Psychology Workforce NHSScotland

Revision to data as at 31 December 2023

These statistics contain new data; the first release of data for quarter December 2023 has been
revised. This revision does not affect the overall interpretation or conclusions to be drawn from the previously published data, but due to the correction of a data entry error for December 2023, the WTE for NHSScotland staff in post is 1634.3 (1958 headcount), and not 1600.3 WTE (1922 headcount) as previously reported. The data affected are marked with an 'R'

This release by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) provides a quarterly update, as at 31 March 2024, on the Psychology Services workforce staff in post, vacant posts, and staff in training. 

Figures are presented as headcount (actual number of staff) and whole time equivalent (WTE), which adjusts the figures to take account of part-time working.

As at 31 March 2024:

• There were a total of 1717.2 WTE (2052 headcount) clinical staff in post. This is an increase of 4.6% (75.9 WTE) over the last quarter, an increase of 11.6% (179 WTE) since last year, and an increase of 75.2% (736.9 WTE) in the last decade.
• Applied Psychologists are the largest staff group in this workforce, accounting for 60.2% (1033.6 WTE) of clinical staff in post. Since last year, this staff group has grown by 80.3 WTE (8.4%).
• The vacancy rate was 7.5% (138.9 WTE), a decrease of -18.4 WTE over the last year. Most of these vacancies, 37.7%, had been advertised for longer than six months, 34.8% for three to six months and 27.6%, for less than three months. A further 37.1 WTE were approved for recruitment but not yet advertised and 40.9 WTE were awaiting approval.
• There were 85 trainees at the latest intake in September 2023, 38 at the University of Glasgow and 47 at the University of Edinburgh. This compares with an average DClinPsych intake of 60 trainees per year, 28 at the University of Edinburgh and 25 at the University of Glasgow. 57 students graduated from the clinical doctorate in 2023, 27 from the University of Glasgow and 30 from the University of Edinburgh. The probabilities of completing these courses within ten years of starting are 0.96 and 0.97 respectively.
• 50 trainees enrolled onto the MSc Psychological Therapy in Primary Care (MSCPTPC) in January 2024 and 37 trainees enrolled onto the MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (MSCAPCYP). This compares to an average annual intake of 28 for the MSCPTPC and 22 for the MSCAPCYP. In early 2024, 46 students graduated from the MSCPTPC, and 34 graduated from the MSCAPCYP. The probabilities of completing these courses within two years of starting are 0.96 and 0.97 respectively.