NHS Jobs - Fed Up - Career Progression....

[NameChangedForThis1985]

Apologies it will be a long one:

Currently working in a Band 8a role in the NHS. It's a fairly niche job which provides operational support rather than clinical input or operational management and is generic across all specialties/areas rather than in a department such as IT, Finance, HR, etc. (This is relevant).

I've been looking to move on for a while now - I don't hate my role but I've been doing this type of work for 8 years now, and I'll be honest it's a bit boring and 'Groundhog Day' - I'd really like to progress and get my teeth into something new and more challenging. So I've been looking for a role at an 8b level. There's no 'senior' version of my role or similar in my Trust, so it's not just a case of 'stepping up'.

The issue is that due to my line of work I have progressed to this level with very little operational/staff management. I have been responsible for a team of staff in the past, but this was quite a while ago, and I don't feel it fits the 'significant experience' often required for this type of role - although it's frustrating that this is decided subjectively rather than given a specific timeframe (but that's another issue entirely). Without a specific profession as outline above, my options are limited to:

Service Manager: very operationally focused and lots of management so not sure I'd meet the criteria - also the normal route for clinical staff to progress into.

Other: I've only seen one role advertised in this time that would fit my criteria. Basically the senior version of my role but in another Trust. The advert was closed early as apparently there were 'too many applicants' - but it's clear from everyone I've spoken to that someone was already earmarked for the role.

I'm doing shadowing of senior staff, working through all of the CMI qualifications, have enrolled on all internal development courses that are available, and have tried putting my name out there. But absolutely no luck whatsoever! Any tips at all for what to do...

I'm not horrendously unhappy where I am but I'm just so bored, and yes the extra money would be nice given I'm a single woman with a family-sized mortgage and a penchant for nice holidays! I just wish someone would take a chance on me, but I'll never be lined up for the role before applying...

I really think nhs England might be my next move. I want to work on reducing inequalities and feel I have a lot to bring to this area. I also have a distinction in the senior leader level 7 pgdip and am a chartered management fellow - I was bored at the 7 so took a new challenge in the form of education. It was stressful but I’m now back to being bored. I’ve asked dh to get a better paid job so I can quit and write a book… but I think I’d actually miss working.

In terms of staff management in the NHS , many managers know very little, and what they do know they seem reluctant to practice.

CIPD look for volunteers to mentor?

Keep looking. Apply to things for interview practice so when the right thing comes up you'll be in a good place.

If this bored, what about moving employer? Private sector or local government?

Definitely has to be NHS (I realise I'm making a rod for my own back in terms of deal breakers here....)

Not willing to lose the holiday allowance (I live for my travels) or reduced pension... the same jobs in the Civil Service weirdly tend to pay less too.

It might be worth looking at other permanent 8a roles as a way of broadening your skill set.

Another thing that might be beneficial is to look at external roles, and compare the package (pension, leave, flexibility etc). Might put current role in better context.

NHSE has a short term recruitment freeze (again). It’s just 10 months since the last reorganisation and now looking to make more staff cuts and move some policy areas into DHSC. apparently it plans to cut around 15% of its headcount – around 2,000 staff. It was announced yesterday morning. Money saved will be reallocated to front line staff, discouragement of continued use of Bank/Agency. Unsure how this will affect your Trust OP, but cuts are beginning to happen across the board. It’s choppy waters currently, if I were you I’d sit tight and keep upskilling yourself.

To Add it’s not just NHSE, Trusts are being asked to cut some staff, make productivity savings too.

https://www.nhsprocurement.org.uk/news/trust-support-and-admin-staff-targeted-cuts-2025-26-nhse

There aren't any of those (permanent 8a) out there at present either!

I know few people that have left nhs and gone into industry for more experience and small payrise some have come back to the nhs in more senior roles or progessed in industry.
At your level I'd say it's looking for opportunities everywhere not just in nhs.

Just to demonstrate I did a quick NHS Jobs search within a 50 mile radius of my home town. There are:

1,313 jobs
287 of those are Admin & Clerical (this is the only category any suitable role would fall into)
9 of those are Band 8a, 8b or 8c

Of these, 3 are specialist roles where I'm not qualified, 2 are fixed-term, and the other 4 would involve a commute of at least 1.5 hours each way every day as they are office-based.

