Trainee Sonographer - Band 7 Annex 21

Overview

NHS Scotland promotes fairness, inclusion, and equal access across its workforce, with a commitment to eliminating unlawful discrimination and ensuring every employee feels valued and able to contribute fully.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran is one of the territorial health boards within NHS Scotland. The organisation works to improve the health and wellbeing of people across Ayrshire and Arran through a culture built on being caring, safe, and respectful.

Role summary

An opportunity has opened for a Trainee Sonographer to join a busy Obstetric Ultrasound service at Ayrshire Maternity Unit, Crosshouse Hospital. The post is available on a permanent basis and follows Annex 21 conditions, with a progression to a permanent Band 7 contract once qualification is achieved. Qualified sonographers are also welcome to apply and will be considered.

The service provides women-centred obstetric ultrasound support across elective, urgent, and emergency pathways. The role connects services across pregnancy screening, early pregnancy, and obstetrics and gynaecology to help maintain national standards. The team operates across several sites, including University Hospital Crosshouse, Ayrshire Central Hospital, University Hospital Ayr, East Ayrshire Community Hospital, and Northwest Centre in Kilmarnock, supporting care closer to patients’ homes.

Working pattern

There are two part-time posts available:

• Post 1: 36 hours per week
• Post 2: 22.5 hours per week

Working hours are Monday to Sunday, 0900 to 1700, and include weekend and public holiday cover. From 1 April 2026, NHS Agenda for Change full-time hours in Scotland will reduce from 37 to 36 hours per week, with part-time hours adjusted pro rata and no loss of earnings.

What the role involves

• Supporting the delivery of obstetric ultrasound scanning services across different care pathways
• Performing and reporting a range of ultrasound examinations
• Assisting in the coordination of services across pregnancy screening, early pregnancy, and obstetrics and gynaecology
• Working as part of a small, supportive team while also being able to operate independently
• Contributing to safe, caring, and respectful teamwork across the department

Requirements

• A professional qualification and registration with HCPC, or an equivalent professional registration
• A Bachelor of Science degree, or equivalent, in Radiography or Midwifery
• Relevant clinical experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work on own initiative and also function effectively as a flexible team member
• Knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy
• Good IT skills
• Availability to work Monday to Sunday, including weekends and public holidays
• A full UK driving licence is essential

Eligibility

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, or the post must be eligible for sponsorship before applying. Sponsorship may be considered for some roles if salary and other criteria are met, but it is not guaranteed and is assessed individually after interview and during pre-employment checks. Sponsorship is not available for Band 2 posts or bank contracts.

Applications are also open to qualified sonographers.

Additional information

Candidates should submit an application through the NHS Jobs Scotland process and should not upload a CV, as it will not be used for shortlisting. Applications close at midnight on the stated closing date, and late submissions will not be accepted. Correspondence will be sent by email, so applicants should ensure their address is entered correctly and check email and junk folders regularly. Once an application has been submitted, it cannot be amended.

Some vacancies are restricted to internal candidates, so staff members should make sure their NHS Jobs Scotland profile correctly shows that they are employed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

For vacancies requiring a driving licence, the licence must be a full UK, EU, or EEA licence.

Applicants should use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge when using the application system. Support for technical issues is available through the JobTrain Candidate Support Hub.

For role-specific enquiries, contact Barbara Montgomery, Lead Sonographer, or Lindsay Shedden, Acting Deputy Sonographer.

This role is subject to the usual UK right-to-work checks and any related certificate of sponsorship rules.