Nurse mums!

[Scottishgirl646]

Hello all! I am a nurse, qualified in 2012 and have worked in a few different positions (mainly acute), however my experience within the nhs is limited (although I am nhs trained I worked in jersey for several years, then the nhs for a year). I am currently working in a private care home as when I decided to return to my hometown this was the only nursing position available locally. However a full time community position (nhs) has become available and I so want to apply but I am worried about the money side. I would have to start at the bottom of band 5, and I was wondering if anyone is newly qualified and could let me know what their monthly wage looks like roughly? I would only have one weekend a month so my enhancements would be poor, so looking to see what a rough base salary is like if anyone can help at all. I’m trying to figure out if paying for childcare is going to be feasible whilst working for the nhs and would love to hear from people first hand. Thanks 🙏

Would you definitely have to start at the bottom of band 5? I think you could challenge that if you have relevant experience, as you are not newly qualified.

As a manager, I've completed justification and had nurses who have been out of the nhs not start at the bottom.

Can you list your skills to your new employer? Like meds management, wound care, pressure area management, any palliative care. That's all relevant experience which is easily transferable.

(Sorry I know that didn't answer your question, but when we need nurses in the community it seems crazy not to acknowledge past experience!)

I would also suggest you ask to start higher up your banding. As an NHS recruiting manager I've done this..

Just need to be able to demonstrate relevant competency and experience but it sounds likely you could.

Thanks @justgeton and @Iliketeaagain, I’m just wondering, how would I go about asking to go in at a higher band? Do I wait for the offer then contact recruitment?
I live very rurally so I’m hoping that there won’t be many applicants and so I’m hoping I stand a fairly good chance of getting the position, I’m just worried with financial commitments about the money side of things. I currently work Friday/Saturday/Sunday night shift while my partner works Monday to Friday so we don’t see each other. This position would mean we have weekends together as a family (id only work one in four weekends) and so although I know the money will be less it feels like a much better family life, but equally I need to pay the bills so I’m just trying to figure out my finances!

IME candidates have discussed it with me and if I as the budget holder want it to happen then recruitment contact someone senior in finance who signs it off and that's it.

I worked nights at the weekend early in my career as you do and it was really hard going. I eventually moved to a part time community job and took a drop in salary for a while but it was so worth it.

My advice to you would be get back in the nhs and if you can afford it drip nights and weekends and live a more normal life

Or drop them, even

You probably can't go in at a higher band, but a higher pay point on band 5.

I would email whoever is recruiting and ask them to consider starting you higher up the pay point than the bottom and list the clinical skills and care planning skills you developed whole working in the nursing home.

I assume the community nurse role will have a lot of the similar skills you used in your nursing home role, and the more detailed the better. Then they can match you to mid or top pay point.

Also, it's likely your offer will say a salary range (at least that's what they do in the trust I work for), it's then the recruiting managers job to either put someone at the bottom of band 5 or justify why they should be higher than the bottom pay point if no recent nhs service.

I've recently done this, and it was literally a line on a form stating that the person I wanted to employ had significant appropriate skills and experience.

If you worked on a surgical ward in the nhs (as an example) , you would automatically be moved over to the pay point you were already on in a community job even if you had to learn a whole different role and associated skills, so it makes sense that you can politely argue your worth within a band pay range even though your experience isn't nhs.

Not a nurse but I was an NHS paramedic (NQP band 5). I couldn't even live off my salary - around £1800 a month including unsocial, nights, weekends).. I now work privately 2 shifts a week so part time, whichever hours I choose (no nights or weekends, the occasional late) and I earn borderline 2k.

Unless you want the security, pension etc particularly from NHS then id stay well away for the ridiculous wages and constant burnout.

You could type in the salaries into a website like salary calculator.co.uk as I find it is fairly accurate. I am a band 6 on 22.5 hrs 9-5 (not community) so can't be much use in terms of figures. Put the bottom of band 5 (which I also don't think you would start on) and also midpoint. My nhs pension scheme is a 9% ish contribution, you may be able to find that sort of information through the trust website.

Are you able to make use of tax-free childcare provision?

Although the NHS has its flaws, a community nursing role offers development opportunities and a nicer work life balance and the community nurses I know are far happier than those in hospitals.

@Iliketeaagain Sorry that’s what I meant, a higher point in the band 5 scale. My current wage is very good in the private sector, however I don’t have the perks such as the pension or things like sick pay, and should I have a second child then I only get basic SMP with my current job. I’m ready for a new challenge and I think that the community role would offer lots of learning opportunities.
@Hattifatteneners good idea about the childcare vouchers, I can’t put my daughter into our local nursery until she is 2 (so May time) due to how small the place I live is they only have nursery provisions for children over 2. So I’m relying on family until I can put her into nursery, but they should accept the childcare vouchers.
@RayOfSunshine2013 I know what you mean about burn out, I have worked in MAU settings mostly since qualifying, then trauma orthopaedics so I’m used to a busy work environment, but I know the GP’s and lead nurse in the practice very well and I actually think this job will be less stressful than my current roll in the care home! We have had no manager for 6 months and been relying on bank staff, so I’m excited to work in a stable team.
So my plan at the minute would be apply, then if successful when I am sent my offer of employment, I would contact recruitment to discuss my starting salary, and go from there, if that sounds right?

Good luck OP... but as a manager I'd prefer it if you liaised with me rather than recruitment

Recruitment don't really make decisions.. they do the 'process'.