Genetic Counsellor (Annex 21)

Job details

• Job reference: 257564
• Salary: Band 7 (£52,845 - £61,466)
• Job closing date: 31/08/2026
• Job Type: Healthcare Sciences
• Location: Western General Hospital
• Employment type: Permanent
• Hours Per Week: 36
• Job posted date: 24/08/2026
• Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
• Department: Clinical Genetics - Cell and Gene Sciences

Scottish NHS

South East Scotland Genetic Service, NHS Lothian

Pre-registration Supernumerary Genetic Counsellor

Band 7 (annex 21) Salary Scale, 36 hrs per week

£ 52,845 - £61,466

We are pleased to advertise a full time Pre-Registration Genetic Counsellor post to join our friendly team based in Edinburgh. The successful candidate will undertake the NHS Scotland post-graduate training scheme for Genetic & Genomic Counselling. One training post is available and supported by NHS Education for Scotland.

The blended training programme will enable the trainee to build a portfolio of evidence for assessment and subsequent registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist- Genomic Counsellor. The training includes a fully funded 3 year Masters in Genetic & Genomic Counselling through Cardiff University part time. This is predominantly distance learning and requires 5 training blocks located in Wales, the first of which requires attendance on 28 Sept to 7th October 2026. The post holder will work under supervision as part of a team of Genetic Counsellors to deliver a comprehensive clinical service including the provision of outreach clinics. The department offers high standards to support trainees.

Applications are invited from candidates with eligibility to Clinical Scientist Genetic Counselling training, with a minimum for 2:1 entry of BSc Hons in a relevant subject (biological or biomedical science, social science, nursing or psychology) OR NMC nurse / midwife with a relevant experience. It is essential that the candidate has 6 months full time equivalent (approx. 800hrs) NHS or community health or care work experience with references.

Training and MSc commences in September 2026 with interviews early mid- September and will be a Band 7 Annex 21 contract of employment until the post holder completes registration. A maximum of 36 months will be allowed for completion of the registration portfolio.

*Please note this is a Pre-registration post, therefore Annex 21 applies*

For trainees covered by Annex 21 where the period of training lasts for between one and three years, pay will be as follows:

• up to 12 months prior to completion of training: 75 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.
• more than one but less than two years prior to completion of training: 70 per cent of the pay band maximum of the qualified rate of the qualified.
• more than two but less than three years prior to completion of training: 65 per cent of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate.
• more than three years from completion of training: 60 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.

For further guidance on Annex 21 – please follow this link: Annex 21 – Arrangements for pay and banding of trainees

Healthcare Science within NHS Scotland has a well-defined career structure and continued professional development is actively encouraged.

Informal enquiries should be made to Gillian Scott, Genetic Counsellor Manager on 0131 537 1116 or at WGH.ClinicalGenetics@nhs.scot

Please download the full application pack from Jobtrain.

Please read the important Job Application information in the information for applicants section.

Short-listed applications will be contacted by email. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam folder.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early.

The email address you provide will be used for notifications. Please check your Junk and Spam inboxes as notifications may go directly to these.

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. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

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