Job Description

This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.

Job Title – Adult Neurodevelopmental Policy Team Leader

Business Area/Directorate -Mental Health, Social Care and NCS Directorate

Location – St Andrews House

Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should aim to spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found within Hybrid Working Policy

Grade - C1

Advert type - Level Transfer

Duration - Up to 12 months

Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from C1 colleagues on level transfer from Core SG only

Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

We are seeking an experienced C1 to lead a high profile and dynamic area of policy focused on improving the support and services available to neurodivergent (ND) adults. There is a 2026 Manifesto commitment to: "“work with partners across Scotland to adopt the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 4-tiered national pathway for neurodevelopmental conditions to ensure anyone with or without a formal neurodevelopmental diagnosis can access the support they need when and where they need it”. This role will lead on progressing this commitment, with a small team to support delivery.

Based in DG Health and Social Care, this role sits within the Improving Mental Health Services Division within the Mental Health, Social Care and NCS Directorate. The Division currently comprises three Units working with system leaders to ensure people can access the right mental health services and neurodevelopmental support at the right time and in the right place.

As a team leader within the Care, Support and Access Unit, the postholder will be responsible for leading on adult neurodevelopmental policy. Under the leadership of the Unit Head, the postholder will work collaboratively with two other C1s working on CYP Neurodevelopment, CAMHS and specialist and regional CAMHS, perinatal and infant mental health services and eating disorders policies. The post currently involves direct line management responsibility for 1 member of staff and overall responsibility for a team of 2-3 officials, including a professional adviser.

As part of its ongoing re-organisation, the Directorate is putting a focus on flexibility and adaptability, ensuring we always have the right level of resourcing to support our priorities. The postholder will model leadership in terms of flexibility, positivity, and supporting the ongoing evolution of Directorate and Division priorities and structures.

As the Adult Neurodevelopmental (ND) Policy Team Leader, you will be working in a politically high-profile, busy and exciting policy area within a small collaborative and supportive team / Unit. The role will provide opportunities to make a significant contribution in an area of Scottish Government policy that has significant public, policy and political interest, including a Manifesto commitment to roll out a new approach to support the needs of neurodivergent adults seeking services, assessment and diagnosis.

The role involves collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders working on related policy topics including Children & Young People’s ND, learning disabilities, and related health and social care spaces. The role involves significant Ministerial engagement given the profile of this policy issue, giving the postholder the opportunity to build on their current experience of delivering in a fast paced, high profile environment focused on delivery of Ministerial priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and play an active role in progressing delivery of the Manifesto commitment to “work with partners across Scotland to adopt the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 4-tiered national pathway for neurodevelopmental conditions to ensure anyone with or without a formal neurodevelopmental diagnosis can access the support they need when and where they need it”.
• Lead the development of policy to support improved neurodevelopmental support across Scotland, providing advice to Ministers on how to implement the 4-tiered approach, and on sound use of funding to progress this commitment, in line with agreed financial management processes.
• Lead on improvements to support for neurodivergent adults including continued work to scope a workstream to develop assessment standards for private providers delivering ND assessments, leading on advice to Ministers on assessment standards, and on development of SIGN guides for ND conditions.
• Lead on data improvement to inform approaches to development of new supports and services for neurodivergent adults.
• Play an active part in the collective leadership of the team, Unit, Division and Directorate, including driving forward delivery of agreed Ministerial / Directorate priorities, ensuring resources are matched to those priorities and that there is strong collaboration with other Team Leaders and the Unit Head in driving the priorities of the Unit’s work.
• Model leadership by providing structures that support the team, including actively managing performance and development among the team, providing constructive feedback and encouraging a focus on learning and development

Success Profiles

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Professional/Technical skills

• Policy Context and Purpose (Level 2)
• Working with Ministers (Level 2)
• Policy Delivery and Systems (Level 2)
• Governance and Project Delivery (Level 2)

Find out more about these technical skills required in the Policy Profession Standards

Experience

• Knowledge of health board governance and national and regional planning processes.

Behaviours Being Tested

• Seeing the big picture
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide

Working Pattern

This post is a full time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns, proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post.

The post is a maternity cover for approximately one year (from late July 2026 to August 2027)

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from Suzi Macpherson, Unit Head. Contactable via email or Teams at: Suzi.Macpherson@gov.scot

How to Apply

Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 750 words), describing how your skills, qualities and experience make you suitable for the role. You should make particular reference to, and structure your supporting statement around, the Success Profile noted in the job advert.

Vacancies close at 11:59pm on the date displayed in the table, unless otherwise stated on the job advert.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an informal discussion.

Discussions are to be confirmed

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principlesand we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website

Read our Candidate Guidefor further information on our recruitment and application processes.