NHS banding

shandy1

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to post this but looking for a bit of advice.
To cut a long story short, how would you go about putting a case forward to move up a pay band? Put in a grievance? Speak to a union rep?
My work mates and I feel our job description doesn't match what we actually do (we do a lot more) and believe we should be a band 3 not a band 2.
In fact, Im not entirely sure, but I think people with the same job in other parts of the UK are a band 3.
We work as Autoclave technicians at big city hospital.

I can give more information if needed. Thanks in advance.

ohreally

What factors do you believe haven't been scored correctly? What other local evaluations can you compare against? Is there a consistency mismatch?

MrsManda

Is an Autoclave Technician the same as a Sterile Services Technician?
Have you looked on the nhs.uk/jobs website to see what banding similar jobs are being advertised as?

Jobs under Agenda for Change are banded subject to the Job Evaluation system and overseen by the Job Evaluation Group. They produce National Job Profiles as guidelines to how a job should be banded.
http://www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/AgendaForChange/NationalJobProfiles/Pages/Support-services.aspx

Have you looked at the National Job Profiles for Sterile Services to see how they match your role?
http://www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/AgendaForChange/NationalJobProfiles/Pages/Support-services.aspx

You could ask HR whether you can have your role reassessed or at least, how you go about requesting a reassessment but I suggest having a look at NHS Jobs and the National profiles first.
If similar posts are advertised as being Band 3 then you'll have evidence to back up your claim. If they're advertised as Band 2/the National Profile is Band 2 you may want to rethink your banding request as HR is going to see the National Profiles and not see the point of a rebanding.

To do a rebanding I think HR have to fill out a computerised form which adds up points under A4C, comes up with a final point count and that translates into a Band.

ohreally

MrsManda wrote: »

To do a rebanding I think HR have to fill out a computerised form which adds up points under A4C, comes up with a final point count and that translates into a Band.

This isn't the remit of HR but of job matching panels.

shandy1

ohreally wrote: »

What factors do you believe haven't been scored correctly? What other local evaluations can you compare against? Is there a consistency mismatch?

Hi, sorry for the late reply, I have been at work and our department manager has taken internet access off us...
I've been employed for nearly a year now,so I'm at the bottom of band 2.
Reading through my job description It misses out two key areas that I regularly do when autoclaving. One being, when on a certain shift, I have to test the sterilizers for being safe to use for the next 24 hours, and two, as well as using the steam sterilizer, I also use a Sterrard machine, which is used for more fragile instruments such as camera heads. Daily tests also are involved with these.
I actually have 3 job duties. the other 2 being a porter and a driver, although I'd say over the last year, I've hardly done the driving, while the portering and autoclaving is split half and half.

The job description has also not been updated for 4 years.
The HSDU staff who assemble, are band 3's. they got a higher pay band a couple of years ago, and the pharmacy porters have also been upped to a band 3.

It is NHS Scotland if it that makes a difference.
Thanks.

ohreally

shandy1 wrote: »

Reading through my job description It misses out two key areas that I regularly do when autoclaving. One being, when on a certain shift, I have to test the sterilizers for being safe to use for the next 24 hours, and two, as well as using the steam sterilizer

This isn't relevant in terms of what your looking to achieve. The significant factors in terms of increasing your band outcome are factors 2 & 12... KTE and Freedom to act. There may be little room for manoeuvre though, as i suspect you won't require any more than basic on job training for kte (even lvl 3 kte only requires nvq 3)


Can you provide your matched job report and have you spoken with your staff side rep regarding your concerns?

shandy1

MrsManda wrote: »

Is an Autoclave Technician the same as a Sterile Services Technician?
Have you looked on the nhs.uk/jobs website to see what banding similar jobs are being advertised as?

Jobs under Agenda for Change are banded subject to the Job Evaluation system and overseen by the Job Evaluation Group. They produce National Job Profiles as guidelines to how a job should be banded.
http://www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/AgendaForChange/NationalJobProfiles/Pages/Support-services.aspx

Have you looked at the National Job Profiles for Sterile Services to see how they match your role?
http://www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/AgendaForChange/NationalJobProfiles/Pages/Support-services.aspx

You could ask HR whether you can have your role reassessed or at least, how you go about requesting a reassessment but I suggest having a look at NHS Jobs and the National profiles first.
If similar posts are advertised as being Band 3 then you'll have evidence to back up your claim. If they're advertised as Band 2/the National Profile is Band 2 you may want to rethink your banding request as HR is going to see the National Profiles and not see the point of a rebanding.

To do a rebanding I think HR have to fill out a computerised form which adds up points under A4C, comes up with a final point count and that translates into a Band.

Yes, Both titles are the same, Although new starts and the more experienced staff have differences in their duties. New starts are being employed on all three, (Autoclaver, driver, porter) while the oldies :rotfl: Just do the autoclaving, and have the knowledge to assemble the trays and instruments.

I've looked at the link and it has similarities to our job although our assemblers are a band 3 and are supervisors are a band 4, while in the description from the link, it says they are a band 2 and a band 3.

I haven't seen any similar jobs advertised but I'll keep looking!
Any Autoclavers on here??? :j
I think one of my work mates is talking to the union rep tomorrow

shandy1

Thanks, I'll have a look through it. The general feeling of all of us, is that other members of staff in the department seem to be getting the higher band, while we, who have an equally important role, if not more so, are getting treated unfairly.

nimbo

Hi I have just left the NHS but do you work for an NHS foundation trust??? If so I'm not certain that they bad to adopt agenda for change as they are financially separate self governing bodies I'm not certain that natioanlly their jobs have to be comparable...

You need to try to find internal job descriptions that would back up your claims.....

Have you asked for the support to your line manager????

Good luck.

ohreally

nimbo wrote: »

Hi I have just left the NHS but do you work for an NHS foundation trust

Scotland don't have trusts.

shandy1

nimbo wrote: »

Hi I have just left the NHS but do you work for an NHS foundation trust??? If so I'm not certain that they bad to adopt agenda for change as they are financially separate self governing bodies I'm not certain that natioanlly their jobs have to be comparable...

You need to try to find internal job descriptions that would back up your claims.....

Have you asked for the support to your line manager????

Good luck.

Don't think so. I was employed under 'Agenda for change' In Scotland which I think is again, different to the NHS in England.
I agree, I will have to try and speak with other Autoclavers in the uk!