Job Description

Trainee Health Visitor

OUR VALUES IN ACTION

• Compassion
• Kindness
• Integrity
• Teamwork
• Excellence
  

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN INTERNAL VACANCY ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT NHS Scotland Only

Trainee Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) – Health Visiting

Location: NHS Borders

Hours: 36 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term – Training Post – 12 months

NHS Borders is delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Registered Nurse or Midwife to undertake training as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor).

This training post provides the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and experience required to deliver the Universal Health Visiting Pathway in Scotland, supporting children aged 0–5 and their families to achieve the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes.

Role Overview

As a Trainee SCPHN (Health Visitor), you will:

• Undertake an approved postgraduate SCPHN (Health Visiting) programme linked Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
• Develop skills in delivering universal, targeted and additional pathway visits
• Learn to assess child and family needs using the GIRFEC National Practice Model
• Support health promotion and early intervention initiatives within communities
• Gain experience in safeguarding and child protection processes
• Work alongside experienced Health Visitors and multidisciplinary teams
• Contribute to improving outcomes in early years development, parenting and school readiness
  

Essential Criteria

• Registered Nurse or Midwife (NMC registered)
• Demonstrable interest in public health, early years and family support
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Commitment to undertaking academic study at postgraduate level
• Evidence of continuing professional development
  

What We Offer

• Fully supported practice learning environment
• Structured practice assessor/supervisor model
• Access to experienced Health Visiting staff and leadership support
• Opportunities to develop leadership and public health skills
• Integration into a supportive, forward-thinking team aligned to GIRFEC, The Promise and UNCRC
  

Training Commitment

You will be required to successfully complete an NMC-approved SCPHN (Health Visiting) programme, balancing academic study with supervised clinical practice. On successful completion, you will be eligible to apply for Health Visitor (Band 7) roles within NHS Borders (subject to availability).

Informal Enquiries

For Further Information Or An Informal Discussion

• Jan Grieve, Community Clinical Nurse Manager 📞 07747 457332 ✉️ jan.grieve@nhs.scot
  

💻 Virtual conversations can be arranged via Microsoft Teams.

Whether you’re early in your career or looking to take the next step into a more senior role, NHS Borders offers a supportive environment where you can grow, influence change, and make a real impact.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.

As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here. 

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form

• PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early***
  

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.
  

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.