Practitioner Psychologist Dundee, Scotland
Job description
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. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
NHS Tayside Public Health Directorate is seeking to recruit a full time 1.0 WTE Health Psychologist to join the Public Health Department. The Public Health Department supports a range of programmes to promote population health and reduce health inequalities. The post holder would be expected to work flexibly to support programmes of work, utilising psychology and behavioural science skills, through consultation, supervision and training.
The post holder will work with the Consultant in Public Mental Health and be part of the Public Mental Health team 0.8 WTE. The post holder will also deliver a programme of Health Behaviour education to Undergraduate Medical Students at the University of Dundee 0.2 WTE.
For the first three years of the role the post holder will have a specific remit to improve the physical health of Mental Health Service users. This is an exciting opportunity to address a significant health inequality and the work will address many aspects of health including physical activity, weight management, smoking cessation and access to screening programmes. A key aim will be developing a sustainable programme of change and the post-holder will work closely with staff, service users, services and health systems in order to deliver this.
The post holder will also have the opportunity to influence and contribute to other areas of work within the Public Mental Health team. As an important part of the role the post holder will take part in audit, research and teaching and training of students and professionals from a range of disciplines.
You will be enthusiastic, a team player and have a proven track record of leading, developing and implementing initiatives designed to improve population health. This role will suit someone who is keen to explore and develop creative ways to apply psychological and behavioural science to a Public Health approach that promotes health and wellbeing. Applicants should have a highly developed knowledge of the principles of public health including knowledge in relation to the determinants of health and understanding of approaches which seek to improve health and reduce inequalities.
The post holder will be based within NHS Tayside Directorate of Public Health, King’s Cross, Dundee and will be a valued member of the public health mental health team. This team comprises a Consultant in Public Health, one senior Health Promotion Officer, and two further Health Promotion Officers. The extended team includes staff specialising in health intelligence, physical activity, smoking cessation, welfare reform, workplace and children and young people.
There are currently six Health Psychologists employed within NHS Tayside (4.7 WTE) and one full time Trainee Health Psychologist: this represents the largest Health Psychology provision available within one health board in Scotland, demonstrating Tayside’s commitment to continue to develop and embed the role of practitioner health psychologists across multiple settings and services. The post holder/s will be required to travel throughout Tayside.
For informal enquiries please contact Jane Bray, Consultant in Public Health, tel. 07989444126, Email: [email protected].
