Breathing Space Advisor – Cardonald & South Queensferry

Healthcare & Medical
Midlothian
April 26, 2026
Permanent
Urgent

Job Description

Breathing Space Advisor

The Breathing Space Advisor is a key member of NHS 24, a national tele health and tele care service that delivers health advice and information to the population of Scotland 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This role is part of a busy and growing team that helps to improve mental health outcomes across Scotland.

Where We Are

This position can be based at the Cardonald or South Queensferry Regional Centres. The team delivers a confidential, compassionate, and expert response to callers experiencing low mood, anxiety, and depression.

The Role

The Breathing Space Advisory team receives around 14,000 calls each month from people experiencing low mood, anxiety and depression. As a Breathing Space Advisor you will provide a confidential, compassionate response by listening, advising and signposting callers on to appropriate resources and support services, using both webchat and telephone.

Key Responsibilities

  • Use counselling skills to provide advice and information to people who are suffering from low mood and mental health problems.
  • Provide a confidential and compassionate response by facilitating a supportive space that empowers callers.
  • Support callers on both webchat and telephone.
  • Refer callers to appropriate resources and local or national support groups.
  • Utilise counselling skills to provide guidance to callers using professional and compassionate language.
  • Participate in ongoing audit and evaluation of the service.
  • Promote continuous improvements in line with clinical governance requirements.
  • Maintain and develop professional knowledge, understanding and competencies through performance appraisal and supervision.
  • Work closely with all members of the team, promoting effective teamwork.
  • Respect caller confidentiality at all times, working within Breathing Space protocols.

Successful Applicant Will

  • Hold a relevant professional qualification or experience (e.g., RMN, Social Work, Psychological Therapies).
  • Demonstrate significant experience working in a relevant setting, preferably telephone or text based support.
  • Show evidence of a firm understanding of key issues related to mental health and mental distress.
  • Have experience of suicide intervention approaches (e.g., ASIST).
  • Maintain strong critical decision making skills.
  • Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Work within defined boundaries and adhere to strict guidelines.

Our Enhanced Salary Package

NHS 24 offers a full benefits package, with a permanent contract on Band 5 from April 2026 (£34,544 – £43,039 pro rata for part time hours). The hourly rates are:

  • Basic Hourly Rate – £18.40
  • Saturday / After 8pm Weekday Hourly Rate – £23.92
  • Sunday / Public Holiday Hourly Rate – £29.44

Placement on the salary scale is dependent on confirmation of previous relevant NHS service.

Benefits

  • 35 days annual leave (rising to 41 days) pro rata.
  • Development opportunities including study bursaries, e learning and classroom based courses.
  • Enhanced pay for working public holidays.
  • Enrolment into the Scottish Public Pensions Agency pension scheme.
  • NHS discounts on goods and services.
  • Employee support and assistance through the Employee Assistance Programme.

Eligibility and Work Requirement

To work in the United Kingdom, an individual must demonstrate the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is granted by the UK Visa and Immigration Service. NHS Scotland Boards will check entitlement to work in the UK during pre employment checks, which may include visas, EU settled or pre settled status, or other evidence. NHS 24 is not licensed to issue certificates of sponsorship under current UKVI regulations, so applicants must have the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship to work with us. It is essential that this is verified before submitting your application.

Equal Opportunity Statements

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to advancing equality and particularly welcome applications from groups who are currently under represented within the workforce. We are a committed participant in the Disability Confident Leader Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for our vacancies. NHS 24 is progressing an Anti Racism Action Plan and is a participant in initiatives to measure progress towards becoming an anti racist organisation.

Location

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