Principal Educator – Health Psychology

In June 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care introduced two key frameworks: the Population Health Framework and the Service Renewal Framework (SRF). The SRF sets out an ambitious vision to drive innovation and enable more integrated delivery across Scotland's health and care services. As part of this transformation, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) will come together to form a new organisation: Public Services Delivery Scotland in April 2026. The new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and long‐term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.To learn more about the new organisation, please read the public consultation paper, NHS Delivery – A New National Delivery Organisation, available on the Scottish Government website.Flexible Location NES is a remote‐friendly employer with staff based throughout Scotland. We support office‐based and hybrid working arrangements. We welcome conversations about alternative working patterns—please get in touch during the application process to discuss.Work Pattern Fixed Term, Part Time, 18 hours per week.Fixed‐term or Secondment until 31st March 2028 For NHS applicants, an NHS secondment will be offered in the first instance. For non‐NHS applicants, a fixed‐term or secondment would be considered.You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment.Who We Are NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.NES Psychology NES Psychology are responsible for training Psychologists for NHS Scotland and delivering education and training in psychological care to the multi‐professional workforce across Scotland.The Opportunity We are seeking a highly motivated Health Psychologist to work within our Health Improvement (Health Psychology) Team in the Psychology Directorate at NES.The team uses knowledge of health psychology theories and approaches and best practice in research and training methods to develop, deliver and evaluate evidence based health psychology training for a range of health and social care professionals.This post will work both on the Trainee Health Psychology Programme and the MAP of behaviour change programme.On the Trainee programme, the postholder will provide the BPS coordinating supervisor role, in addition to delivering training to trainees and further developing the programme.On the MAP of behaviour change programme, the postholder will support the development, delivery and evaluation of the MAP (Motivation, Action, Prompts) blended learning programme, and further development of online learning, skills training, supervision and coaching.Do you have expert knowledge of health psychology and behaviour change?Do you have a commitment to multi‐professional and inter‐agency approaches to education and health and social care?Do you experience supervising health care staff?Do you have experience of clinical practice and teaching / training?Do you approach multi‐disciplinary work with sensitivity and diplomacy?What We Love To See You will be an HCPC Registered and BPS Chartered Health Psychologist educated to doctoral Level, or equivalent, and have experience of working in the NHS as a Health Psychologist.Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills are essential, as is engagement in partnership working with a range of stakeholders. In addition, the post‐holder will be committed to multi‐professional and inter‐agency approaches to education and healthcare and will be able to demonstrate flexibility and high‐level diplomacy skills.Experience of delivering and developing training materials will be desirable, along with experience of managing project/planning deadlines.Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary.Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads, to meet strict deadlines.Benefits Which Matter Life‐work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and hybrid workingGenerous NHS pension schemeAnnual incremental salary progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale reviewAnnual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holidayNHS discounts and moreDiversity and Inclusion Developing a successful national service for Scotland means considering the diverse needs, perspectives, and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland. We are focused on hiring the very best talent and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Our aim to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has a positive recruitment experience—regardless of the outcome.We welcome applications from all under‐represented groups, including racially minoritised people and disabled people. It is not essential to be in a Principal Educator role right now—you may be returning from a career break (e.g., maternity, paternity, caring) or coming from another field. Your experiences can bring a fresh perspective to our work.If you are considering applying and would like to discuss the opportunity, any adjustments or alternative work patterns, please contact Hannah Dale, Head of Programme, hannah.dale@nhs.scot.Next Steps NHS candidates will be considered firstly on a secondment basis, and so are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current NHS employer at the earliest opportunity, ideally prior to application.Interview Process In person OR online interviews including a presentation will take place on 7th May 2026. The presentation topic will be sent to candidates selected for interview.Application Details Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date. Please note, CVs will not be accepted.Please be advised that if you are successful in being offered the role following the recruitment process, you will be expected to attend the office prior to your start date to complete face‐to‐face pre‐employment checks. If you require any adjustments to support this, please let us know.To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.As part of the pre‐employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre‐settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licensed Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or 'going rate'. Further information on these criteria can be found here.It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment partners, the East Region Recruitment Service, at: EoS.ERRS@nhs.scot.#J-18808-Ljbffr