NHS banding

[msagile2605]

I asked a question and got answers from very kind people - thank you all

I have a new question triggered by the answers. When you reach the top of a band on the NHS, what happens? When you reach the top of B6, are you automatically moved up to 7?

Being in technology, I have been working on contracting roles, so these permanent positions are all new to me; the pay packages are very different from those of contracting

Nothing unusual there, and I have not had a one-on-one as of yet, so I asked the group to gather for when I will have a one-on-one

Definitely speak to your manager then, ask about opportunities for progression etc, it may be that you hold the qualifications for a band 7 role already, B7 generally involves line management. They very rarely uplift pay to a new band without having to apply properly for a new role.

They really should have given you a contract with the pay info on, I have just moved uo to a new role internally within my trust and I have been inundated with letters about it all so its quite poor they have not done the same for you.

How have you got 10 years service if you’ve been contracting?

Not sure OP works in a Trust.

Oh and in the NHS it definitely is unusual to not have regular 1:1s, esp for WFH roles, I have worked for them for 25 years and if nothing else the structure within teams is usually very clear. I would be very disappointed in the management team for not involving a new employee properly.

They would be on b7 money if they applied for a b7 job. I was a b5 for 2 years, then a b6 for 3, and then been a b7 for 15 years, as I'm not keen on a management role.

Not sure it really matters, they should have a line manager plus an NHS contract. It all sounds quite disorganised.

Because I didn't figure it out, I asked here - I'm new in my current role, but I've been in NHS tech contracting for a while. Contracts and permanent packages are very different, so don't worry - I am trying to figure out hence my question.
As technology is a broad field, certifications might be helpful depending on what speciality in technology is being studied

I wont be here asking the question if i had an answer
I have asked due to the fact that it is what it is

I am glad to hear that it is feasible within the timeframes you have mentioned - I appreciate your input.

But literally no one can answer specifics. Lots of people have said roughly what level qualification wise a B7 is. You really need to discuss with your manager.

I would actually be really disappointed if my team didn't come to me to discuss these things, I wouldn't leave them not knowing though TBH.

I know. The OP seemed to expect that there was no stop at the top of a band and you’d just keep going up the pay spine.

So a band 5 nurse would get band 7 pay if they just stayed long enough.

You say elsewhere you have 10 years NHS experience.

Contracting roles (where you are engaged as a consultant on a day rate) don’t build NHS service. If you were on NHS fixed term contracts you weren’t a contractor.

it’s odd how much you are relying on Mumsnet rather than your organisation’s intranet.

There is a complete job freeze at the moment at NHS England, so don't look there for jobs.

Its techy role. 'If you do not have any or little freedom to act,' - I will look at that information thank you.

Under AfC there are 16 factors which are scored, and then the overall score dictates the banding of the role.- Thanks for sharing this - very useful information

(My band 7 job description was 13 pages long.)
Not too bad for 13 pages, I had one that was much longer than that, phew!

Can you please explain to me what is wrong with me asking the question here on Mumsnet? I am unsure of where we are heading with this- In light of the fact that I appear to have offended you

You haven’t offended me, but this info should be easily available to staff on the intranet (or even google) and via their line manager. I just find the questions to be worded strangely and I’m not sure a parenting forum is the first place to ask them.

And if you have spent 10 years working in the NHS on NUS contracts (not consultancy) then the questions are very odd indeed.

If you are contracting in the NHS then you will have to expect a pay drop when you go perm or FTC. Remember that the salary also comes with a pension which is the big perk.
Many tech folks make the mistake of looking at the band salaries and then putting themselves on that line. That is not how it works. Banding for tech roles is especially difficult because AfC is not designed for tech roles so it's hard to hit the criteria to get the band you want when you design a role.
Certifications and training will not get you a higher banded role for the most part. These are not the sorts of things that differentiate B6 and 7. It will be things such as PP mentioned, freedom to act, responsibilities for services, supervision of other work etc

I was worse off as a bottom band 6 then ad a top band 5. Never fully worked out why. Stepped back to a five and my pay increased again.

Higher pension contribution rate.

AFC was the biggest con ever! Same job in different trusts pay different banding.
And KSF or whatever it was called….spent hundreds of millions trying to implement this…now just completely swept under the metaphorical carpet!

When you say you're in tech OP, which specific part? B7 system developer will have v different requirements to a B7 project manager for example.

Most teams need 1 b8 manager, a few b7 team leads, some b6 and b5 qualified staff and some clerical/assistant staff at b3 ish. If everyone kept going up bands would end up with a load of b8's and would be super expensive and no team leadership structure if all in same band. Our b8 earns maybe 5-10% more than me, but her stress levels, responsibility, time commitments are about 50% more complex, the pay difference doesn't reflect the demands and whilst that's the case and whilst I have younger children, I am happy sitting at b7 in a role. I definitely have the skills and knowledge to be an 8, but currently it's not my priority.
And that's what people forgot, the person fits the role rather than vice versa. If the role asks for b5 skills then the person will be paid as a b5, even if they have b8 skill level.

You don’t need to tell me - as I said I’m ex-NHS HR!

And you’re talking about clinical roles. The OP isn’t clinical.