awareness of own competency limitations.
- Ability to cope with pressurised working environment
What We Offer
We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:
- A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
- Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
- Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
- Enhanced pay for working public holidays
- NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
- Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.
For An Informal Discussion, Please Contact
Ursula O’Donnell, Consultant Psychologist, On 01389 817324 or email Ursula.Odonnell@nhs.scot
Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process:
AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application, but your answers must be your own.
Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically. Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers. Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.
Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you, not an AI tool.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.
By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.
For application portal or log-in issues, please contact the in the first instance.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills