Adult Neurodevelopmental Policy Team Leader

Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Hybrid

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 -  Temporary Promotion/Level Transfer

Duration - Up to 12 months to cover maternity leave

Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from eligible staff at Bands A-C for this vacancy.

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.

Overview 

We are inviting applications for this C1 TP role to cover for a period of maternity leave in what is a high profile and dynamic area of policy focused on improving the support and services available to neurodivergent (ND) adults. There is both a 2026 Manifesto commitment that aims to take forward a new national pathway for support for adults with ND, and a wider PfG commitment to adopt the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 4-tiered national pathway for neurodevelopmental conditions for adults and continue to implement the Children & Young People’s National Neurodevelopmental Specification, 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 involve leading at the early stages of implementation of activity that will build toward the development of a new adult ND pathway. 

There is a small team in place to support this work, with this role offering maternity cover until end July 2027.

We are seeking the right candidate 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” and a wider PfG commitment that reaches across both adult and children and young peoples neurodevelopment. This role will lead on progressing work on adult ND, 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 / PfG 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. 

We are inviting applications for this C1 TP role to cover for a period of maternity leave in what is a high profile and dynamic area of policy focused on improving the support and services available to neurodivergent (ND) adults. There is both a 2026 Manifesto commitment that aims to take forward a new national pathway for support for adults with ND, and a wider PfG commitment to adopt the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 4-tiered national pathway for neurodevelopmental conditions for adults and continue to implement the Children & Young People’s National Neurodevelopmental Specification, 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 involve leading at the early stages of implementation of activity that will build toward the development of a new adult ND pathway. There is a small team in place to support this work, with this role offering maternity cover until end July 2027.