NHS Maternity Pay for Bank workers

laughing_laura

Is anyone here a worker on an NHS nurse bank and could give me some advice regarding maternity pay please?

I have worked on the bank as a healthcare assistant for 4 years now, hours have varied since I was also doing my nurse training but I always work at least 2 shifts a week, sometimes 4 or 5 in the holidays.

I have been accepted for a nursing position within the same trust which will start in October, however I have just found out I am 6 weeks pregnant - please no comments about being irresponsible when starting a new job, we have been trying for a baby for 5 years and were close to giving up so I am over the moon!

What worries me is whether I will get maternity pay? The rules says continuously employed by the same employer for SMP purposes - well it is the same trust but different role/department so does that count?

And the nhs say 12 months continuous service by I think 15 weeks before due date. So I have served them continuously but again in a different role for the same trust but on a bank basis rather than a permanent post.

I don't want to contact HR yet as it is still early days in the pregnancy and I have just accepted the new post, luckily the roles I take at the moment tend to be less physical so I am not concerned about needing and role adjustments just yet.

Has anyone been in the same position?

agrinnall

Congratulations on your news. I really think you should ask HR as they will be in the best position to determine your entitlement. Your union might be another option.

Kynthia

Congratulations!

I'm afraid I don't know the NHS but are you a permanent employee? Do you make pension contributions and have a NHS contract?

sangie595

In some areas bank staff are not employees - they are on zero hour contracts, regardless of what hours they actually work. Many workers have no rights to maternity pay - so you are going to have to ask your HR as they are the only people who will know the answer. And it is also a really bad idea to decide you don't want a risk assessment doing yet - unless you happen to be an expert of risk assessments you don't know what risks may exist and many are not about physical labour.

laughing_laura

I suppose it will be what it will be either way I just wanted some idea so I could consider more carefully how we manage our finances from now on.

No, clearly I am not an expert in risk assessments but since I am also a university student on placement doing far more strenuous activities which I will be risk assessed for by the university occupational health team I do not wish to inform HR just yet as the assignments I have been doing lately are ones where I walk into a a waiting room, call a patient and then sit in as a chaperon. I've not even been to the GP yet as I literally found out last night. I am comfortable with my choice and will inform them when I have seem my GP.