NHS Lothian Newly Qualified Registered Nurses 2026 - Mental Health Nursing

Newly Qualified Registered Mental Health Nurse Recruitment 2026

Are you looking to apply for your first permanent role as a Registered Mental Health Nurse?

Our Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan sets out our Vision, Ambitions and Values that enable excellent care for our patients and service users. It also demonstrates what you can expect from our organisation and what you can aspire to in your own career development. A collaborative, person focused approach is at the very centre of everything we aspire to achieve, and necessary to deliver care that is high quality, compassionate, safe and effective. We continue to work towards having a diverse and inclusive culture for people who work for us and use our services. We want everyone to realise their full potential and make a positive contribution. We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and communities. We are committed to supporting the development of a nursing and midwifery workforce that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We are interested in your passion for developing with us as a leader as well as demonstrating alignment with the values and ambitions set out in our Strategic Plan. We are committed to providing the strong foundations of clinical education with our Clinical Education and Training team, our education co-ordinators, robust induction programmes and preceptorship as well as working with you to build on your leadership strengths.

A link to the NHS Lothian Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan can be found via the link below:

https://services.nhslothian.scot/nursingandmidwifery/strategic-plan-2023-2028/

NHS Lothian are delighted to accept applications from newly qualifying nurses 2026. We are looking for passionate, caring, and motivated people to join our highly skilled nursing teams to work within our many specialities. You can be assured of the friendliest of welcomes from our committed nursing teams dedicated to giving you the best start to your nursing career.

In addition to your clinical skills, we are interested in your passion for working in healthcare and your commitment to delivering excellent patient- centred care, as well as a demonstration of personal values, aligned to those of our organisation.

What Opportunities Are Available

We have a variety of exciting opportunities within all areas across NHS Lothian.

Please see attached documents detailing our locations and specialities across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

We anticipate a high volume of applications and therefore the matching process will be competitive.

Stating your Preference

As part of the application process, you will have the opportunity to indicate your preferred site and speciality, with up to 3 preference choices. When selecting your preferences, please ensure that you consider your ability to travel and how it may impact your work-life balance. Every effort is made to accommodate 1st choices although this is not guaranteed due to availability of posts.

If you have any queries regarding how to complete the preference selections, please don't hesitate to contact the Generic Recruitment team at loth.genericrecruitment@nhs.scot

Matching Process

We aim to align you to a post via a matching process carried out by a team of Senior Clinical Leaders. The decision-making will consider your learning, skills, experience and the values that you have described within your application. The highest scoring applicants will be more likely to be matched to their first choice preference. If you are currently an Assistant Practitioner within NHS Lothian please include this information in your application.

You will be contacted by telephone by the clinical teams to advise you of which post you have been matched to. We anticipate that matching may take several weeks to complete and phone calls will commence from 14th May onwards.

Please note that we will be unable to facilitate rematches under this advert once the matching process has concluded.

Please only include areas in which you are willing to accept an offer.

For Further Information On The Opportunities Available, Please Contact

Royal Edinburgh Hospital (Acute, Rehabilitation, Older People's Mental Health, IHTT, Forensics, Prison Nursing, Perinatal, Eating Disorders) - Craig Stenhouse (craig.stenhouse@nhs.scot)

CAMHS - Eileen Clark (loth.melvilleipucn@nhs.scot)

Edinburgh Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care (HBCCC) - Lesley Clark (lesley.clark@nhs.scot)

Edinburgh Community Services - Claire Borthwick (claire.borthwick@nhs.scot)

Midlothian Community Services/Hospital - Karen Darroch (karen.darroch@nhs.scot)

East Lothian Community Services - Sarah Gossner (sarah.gossner@nhs.scot)

East Lothian Community Hospital - Kirsty Craig (kirsty.craig@nhs.scot)

West Lothian Community Services - Linda Yule (linda.yule@nhs.scot)

For more information on our sites and services please see the NHS Lothian careers website: Nursing – NHS Lothian Careers

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

As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

If you would like to arrange a stay and grow conversation to discuss your career, career pathways and opportunities within NHS Lothian please clink on the link: Career Conversations (scot.nhs.uk)

Please don't hesitate to contact the Generic Recruitment team at loth.genericrecruitment@nhs.scot should you have any queries.