Specialist Healthcare Scientist Practitioner

Job details

• Job reference: 254037
• Salary: Band 6 (£43,231 - £52,679)
• Job closing date: 28/07/2026
• Job Type: Healthcare Sciences
• Location: Astley Ainslie Hospital
• Employment type: Permanent
• Hours Per Week: 36
• Job posted date: 21/07/2026
• Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
• Department: Assistive Technology

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An opportunity has arisen for 2 Specialist Healthcare Scientist Practitioners, within Assistive Technology at the SMART (Southeast Mobility and Rehabilitation Technology) Centre, Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh. The SMART Centre (www.smart.scot.nhs.uk) provides highly specialised clinical rehabilitation technology services across the southeast of Scotland.

The post holder will perform a range of healthcare science clinical/technical/scientific activities, including:

• Carrying out joint Assistive Technology clinics (Wheelchair and Seating and Custom Design clinics) with the Clinical Scientists, then take the plan forward independently (including note writing, creating designs, completing technical documentation and manufacture job sheets, and handing over equipment) under Clinical Scientist supervision.
• To operate gait analysis equipment during patient appointments and to process the data and generate reports.
• Be responsible for the gait lab technical equipment and other Clinical Scientist team technical equipment beyond the pre-clinic calibration/system checks.

Technical aspects of the job include: 3D scanning and CNC toolpath program creation, 3D motion capture, force plates and EMG system use, CAD and technical drawings, Design prototyping, 3D printing, and creation and maintenance of technical documentation.

The post holder will, contribute to the day-to-day operation of the Quality Management System including review of documentation and audits, and to ensure Assistive Technology services meet the requirements of regulatory and accreditation bodies.

The post holder will be required to be flexible in their approach and adaptable to service requirements, and may be required to work in other services within the SMART Centre and attend/support satellite clinics. They will work closely with other professionals such as Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Rehabilitation Engineers and Stores as required.

Post holders will be supported in attaining Clinical Scientist HCPC registration through equivalence route.

For further information contact:

Graham Henderson, Lead Clinical Scientist, 0131 537 9422, Graham.Henderson@nhs.scot or

Beth Dias-Scoon, Lead Clinical Scientist, 0131 537 9193, beth.dias-scoon@nhs.scot or

James Hollington, Head of Assistive Technology, 0131 537 9441, James.Hollington@nhs.scot

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.

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 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