• External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    06 May 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    Scottish Prison Service Headquarters - Edinburgh
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    H
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Temporary
  • Contract DurationContract Duration
    12-months
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £73410 - £80890
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    All Hours Required
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    Yes
  • About The Role

  • Drive the transformation of forensic psychological services delivery model in the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). This senior leadership role will work in close collaboration with the SPS Head of Psychological Services, to design and implement an evidence-based service model that translates strategic recommendations— including the recent Independent Review—into practical, sustainable delivery.

    Working directly to the Deputy Director of Policy and in close partnership with the Head of Psychology, HR and trade unions, you will shape a modern, outcomes-focused service that improves workforce capacity, strengthens professional pathways and evidences impact across the SPS prison estate. This is a senior, system-shaping role with influence across SPS policy-to-practice.

  • For full details about the role, please refer to the Job Description, Person Specification and Selection Information & Timeline.

  • Qualifications

  • Professional qualification in a relevant area, preferably in Occupational/Organisational Psychology. Essential
  • Knowledge, Skills & Experience

  • Proven ability to lead strategic change in complex systems, using systems thinking and evidence-based methods to deliver sustainable improvement through organising for effectiveness.Essential
    Track record of translating strategy into operational delivery models with clear outcome measures and benefits.Essential
    Experience working with HR professionals to develop pathways and talent pipelines that enhance capability, inclusion and progression.Essential
    Sound understanding of professional standards and regulatory frameworks, including HCPC standards and psychology qualification pathways.Essential
  • Essential Competencies for Success

    • Listen & Communicate
    • Solve Problems & Make Decisions
    • Change & Improve
    • Accountability & Initiative
  • About Us

  • The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) operates in a fascinating, complex and rapidly changing environment. Our vision is to help build a safer Scotland by unlocking potential and transforming lives. To enable us to successfully deliver our vision, we are committed to nurturing and investing in our greatest strength and resource: Our People.

    We are proud to employ a diverse range of people; each contributing their own unique experiences and skills to enhance the service we deliver. Whatever the role, you will find your SPS experience both challenging and rewarding. You will be committed to helping us to achieve our goals and in return we will be committed to helping you to achieve yours.

    We employ approximately 5,000 staff across our prisons, headquarters, college, and training and storage facility. The hard work of our staff is the most critical component in the successful delivery of Scotland’s prison system.

    We need professional, capable and motivated individuals who reflect Scotland’s diversity to deliver effective and efficient activities and services to achieve our Mission and realise our Vision.

    Whatever SPS profession you embark upon, you will be a valued member of the team, helping us build a Safer Scotland for the communities we serve. We are committed to your personal and professional development and offer a wide range of career progression opportunities.

Civil Service Values

All Civil Servants, and therefore anyone employed by the Scottish Prison Service, must be able to fully comply with the requirements of the Civil Service Code. Everyone is expected to carry out their role with dedication and uphold the core values of the Civil Service: Honesty, Integrity, Objectivity and Impartiality.

  • Integrity: putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests.
  • Honesty: being truthful and open.
  • Objectivity: basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
  • Impartiality: acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well Governments of different political persuasions.

The Civil Service Commission

Our recruitment is conducted in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles and external competitions are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. While the legal requirement to follow these Principles applies specifically to external appointments, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) recognises these standards as best practice. Accordingly, SPS fully adopts these principles as the foundation for all recruitment activity, including internal recruitment and selection processes.

External competitions: if you believe that the requirement for selection for appointment on merit based on fair and open competition has not been met, you have the right to raise a complaint. Further information on the Commission’s complaints procedure is available at: https://www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Internal competitions: if you believe that the requirement for selection for appointment on merit based on fair and open competition has not been met, you can raise a complaint to your HR Business Partner.

Other jobs like this

  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    06 May 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    Scottish Prison Service Headquarters - Edinburgh
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    H
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Temporary
  • Contract DurationContract Duration
    12-months
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £73410 - £80890
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    All Hours Required
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    Yes
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    09 Jun 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    HMP & YOI Grampian
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    C
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Permanent
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £30789 - £34878
  • Additional Allowance DetailsAdditional Allowance Details:
    An annual geographical supplement of £1000 per annum, reducing to £500 per annum on progression to the maximum of the pay scale
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    Shift Work
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    No
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    05 May 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    HMP & YOI Grampian
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    C
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Permanent
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £30789 - £34878
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    Normal Office Hours
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    No
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    04 May 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    HMP & YOI Polmont
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    B
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Permanent
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £28777
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    Normal Office Hours
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    No
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    01 May 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    HMP Shotts
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    B
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Permanent
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £28777
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    Normal Office Hours
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    01 May 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    HMP Shotts
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    B
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Permanent
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £28777 (Pro-rata)
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    23.5
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    Part Time
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    08 May 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    HMP Perth
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    D
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Permanent
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £37682 - £44248
  • Additional Allowance DetailsAdditional Allowance Details:
    recruitment retention allowance of £1500 per annum until the maximum of the pay band is reached then £1000 is given
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    Normal Office Hours
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    No
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    29 Apr 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    Scottish Prison Service Headquarters - Edinburgh
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    G
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Permanent
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £62130 -£68352
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    All Hours Required
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    Yes
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    27 Apr 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    HMP & YOI Stirling
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    B
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Temporary
  • Contract DurationContract Duration
    12 months
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £28777
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    Normal Office Hours
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    No
  • Internal Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date
    08 May 2026
  • External Advertising End DateAdvertising End Date:
    08 May 2026
  • All LocationsLocation(s):
    HMP Edinburgh
  • Salary DescriptionPay Band
    B
  • Vacancy TypeVacancy Type:
    Permanent
  • Salary Details:Salary Details:
    £28777
  • Hours Per WeekHours Per Week:
    35
  • Working PatternWorking Pattern:
    Normal Office Hours
  • Eligible For Hybrid Working?Eligible For Hybrid Working?
    No