Are you passionate about improving support for neurodivergent adults and driving meaningful change in mental health policy?You will join the Adult Neurodevelopmental Team, within the Mental Health Directorate. The team is friendly, flexible and supportive and currently consists of one team leader, one policy manager (which is this role) and one policy official. The Scottish Government are working with NHS Boards, community partners, and the National Autism Implementation Team to improve access to diagnosis, by supporting local health partners to develop, enhance and redesign existing local neurodevelopmental services.
You will lead on a programme of work to improve diagnosis and support for neurodivergent people. This will include scoping work on the future of adult Neurodevelopmental pathways alongside stakeholders, working with Health Boards to stabilise services and data work to understand what data can be collected locally and reported nationally. This will also include Ministerial briefing, correspondence and advice due to the level of political interest in ADHD diagnosis and support. The post holder will be responsible for delivering a multi-year fund for local and national support for autistic people through third sector partners. The post holder will be expected to develop and demonstrate strong leadership skills while working with a broad range of colleagues and individuals with lived experience; and with stakeholders across the public, and third sector.
Responsibilities- Play a lead role in maintaining good working relationships internal and external stakeholders building productive and trusted relationships in a sometimes changing and diverse stakeholder environment.
- Provide general advice and support to Ministers on adult Neurodevelopmental policy.
- Develop and produce timely and high-quality Ministerial briefings, submissions and update reports for Ministers and senior leaders, working collaboratively with teams within Mental Health Directorate and beyond.
- Developing and implementing a plan to develop, enhance and redesign existing local neurodevelopmental services, working with Health Boards and partners.
- Working with partners to develop training and resources on Neurodivergence and make them accessible for the appropriate people.
- Working with Health Boards to understand what data can be collected locally and reported nationally.
- Delivering the Autistic Adult Support Fund and working with fund manager.
- Budget responsibility within policy responsibility and managing delivery partners related to this funding.
- Line management responsibility for policy official
Success profileSuccess profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Technical / Professional Skills: - Policy Context and Purpose (Level 2)
You can find out more about the skills required here: Policy Profession Standards
Behaviours:- Seeing the Big Picture – (Level 3)
- Making Effective Decisions – (Level 3)
- Communicating and Influencing – (Level 3)
You can find out more about
Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk) How to applyApply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. 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 interview and In Tray Exercise. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 8th September
however this may be subject to change.
About usThe 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, 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.
Working patternOur standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles 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.
Security checksSuccessful 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 statementWe 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 informationFind out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our
Careers Website. Read our
Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Apply before; 31st August (23:59) This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only 