NHS bands - moving up increments

[Drunksushi]

looking for some advice!
I'm an RMN and moving back to England from Australia (I trained in Scotland). I’m intending to work in the NHS. I’ve got 20 years experience. My current job in the community includes being a clinical lead, managing two small teams with some clinical work, education and QI/research
If I start in a band 6 job at the top increment, does it mean that if I then moved to a 7 or 8 role, I’d have to begin at the starting increment?
Do I have to aim to be as senior as possible from the start?

I believe it is at the discretion of the manager/department employing you, but generally you do start on the bottom increment. HR can be difficult about it, and although you have 20 years in Australia, they may say that you don't have continuous NHS service. This will mean you also get the lowest annual leave allowance unless your new manager wrangles with HR.

If you’re new to the NHS and apply and are offered a band 6 role you will start at the bottom of the band unless you negotiate another point in the band on starting (unlikely but not unheard of).

if you get to top of hand 6 and then get a band 7 post, you start at the bottom of that band (again, unless you negotiate higher salary which again is unlikely). You will never be worse off for moving up a band but you might not see a significant pay rise from top of 6 to bottom of 7 etc.

in my experience I applied for a band 7 job that was identical to the band 6 one I was already doing, but in a new, bigger trust. I argued to start mid band due to experience. They shot me down in flames. However my husband was new to the NHS and applied for 8a and he argued the same and got offered top of band. This was about 8 years ago and a none clinical role though.

I’ve done lots of recruitment in the last 10 years and have never offered anyone other than the bottom of the band, unless they were moving from the same band to the same band but in another role and were already on a higher increment.

hope that helps.

*by new, they count anything more than a 2 week break in service as new to the NHS in some Trusts.

Agree that you’re likely to be at the bottom of the band unless you have otherwise in writing. I knew a nurse with 15 years experience who went to Australia for a year and was gutted on returning to be bottom of the band.

Thanks everyone. Doesn’t sound like the NHS is as desperate as I thought!
Seems like I’ll have to try and get as senior a role as possible from the get-go or I’ll be penalised. I wanted to take an ‘easier’ role whilst I sussed things out but probably the savvier move would be to do agency initially.
Thanks again (and of course the man got the better pay deal!!)

NHS teams can base you pay on previous experience including non NHS experience (but its managers discretion and HR), also if people have had career break. So if you got a band 6 job they can put you on the top of band 6 if they feel your experience is applicable, but yes you will then start at bottom of band 7 in next job in theory. However you could then be a 8a before the years you are due to get to the top of the band 7 spine if you are successful in getting a 8a job. But with your experience I am a little confused why you would be aiming for a band 6 unless you are missing essential items on applications?

When you try to negotiate above the lower band they generally want evidence of your most recent you pay slip. So if you're on a higher wage abroad thar will help. I've managed to get higher banding points for 2 staff but it's not easy so your interview will be important 😀

Have you looked into the money side also? Plenty of B5 move to B6 but swop back because of the dire stress.

You’ll also find that some b5 earn more than the b7s by picking up hotshifts.

I was top of band 6 but had to accept a 5 as no 6 post wasnt available and I had to move across the country. Within 6 months I was top of band 6.
I didn't have to start fron bottom of band 6 again.

Thanks. I will definitely have a record of my service and recent pay.
I do meet the criteria for many higher band jobs I think (have a Masters and am a manager, clinical lead etc).
I want to minimise stress whilst kids settling into new schools, getting over leaving friends etc. I also want to get an idea of local work place cultures before committing.

Perhaps start in a bank role, to give you the flexibility and lower stress option. It also allows you to try out different wards and departments before going for a permanent role. Less issue with working a lower band bank role and then taking a more senior permanent role too