NHS admin pay band question

[Peanutbutteryogurt]

Hi, boring question alert!

I've been offered two jobs in NHS admin, same hospital, same hours. I've got today to make a decision between the two and I'm struggling to decide.

My question is do you always start off at the bottom rung of the pay band? Is there room for me to negotiate the top end of the pay band to see who makes a better offer? It's band 3 so pretty crap pay anyway, but the difference between the bottom and top end makes a lot of difference when paying for DD's nursery fees. It is worth mentioning this to them or is it set?

Thanks

Hi OP

I work in NHS recruitment, the only reason I have ever seen anyone placed higher in the banding is because they were earning that much in the job they were in before moving to NHS.

Even then it had to be signed off by Head of Dept and you need to demonstrate that the skills in your previous role are transferable to the new role.

It’s really hard to be placed any higher than the bottom point.

If you are placed at the top, be aware that you will not get any incremental pay rises each year, you will only get cost of living rise.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, that is helpful.

From a recruitment perspective, if two departments want me, what powers do they have to improve what they're offering me?

The NHS is on its backside, so funding for admin roles is at an all time low, it’s the first place funding is cut from, so it’s likely both departments are trying to make savings where they can. They would need Head of or Director approval to offer you a higher salary. Benefits are standard for everyone in NHS so no negotiation there really.

Just be weary as I have seen job offers pulled off there is a lot of messing about with salary etc.

if two departments want me, what powers do they have to improve what they're offering me

Probably close to zero. It's almost impossible to pay more than the bottom of the range unless you've previous experience in that band so are already above the bottom in another role.

Chances are you aren't the only suitable candidate, so if you won't accept the role for the bottom of the range, they'll just give the job to the candidate who will. In our department we joke that you have to have the permission of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to pay above the minimum, and that isn't that much of an exaggeration. Welcome to the reality of austerity.

I went from 30K in a private practice to bottom of the 4 banding. It's fine it was my choice but a big leap