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Original poster

NHS redeployment, any experience?

38 replies

MegCleary · 31/07/2016 08:18

My friend is a band five nurse but due to illness cannot do her role at that band. HR are offering a band two but I this is an unfair drop. Anyone have any experience/advice?

OP posts:
Ginmakesitallok · 31/07/2016 08:19

Is her pay protected? Seems odd to offer a drop of 3 bands though.

Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 08:24

I think her pay is protected for 3 months. There are other admin roles at a higher band but they seem to be pushing her to this one.

OP posts:
Ginmakesitallok · 31/07/2016 08:35

Is she in a union? I think that they would have to offer her something "reasonable",

HunterHearstHelmsley · 31/07/2016 08:38

Band 2 Admin and band 5 Admin are very different. It sounds as though they don't think she's competent enough with admin to be band 5 whereas the band 2 is entry level.

Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 08:42

She is a band 5 registered nurse but unable due to back pain to work as a nurse in her current role. There was a band 3 admin role DH could have done but they said no after a lot waffle. I just think a five to a two drop is unfair.

OP posts:
Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 08:44

She is in a union but she dos not feel supported by them. I am just worried, she appears very vulnerable right now.

OP posts:
Ginmakesitallok · 31/07/2016 08:44

On the other hand, the other option to them is to sack her if she's not capable of doing her job (assuming back pain isn't disability related.)

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 31/07/2016 08:45

Does she have three relevant experience of the band 5 roles?! I am prison service so different but when officers can no longer do their job, they often don't map across to the same level in administration as they don't have the skills that those at that level have.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 31/07/2016 08:45

the not three, obviously!Blush

Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 08:47

Back pain not disability related. Chronic pain. I think they are pushing her towards quitting so they don't have to bother supporting her.

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Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 08:49

I don't think she expects a band five role she can manage to magically appear. maybe a four or a three role but a two seems a tad harsh.

OP posts:
Ginmakesitallok · 31/07/2016 08:50

To be blunt, if she can't do the job why should they support her? She needs to check out their relevant policies and make sure they are being followed correctly.

LadyPenelope68 · 31/07/2016 08:56

There's a huge difference in job specification from Band 2 and 5 NHS Admin jobs. Just because there is a Band 5 job available doesn't mean she should be offered it, she may not have any if the necessary skills to fulfil that role.

Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 09:10

She is not expecting a band 5 role.

She has 10+ Years nursing experience and would like to continue working in healthcare albeit in a perhaps non patient facing role. I maybe being unrealistic but I thought the NHS might like to keep these skills and use them in another way. I just think a drop from a five to a two is harsh. I just wondered if anyone on mumsnet had any experience of it.

OP posts:
giggly · 31/07/2016 09:18

Not uncommon to redeploy into a community or day service role with protected salary. However her actual performance and capabilities will be taken into account along with her sick record. Management may be reluctant to move her to an essential role if she is likely to have lots of sick leave. There is an argument for performance management if she is no longer fit to work as a nurse 10 years or not.
I have nursed for 26 years and would never be able to work in a role that involves lifting and handling . But I have carved out a career in community.
She needs to have a frank discussion with her union.

Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 09:29

Giggly may I ask what you do as a nurse that does no involve lifting and handling patients.
I think she would be OK losing her band five and nurse status for a band 4/3 admin role, such as waiting list co-ordinator or MDT manager etc.

OP posts:
LadyPenelope68 · 31/07/2016 09:47

Unfortunately, if the roles aren't there that are suitable, the band 2 may be the only thing they are able to offer. I worked in NHS Personnel many years ago, and they will definitely take her previous sickness record into account. If someone has been regularly off sick, we certainly wouldn't be offering them an essential/crucial role such as waiting list manager as that's not something that can just be "left" whilst someone is off sick. Somebody else would have to step in to cover. Offering a role where there isn't huge impact, or can be easily covered, is the most likely scenario she will be offered with a poor sickness record.

Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 09:56

Thanks lady Penelope that does make sense.

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gamerwidow · 31/07/2016 10:02

I think a band 2 role is harsh that's pretty much entry level and I'd expect a school leaver with no work experience to be able to manage it. Band 3 would more appropriate for someone with work experience.
Band 4/5 admin probably isn't suitable for someone with no admin experience unless she is very skilled in IT office tools and has back office team leader experience.

milkysmum · 31/07/2016 10:09

I'm an NHS nurse and I think band 2 admin role is completely unfair - however bank 5 or even 4 admin is likely to be something she doesn't have the skills for as would be an admin management/ senior role.
I work in mental health nursing so maybe it's different but people with back problems have been historically moved from wards to community or supported housing schemes- maybe it's not as easy in general nursing to identify these roles that are suitable?

Northernlurker · 31/07/2016 10:14

Your friend is unable to do the band 5 job she has. The Trust are offering an alternative job at a level she can perform, they are not obligated to offer the same salary and won't do because she can't work at that level.

anyname123 · 31/07/2016 10:14

How about applying for NHS Direct (or whatever it's called now ), as a call handler, or a community role as pp have said? Not all nursing has to be physically demanding. Depending of course on what skills she has

anyname123 · 31/07/2016 10:16

Hit send before I finished....I know a nurse who was in a similair position, she was redeployed to a very basic band 2 administration job, due to her sick record and poor IT skills, 2 years later she's band 4 having done various courses etc and her sick record now being excellent, so there is hope.

Original poster
MegCleary · 31/07/2016 13:14

Thank you all for the replies, she has previous office experience and fair IT skills. I think she is just defeated by it all and I just want to try and help to see she's not screwed over.

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LadyPenelope68 · 31/07/2016 13:28

Without meaning to sound harsh, I think she's very lucky to be working in the NHS where they will offer people a job of some kind in these circumstances wirh poor sick record and are unable to carry out their job. There are very, very few industries/commerces where this happens, you'd usually be put on your ear with possibly a very poor reference as a result of a bad sick record.