Planit : Job Profiles : Psychologist - Occupational Psychology and Counselling

An occupational psychologist studies what affects people at work. They aim to find ways of increasing job satisfaction and motivation and making organisations more successful. They might also counsel workers who are made redundant, are about to retire or looking to return to work after long term illness.

They may also be known as work psychologists.

The Work

You could be:

designing psychological or psychometric tests to choose the right staff for the job
checking the recruitment process to make sure it is fair and effective
working with management and trade unions to improve industrial relations
interviewing individuals and giving group talks
training managers in appraisal systems and leadership skills
training workers in teamwork, communication and assertiveness
assessing the design of the working environment, such as the layout of work stations, suitability of lighting and effect of noise levels, and making recommendations
advising workers how to deal with problems such as stress or situations such as business restructuring
helping the firm develop an image which sends the right message and support the rights of groups such as ethnic minorities, women and people with disabilities.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for
whether you are self-employed.

Starting salaries for occupational psychologists are between £20,000 and £25,000 a year, rising up to £48,000 with experience. Senior posts can be around £70,000 a year or more.

Conditions

You work in an office but may have to travel between different offices in the region.
You work mainly office hours with occasional evenings and weekends.
There are opportunities for part time work.

Workforce Employment Status

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Getting In

You would work towards registration with the British Psychological Society (BPS).
To be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), you need either a BPS recognised degree (first or second class Honours) in psychology, or a degree in another subject plus a BPS recognised conversion course.
To do an Honours degree in psychology you usually need 4-5 Highers.
Paid or unpaid work experience is advantageous.
After your degree you would find relevant paid or voluntary work experience (at least 12 months) ideally as a psychology assistant or research assistant, before choosing your speciality.
In order to qualify as an occupational psychologist, you must complete a BPS accredited MSc in Occupational Psychology. There are no universities in Scotland offering this course, however there are several universities in England that offer it on a distance learning basis.
This is followed by the BPS Qualification in Occupational Psychology Stage 2, involving 2 years of supervised practice.
All practising psychologists must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
You will require a satisfactory criminal record check from Disclosure Scotland to show that you are suitable for this type of work. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details on the type you would need.

Opportunities are available in the public and private sector, but most jobs are in the private sector. The second largest employer of occupational psychologists is the civil service. You could work in human resources management or in market research. You could also get a job in a research organisation.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

Unemployment

Percentage of workforce registered as unemployed (Scotland)

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Job Outlook Scotland and UK

Scotland

2019

3411

1.8 %

RISE

2024

3474

United Kingdom

2019

31547

2 %

RISE

2024

32186

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You need:

respect for confidentiality
sound judgement
good observation skills
the ability to work under pressure to deadlines
assertiveness and a positive attitude
clear, logical thinking
excellent communication skills
good statistical and analytical skills
business awareness.

Training

Once you have achieved Chartered Membership of the BPS you will continue to learn and train during your career through a programme of Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
You will need to keep up to date with research on a wide range of conditions and developments in the treatment of these conditions.

Getting On

In most organisations you can apply for a more senior post after you have some experience.
You might have to move to another area for promotion.
You could also become a self-employed consultant.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

British Psychological Society
Tel: 0116 254 9568
E-mail: enquiries@bps.org.uk
Website: http://www.bps.org.uk
Website (2): http://careers.bps.org.uk
Twitter: @BPSOfficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBPS/

Disclosure Scotland
Tel: 03000 2000 40
E-mail: info@disclosurescotland.gsi.gov.uk
Website: https://www.mygov.scot/organisations/disclosure-scotland/
Twitter: @DisclosureScot

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Tel: 0300 500 4472
E-mail: registration@hcpc-uk.org
Website: http://www.hcpc-uk.org/
Twitter: @The_HCPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hcpcuk

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the UK-wide regulatory body responsible for setting and maintaining standards of professional training, performance and conduct in the following health care professions: Arts Therapists; Audiologist; Biomedical Scientist; Chiropodist and Podiatrist; Clinical Scientist; Dietician; Dramatherapist; Occupational Therapist; Operating Department Practitioner; Orthoptist; Paramedic; Physiotherapist; Practitioner Psychologist; Prosthetist and Orthotist; Radiographer; Speech and Language Therapist. (The HCPC may regulate other healthcare professions in the future.) The HCPC website contains a register of all approved courses in the above professions.

NHS Scotland Careers
Website: http://www.careers.nhs.scot
Website (2): https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/
Twitter: @NHSScotCareers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NHSScotlandCareers/

Science Council
Tel: 020 3434 2020
E-mail: enquiries@sciencecouncil.org
Website: http://www.sciencecouncil.org/
Website (2): http://www.futuremorph.org/
Twitter: @Science_Council

The Science Council provides the quality assurance system for those working in science. They set the standards for professional registration for practising scientists and science technicians across all scientific disciplines. Those scientists who reach the required standards are recognised by the following designations CSci, CSciTeach, RSci and RSciTech.

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Planit

Psychologist - Occupational

The Work

Pay

Conditions

Getting In

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

What Does it Take?

Training

Getting On

Contacts

Career Area

Career Sectors

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