NHS salary if you drop a grade?

[Iwillhavealargeone]

So I have 4 years experience as a b6, was lucky enough to get a B7, but I'm not happy and am looking elsewhere.
Potentially I might have to accept a b6 role in the meantime but my happiness and mental health is more important.

If I did drop down where on the pay scale would I fit in, mid point? Surely I would not go down to the bottom?

Definitely discuss with the recruiting manager. I am a band 7 and applied for a band 6 purely because I had moved house and had a 90 mile round commute. At interview I was offered a band 7 even though I had not applied for one. I always thought there was no flex with these sort of things but there definitely is. Good luck with it working for the NHS can be very stressful these days.

@JessicaBrassica
i don’t think there are any overlaps any more, so the NHS screenshot I posted may be out of date - but the principle of the agreement should still be there.

Empathising with all who are struggling with a band 7. Mine was a management post but still loads of clinical responsibilities. It was literally impossible to do all I had to do, in fact just reading the several hundred emails per week was impossible.

I now work 3 long days most weeks for the same money…
I was working 5-6 long days just to get it all done. Totally unsustainable and I never switched off.

@onepieceoflollipop

You sound like you have made the right move

There is a definite shift of b7 responsibilities now. So much operational responsibility!

I did this after going on maternity after being in a B7 secondment. I dropped back to a B6 for a short time after mat leave before getting a different B7 role and was put at the top of B6. There arent any overlaps anymore

I'm sorry to hear you aren't enjoying your band 7 job. I'm finding it reassuring to read it isn't just me though. I did it for 13 years including through COVID, and then... I'm now working agency, in charge of my own shifts/time and loving the patient care, less responsibility, and earning slightly more (but pension has taken a hit). Overall worth it in terms of family life.

Thank you everyone, I will see what happens at interview - I'd be happy with top band 6

Just thought I would update this.
Job went from bad to worse, in the end I handed my notice in and as going to resign and just do bank/agency work. But, I got offered a band 6 day time role only, and they have put me at the top of band 6.

Great news OP, well done!

Glad to hear it OP, congratulations!

@Iwillhavealargeone
brilliant news and glad they put you at top band 6.
I’m a year on from you, having gone back to a 6 from a 7 and have zero regrets. In fact I’m loving the better work/life balance and rarely think of work unless I am physically on duty.

I left the NHS now but I was on a different point to what I should have been.
I would insist on being a band 6 top point. They will always say you can't do this but if they want you they can.

This is great to hear. I did similair and the balance is great

It’s negotiable. I went for a band 5 job (which I am massively overqualified for but omg I love it and my life is so much easier) as a top end band 6 (having just changed my mind about the band 7 job I was supposed to start). They agreed top of band 5.