NHS Admin review & debanding

[pennycan]

We are currently in the early stages of an admin review. Historically, the role used to be Band 3 but in recent times all new starters have been Band 2. This means that we have an unequal situation with people doing the same job for different money. I understand that this needs sorting out. However, they want to create a new Band 3 coordinator role which would mean we would not be in a team anymore but would oversee a number of teams. It would also include line management which is not a feature of our role at present.
My question is can they force us to apply for the new role in order to get pay protection? Has anyone else been through this?

Hi, went through an admin review last year. Med secs were downgraded from 4 to 3 but with pay protection for 3 years. There were a number of band 4 senior sec roles, which all original band 4 had to apply for to keep their protection. Following review, all band 4 protected have to be seen to be applying for any band 4 roles that come up just to keep their protection.
Sorry you are having to go through this. IME it is simply a money saving exercise, getting at us that are the lowest paid anyway!!
Morale is at an all time low even now a year later!

I think this is shocking. It is just another money saving exercise. Any new staff to our department are to be employed on a lower band. We have three band 5's working as band 6's (and alongside band 6's doing the same job)! It is ridiculous and reducing staff morale.
Our band 6's are also taking on the roles of band 7's. As a result, staff are leaving/looking outside of the NHS.
I wish the unions would step up and sort this out.

The most annoying thing is that they keep going on about what a great development opportunity it is. They are getting quite tetchy now because we are still not happy. "We have already had 3 engagement meetings" yes, but you haven't answered any of our questions! I was just hoping to get a bit of pay protection while I look for something else.

This happened in our trust. Everyone seemed to get down banded but got an increase in responsibility. It's nuts. NHS Employers website has the criteria for banding - I was a PA and qualified and experienced med sec at Band 4 but my new Banding was supposed to be Band 3, yet according to nhs employers, PAs are Band 5! I now work elsewhere on Band 5 equivalent, no supervisory responsibilities and lovely people. Should have done it years ago

Ah yes the 'development opportunity' nonsense. It's not an opportunity if it leads nowhere!!! Doh!