NHS Fixed term contract ending March 2025

[megrob]

So the job i started in sept 2023 is coming to an end in march 2025. it is fixed term and is all based on funding etc.

i today found out HR want to meet with me next week. what are the possible outcomes of this meeting with HR and what questions should i ask. my letter says i can bring a representitive in with me?

i have had emails from hr recently requesting info on my length of service. should i be paranoid?

really nervous

whats other peoples experiences?

This is where you start applying for jobs in case it isn't renewed .

I know nothing about NHS fixed term contracts but I would assume if I was on a fixed term contract anywhere that at the end of the fixed term my role would come to an end.

You seem surprised that this could be the case? From what others have said it could be that they support you to find something else but I do think the clue is in the name "fixed contract", you've been fortunate that it's already been extended.
If they don't extend it you aren't being made redundant, you have come to the end of the fixed term.

I think you should get all the facts next time because it seems like you've assumed a lot and now may end up without a job or a plan.
Best wishes with it.

I've been there, I know it sucks. I think you need to assume that you contract won't be renewed and start applying for other jobs. I also think you need to be more proactive in you career. If job stability of important to you, what can you do to progress towards that aim?
I know how stressful it is to find yourself out of work. When it happened to me I used that opportunity (+unemployment benefits and my savings) to train in an area with more job stability and found in new job straight after the 2-months training. If you want to rebound after unemployment, again, you need to be proactive and start making plans now. Good luck.

I haven't worked in the NHS but have worked in LAs on fixed terms before and know others who have. Those who wanted to stay were put on a register for redeployment near the end of their contract and were found other roles. Do you have access to any of the policies on redeployment, fixed terms etc? If you can read those before your meeting then you can bring them up.

Technically your end of fixed term contract is a dismissal so they are just going through a process. They might want to ask you to look at other suitable vacancies. I wouldn't worry about it.
Might be an opportunity for you to tell them you've enjoyed your time and would want to come back if there's anything suitable in the future.

NHS manager but not HR.
as pp have said, if you have less than 2 years service (to the day, I need more than 729 days on service) they can just give you your notice to say thanks very much but this is your notice to end on x date. If more than 730 days/2 years service (even at other trusts but continuous ie no break) then you ordinarily go on the redeployment register to find a job of equivalent skill that is vacant. You get a trial period on like 2 weeks in that role and if you show you can do it you get it without need to interview. You can also get a lower banded job but you’ll be pay protected for 2 years. So if you’re currently a 4 but they find you a 3 that’s similar - Pa/admin role, you’ll move to that role but be paid as a 4 for 2 years.

from your updates re what your manager has said, if there’s no certainty of funding, there’s no certainty of job and they have to give you the notice.

theres no redundancy or redundancy pay in these circs.

I worked in the NHS non clinically on fixed term contracts for ten years, and find that generally it works very differently to other industries hence the replies you are getting here from people who don't understand.

Right now the budgets won't have been confirmed so it is literally impossible for them to know if they can offer an extension or another role. However in my experience the NHS does everything it can to offer people something else as the majority of staff in some areas are in fixed term contracts. It's a very weird way of working as very unsettling for everyone each year.

However, given the change in government and the tightening of belts at national level I would suggest that you start looking for other opportunities anyway, just in case.

I think they may well find you something else by the end of march but you can't be sure of it. The meeting will be to go over this with you.

As you are on a contract there will be no redundancy so you do need to plan to get another job. Unless you are a substantive post on fixed term secondment? In which case you will revert back to your original substantive post, but I don't get the impression this is your situation.

@Catsonskis amazing thank you for this response!! feel like ive needed to hear this. so i have worked in the nhs since 2009 all admin roles. not clinical. with no breaks/gaps. does that mean HR will discuss redeployment with me rather than notice period and no job at all at the end of my contract in march? @Catsonskis in your experience, is redeployment their first option for me?

As you are on a fixed term contract it won't be redeployment as your contract ends March 2025. They may suggest there is another fixed term role you can apply for. Redeployment is for those on permanent contracts.

so i started in the nhs in 2009 in various roles and trusts. all admin. no gaps/breaks in employment. the role i am currentley doing on fixed term that ends march 2025 i stsrted in sept 2023. esr says i have continous employment since 2013 but i am currently in discussions with them to have this changed to march 2009.

when i started mt role in 2023 on fixed term, everyone, literally everyone in the team are either on fixed terms or secondments. even those at senior level. its is only mine which is ending march 2025. everyone elses are march 2026 @Catsonskis

In my experience yes, as you have more than 2 years nhs continuous service.

usually (but again not HR expert) they will probably have a meeting with you to discuss redeployment register which means for 12 weeks they’ll help you find a new role of equivalent skill pay. If you don’t find/can’t do something in 12 weeks then you’ll be made redundant with enumeration, which they try to avoid because it’s dead money we can’t afford to lose. In the meeting, even if you’re not in a union, you can take a friend/colleague in for support/witness usually.

They won't just find you another job, very risky to do that (for them)- get on NHS jobs site and apply.

That's entirely different. They will be looking to redeploy you, extend your contract or make you redundant (with pay etc). Doubt it's the latter.