What were your secondments for and what did you get out of them?

Is it worth just going for more senior jobs to get the feedback (and the adrenaline jolt?)

If money wasn't the issue, or if you only needed a low income, what would you do?

I'm in Scotland, so it may me different - but the usual thing is to go to Government or NHS Education posts. But these are few & far between, often short-term contracts..

My secondments have been in operational management and project/programme management, so very very relevant to the role I do now and any future roles. Unfortunately the project and programme work is usually only fixed-term to deliver specifics so it's not something I could give up my current permanent role to do.

If you see my recent post there are only four jobs out there right now I could do and they're all a considerable commute (and no home working which I do two days a week now - two days in an office 20 minutes away). I suppose I could apply for them to get some interview experience...

You could, yes. It depends how you find that job application process (I hate it now, which is one of the many reasons I'm likely to remain a band 6 - but I'm aware I'm lucky to be able to live a decent life at that salary level).

What are you studying? Is it going to get you nearer to where you need to be?

@PermanentTemporary Apologies I realised I didn't reply to the last question on your previous post. My undergraduate degree is in Psychology, and my Master's is in Clinical Research. Ironically my Trust would pay me on my currently salary to re-train as a psychologist, but I'd then have to start on a Band 4 once qualified (less than half current salary). So whilst I'd love to, it's a non-starter.

The money is a big factor, I can't lie. I do have a large mortgage on a family-sized home and live alone - but it's my dream home and I've spent a fortune getting it just how I want it. (But this does mean I have debts on top of the mortgage due to issues beyond my control). I think if I had a partner to share the load it wouldn't be as critical, but that's also very unlikely now!

I'm studying Leadership and Management, including the specific NHS components, so yes definitely should help.

Sorry I know nothing about the NHS but lots about private sector similar roles to what you describe. What is your salary now and holiday allowance and how does the NHS pension work? I reckon private sector could beat it all and could give you some options if you let me know the above.

Something has to give... what about doing the training as a CP while renting out a room at home? So that you can at least pay off the debts? Would the rent get anywhere near topping up a band 4 salary when the time came, if you weren't paying off debts as well? How fast could you get to say a band 7 income again?

As someone who finally became a clinician 20 years after starting in the NHS, I can't imagine ever going back to non-clinical work. I also can't imagine being bored in my clinical role.

I'm about to start a half time research project alongside staying on my half time clinical job. I'm a bit terrified but it's going to be really interesting.

Salary is £56,454, 33 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays), my pension contributions are 10.7% but employer contributions are 23.7%

Give you a comparison, I have just got a new private sector finance role - senior but not management - super flexible, loads of progression and dare I say it - easy! I earn £65k plus 15% annual bonus plus better benefits than the NHS (I get 1 year full sick pay and 75% salary income protection covered by employer for example) I get 30 days holiday plus bank Holidays plus I can buy an extra week holiday if I want. My employer contributes 10% pension and I currently plug in an extra 8% but I can flex that. So the only thing that's slightly better is the pension basically. I just don't think shoe horning yourself into the NHS is worth it long term with this lack of progression. Good luck though either way.

Finance is finance everywhere though, public or private. I don't think there's much call for healthcare business managers in the private sector!

I work in the finance sector but what I do is not finance. It could be described as risk, compliance and governance I guess. My firm also employs project managers,, business managers, all sorts. You're looking too narrow. There's a whole world out there!

Out of interest I just did a search. I can only see 61 8b posts on NHS jobs website - that's without specifying ANY location or speciality

I think you have to be realistic that moving from 8a to 8b is going to be very difficult because there are so few posts.

My Trust has never had a band 8b post in my speciality.

Surely this is a made up thread????

Why would it be? Surely I would be one of the saddest people alive if I was making up a thread about the lack of non-clinical 8b roles in the NHS? 🙄

Would too think about industry, OP?

A psychology degree is pretty broad & a research masters would be sought after from clinical trial research etc.

My friend (dietitian with nutrition degree) has done a Prince project management qualification & now doing a digital health MSc. These are opening doors for her.