Is NHS bank classed as continuous service?

[Sunnyday123456]

I am currently on maternity leave from an NHS job with occupational maternity pay. I am not sure about if I will be able to return to this post due to commuting times, practicalities etc. I am wondering if NHSP nhs bank work could be an option but am unsure if this would be classed as continuous nhs service? I have to return post maternity leave for 3 months to not have to pay the occupational pay back so hoping to see if any others have experience of this? No mention of bank nhsp in my local trusts policies but they do mention I can return to any nhs post after mat leave and keep the occupational pay.

Hi OP
Unfortunately NHSP wouldn't meet the returning to an NHS post for three months rule (former NHS HR bod here). Would your original post potentially work if you had a flexible working arrangement?

Previous poster is right, bank work wouldn’t allow you to keep the pay.

Thanks for the feedback although not what I hoped may be possible! My current post is asking for more days in the office which will be very hard around childrens childcare and primary school pick ups etc. I also have a health condition which has worsened in recent months and so I may need to be in a role with reduced stress but am not sure this is something which would be an option with my current post as may mean I wouldn’t be able to fulfil the job requirements so have been hoping to find something with reduced stress and more flexibility

Can you ask for redeployment? It's not a guarantee that it would be available, but there's no harm in asking, especially around the health condition. I'd avoid discussing the childcare - that really isn't the employers problem, and they may be less keen to look at alternatives if you mention that.

Thanks for that idea I haven’t heard about that as a potential before so will look into that - Thankyou

Any advice for when may be best to approach management or HR to discuss redeployment options whilst on maternity leave?

Remember your accrued annual leave counts in your 3 months. I've known people with their full years leave negotiate to take 2 or 3 days annual leave every week for their 1st 12 weeks back. Then they handed in their notice after 2 months.
Would you be able to do something like that?

I'm not NHS - but the redeplyment possibility is often available (subject to suitable vacancies) in the public sector. Why not have a chat with your manager and ask?

Can you request a reduction in hours to make it possible for you to return?
You could taje parental leave for part of your return perhaps. Use any holidays owing also?

Thanks for the thoughts- does anyone know if I were to use my accrued annual leave and then following this took a period of parental leave, if these options covered the three month period could this plan count as covering the mandatory three months to keep occupational mat leave pay? As in could a period of parental leave count towards the returned to work time? Thanks for the help figuring this out

@Sunnyday123456 Talk to HR about options. I was CS so not dissimilar to NHS and my advice would be to go part time on return from mat leave and use annual leave (earned full time). However, parental leave might also work.

Assuming you accrue a full year of 29 + 8 days you have 37 days which is 7 weeks 2 days leave. 3 months is 13 weeks.

Option 1 - part time
Ask to be redeployed on health grounds to a part time post - 37 days @ 7.5 hours =277.5 hours /13 weeks =21 hours 20 minutes a week. So reduce to 3 x 7 hours.

Option 2 - part time but work some days
Again ask to be redeployed and reduce to 3 x 7.5 hours = 22.5 a week and work 2 days.

Option 3 - full time and work some days
Stay working 5 days but use 3 days leave each week (3 x 13 = 39 days leave) except for 2 weeks when you work 4 days or 4 weeks working 3 days.

Option 4 - use parental leave
Split the 4 weeks into single weeks so weeks 1, 4, 7 and 11 take as unpaid parental leave. 37 days annual leave covers weeks 2, 3 (10 days leave) in full and for weeks 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12 take 4 days and work 1 day (24 days leave). Week 13 take 3 days leave and work 2 days. This way you spread the unpaid leave over several months.

These are just quick thoughts, be creative about what you can (and want ) to work.

I think you need to ask HR

I moved 300 miles away during my extended Mat leave so knew there was no way I’d be going back!

The 3 months can be in any NHS post so went from a full time B6 post and was lucky enough to find a 3 month temporary post as a B5 on 12hrs a week 😁

At the end of this I then went on the Bank for the flexibility.