Is it possible to negotiate salary in the NHS?

[MissLambyBeans]

I currently work in corporate and I've been wanting to work closer to home for a while. I've seen a job advertised at my local hospital which I'm tempted to apply for, but means I'll have to take a pay cut, which I'm open to. The job is a Band 5 from what I remember.

However, I don't think I can afford to drop down to the lower end of the salary scale, but I'm open to dropping down to the higher end of the scale.

I haven't worked in the NHS for years, so I wanted to know when you join the NHS, do you join at the lowest end of the salary scale, or is it possible to negotiate a starting salary within the scale?

Well, there are only 3 points on the band 5 scale so I assume you are wanting middle or top? Pay is based on previous NHS experience so it’s unlikely but wont hurt to ask.
what band were you when last worked for the NHS as reckonable service can be taken into account?

NHS Director here. No its policy not to negotiate. All new starters come in at the bottom of banding and work their way up according to length of service. Ive had to decline a few requests previously and Ive even be declined at Director level.

Ah okay, I guess that's helped me with my decision then!

When I joined I was brought in mid band but that was many years ago. I think you should ask regardless

NHS Director where?! This is total bs. I have a colleague who came in top of B7 due to experience at that level in corporate organisation. You can negotiate if you truly have experience to match but it does depend on budget whether they can and, at the moment, budgets are tight. It’s unlikely but okay to ask.

I’ve negotiated middle of a band before. If you’re doing a comparable role now for more money elsewhere or have done a similar role in the nhs previously then it’s definitely worth a try

My dh managed to negotiate he would go to the top of band after a year instead of the five it should have taken him. He had to prove he had earned more for five years before and had relevant experience. He had been in the nhs before too. Might be a solution for you if you can last a year on lower money.

Well I work on NHS and have hired at mid and top point. Depending on experience and what I am after.
Remember if you're top point though then there's nowhere to go. You'll only get the pay rises negotiated centrally

In my experience it depends to some extent on how hard to fill the post is. At the time I became a Consultant there was a huge shortage in my specialty. Just about every Trust in the country had vacancies and the vast majority of jobs that I looked at were offering starting salaries at least half way up the pay scale. On the other hand if you are applying for a post that's relatively easy to fill and there are lots of suitable candidates I would think it would be more difficult to negotiate. I don't think you have anything to lose by trying though.

Hi
we often salary match from private to nhs, so I don’t think it’s a total no. I would suggest being open about that at interview. Good luck whatever you do!

25 years experience. And an absolute no in the region within which I work. We've lost great candidates as a result.

Are you in a trust/nhse/icb? I’m in a trust but we have no local uni so hard to recruit good people.

Great point, re the university issue. Ive been in 9 Trusts - acute, PCT, mental health, specialist and commissioning. But my region has big city hospitals and top universities. So yes it does attract high level applicants - national and world leading. So if your Trust doesn't have a local uni to attract whats needed, using discretion to negotiate a salary would be the lever to secure whats needed - and good on you.

My pet peeve is people outside London getting NHS jobs in London with the additional uplift for cost of living when they dont live there. I wish they would support there local Trusts and take their talent there. But can understand they want the opportunities London offers. The London uplift imo should be based on your home address not the location you work.

Are they working from home or commuting? All the nhs jobs in London I looked at are in office 2-3 days and commuting costs would be a lot.

Yes we do recognise external experience so worth a try

Yes I have negotiated and was successful for bands 5 and 6. Make a case for your experience, don't ask what policy is around negotiating because you give them an easy way out then. It is absolutely worth doing, I waited till I was offered the job and then said I wasn't happy to start on the bottom. Believe me it is possible!

In our Trust it depends on experience identified/ years worked in NHS. As a PP said there are 3 pay points but more in steps to get to each one. I think its 5 years in total to get from bottom to top. Sometimes they might agree to put you on the second step so you only take 1 year to get to mid point of pay instead of 2.

I was top of band 6 but had a 3 year break from the NHS and I've gone back to top of band 6 by negotiating. In my experience if you've got the skills and they want you then they'll pay for your skills!

I have gone from private services into the NHS last year. Top of the band I’m in was my old salary. I asked for top of band, and after sending in pay slips from old work, it was agreed. So in my area it’s not a straight no.

Its hybrid working. Between 1-2 days at home and rest in office