NHS agenda for change, applying for a band review

GlasweJen

I'm a band 3 healthcare support worker in Scotland.

My responsibilities are everything the band 2s do plus a list of other things.

One of the band 2s (the only one in the union) was given a form by the union to fill in and she's now been re-banded to a band 3. She's not to take on any of the additional responsibilities that I have as the union (and presumably the health board) have agreed that the band 2 role was incorrectly handed and she should have been on band 3 all along.

The other band 2s are now applying for regrading.

I want to apply for regrading to band 4, I've approached the union rep but he's said that as my job hasn't changed much there won't be much scope for the union to support this. I've found a job in Aberdeen that is band 4 and has similar responsibilities to mine (the job actually has less responsibilities than mine).

Is this something I could fight without the union? I'm on an island so the union rep is THE union rep.

Comms69

Yes, you don't require the union to do it. However consider that there is scope in banding for a variety of responsibilities.


It's not a fully rigid system. So they may not necessarily agree

ohreally

Have there been any changes in factors 2 and 12?

Manxman_in_exile

Ha! When I read Scotland I was going to reply "Wait for GlasweJen to come along as she'll know the answer". Then I realised it was you!


Other things being equal, I'd be considering Aberdeen if you fancy a move as well.


What I don't understand is if the band 2 employee got a re-banding at least partly on the basis it was originally banded wrongly, why would the union rep think the same wouldn't apply to you? Of course they may be right, but it seems odd to me.


Is there a downside for you in applying for a re-banding where you are now? I know I put in for a re-banding post-AfC and was successful, but I suspect my managers were as keen as me to get it upgraded and it was a painless process.

GlasweJen

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

Ha! When I read Scotland I was going to reply "Wait for GlasweJen to come along as she'll know the answer". Then I realised it was you!


Other things being equal, I'd be considering Aberdeen if you fancy a move as well.


What I don't understand is if the band 2 employee got a re-banding at least partly on the basis it was originally banded wrongly, why would the union rep think the same wouldn't apply to you? Of course they may be right, but it seems odd to me.


Is there a downside for you in applying for a re-banding where you are now? I know I put in for a re-banding post-AfC and was successful, but I suspect my managers were as keen as me to get it upgraded and it was a painless process.

I can't move, husbands a trainee surgeon so I'm stuck in invernaewere until he's eligible to apply for a consultant role now. I'm counting down the ST posts lol!

The union are weird, there was a big push from Unison because nhs Scotland were taking the mick out of band 2 which they were but my job has so many responsibilities that if a nurse is off sick they send the other band 3 (with my job) from the mainland because there's 2 tasks that the nurses do that we can't and I'm sure they'd have us doing it if the law would allow it (one of them is giving out prescriptions). I've also been sent to the mainland when their nurses are sick.

Manxman_in_exile

Ah. I can remember previously when you said your ability to re-locate was restricted for now.


I suppose all you can do is make the best argued case you can for a re-banding. I did it almost immediately post AfC and I don't recall everything I needed to do - although there weren't any obstacles put in front of me.


I suppose you create a case by looking at what the eligibility requirements for bands 3 and 4 are, and checking your job description off against them. Depends what your managers want. Do they want you to continue picking up the "extra" bits which perhaps push you into a band 4, or will they say "OK then - we don't want you to do this anymore - it's just job-creep".


I think you may be in the unfortunate position where you have skills and experience that can be exploited, but management may turn around and say "Well, what she's doing isn't an essential part of the position which is just a band 3." I've seen it happen.


Good luck.

GlasweJen

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

Ah. I can remember previously when you said your ability to re-locate was restricted for now.


I suppose all you can do is make the best argued case you can for a re-banding. I did it almost immediately post AfC and I don't recall everything I needed to do - although there weren't any obstacles put in front of me.


I suppose you create a case by looking at what the eligibility requirements for bands 3 and 4 are, and checking your job description off against them. Depends what your managers want. Do they want you to continue picking up the "extra" bits which perhaps push you into a band 4, or will they say "OK then - we don't want you to do this anymore - it's just job-creep".


I think you may be in the unfortunate position where you have skills and experience that can be exploited, but management may turn around and say "Well, what she's doing isn't an essential part of the position which is just a band 3." I've seen it happen.


Good luck.

They're so short staffed with nurses (it's hard to recruit in the middle of nowhere) that they've already started putting pressure on the new band 3 to step up and take on new duties but the union have told her not to as that is beyond her band 3 role. Yes this is the same union rep!

I don't mind my role, I'm qualified way beyond my job and just use it to get out the house and because I like having my own money but it is ridiculous. I actually got roped into doing a study (don't even know how it fell onto me) and now I have skills that only one of the nurses has.

The excuse is there's no money and no one can be rebanded but there was £50K for a laser that no one wanted or needed so it's not washing.