Psychology offers a scientific basis for understanding, and practical methods for influencing, how people think, feel and behave that can be applied in supporting positive physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Recent years have seen an unparalleled increase in demand for access to Applied Psychology and Psychological Therapies. Increasing recognition of the value in Psychological approaches, supported by the continually expanding evidence base, has led to greater demand from both service users and professionals alike.
Alongside Clinical Psychologists, psychological care is delivered by a range of disciplines including nursing, medicine and allied health professions.
Workforce official statistics
The NES data group publishes quarterly reports on all staff working within Psychology services in NHS Scotland for census dates at 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December.
Applied psychology professional programmes
We provide funding in partnership with Health Boards for a variety of training programmes across Scotland.
Trainees are jointly matriculated with Education Partners and employed by Health Boards in NHS Scotland.
Trainees deliver clinical services throughout their training.
Find out more on our page on applied psychology professional programmes.
Psychological skills for the multidisciplinary workforce
NES is involved in several related strands of work to support NHS Boards to improve the psychological care they offer to the Scottish population and has been involved in the commissioning and delivery of training on specific Psychological Therapies and Interventions as recommended by the Matrix.
Key areas of delivery
- Autism and Neurodiversity across the lifespan
- Behaviour change for health
- Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
- Children’s and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
- Psychological therapies and interventions for adult mental health
- Perinatal mental health
- Training in psychological skills - paediatric healthcare
- Psychological interventions and physical health
- Learning disability
- Psychology of parenting
- Psychology of dementia
- Supervision of psychological therapies and interventions
- The national trauma training programme
- Training in psychological skills - early interventions
- Suicide prevention
Psychological interventions and therapies guidance
In partnership with various educational partners, we have developed a number of guidance documents to support the multidisciplinary workforce in delivery of Psychological Interventions and Therapies.
Find out more on our page on psychological interventions and therapies guidance.
Last updated: 26/09/2020