Is jumping pay grades really still an issue in the NHS?

[NHSDummy]

I was succession planned for a role. I ended up moving to a different department as the person I was "successor" for never moved or showed any indication. Also a huge bully. So everyone knows I loved for my own MH.
I downbanded for this. To leave.

However now a big promotion has come available in my beloved previous department. Something I'm passionate about and have decades of experience in. A niche area too.

I'm going to be overlooked as the banding jumps are too great apparently.

I'm stunned. I have masses of proven experience and they know I was literally doing the job vacancy but at my previous power banding.

I can't believe such an antiquated system of hierarchy exists. Rather than each candidate being shortlisted according to application and evidence.

I wondered if anyone else had experienced this

If this is NHS why are your Trust not using Trac and using blind scoring to shortlist, based on the essential and desirable person criteria?

If you have been told that you won't be considered then you can take it to HR; shortlisters shouldn't be told who the candidates are (although sometimes it is obvious from their history but for instance if they ask for 'previous band 7 experience' then they can't NOT give you the mark even if you were a band 7 then a band 6).

If you have been told that even if you get an interview you won't be considered then I've no idea how you'd prove that but that's a pretty bad indictment of the department...

There's a big push to improve recruitment and access, blind scoring etc, diverse panels at interview to combat unconscious bias... if you have been told by someone in the department that you can't apply then that's a big red flag and I would ask myself if I wanted to work in a department like that anyway even if you think it's perfect, with attitudes like that I'd be very wary.

You’ve worked at a higher band so have experience of that level so you’re not jumping a band if you see what I mean. Have you been told this before applying?

I had management experience outside nhs but had a gap for dc so went from 4 (part time) to 5 (30hrs) then jumped to 7 (but director felt I was working at a 7 anyway before making it official) and now 8a.

My assistant recently wanted to apply for a role and I did discourage her as it was a 4 to a 6 but it wasn’t about the banding so much as the level of autonomy that would be expected. Currently I oversee her work closely and make changes (training her and building her confidence), she’s not ready to be autonomous but admits that herself. Think about whether you’ve demonstrated the level of autonomy and independent thinking required for the level you’re going for. I think jumping from 6 to 8 is unlikely but if you’ve been a 7 previously then not impossible.

@Iwouldlikesomecake thanks so much for replying. It's Trac but it's very obvious from my employment history and experience who I am. Since this I've decided to ask for my application scores and also that I don't want to work for them, as you say!

Looking elsewhere already, but it smarts, yknow?

@NeedAHoliday2021 thanks so much for replying. Absolutely can demonstrate every single thing on person spec and JD Plus they all KNOW I was actually doing the job for previous rubbish manager hence them leaving as now I'm not there to bolster them, they can't cope.

But as per previous reply I've decided it's not a place for me. Toxic when I left before and toxic still.