NHS Agenda for change advice

Madwife67

I hope this is the right place to post this question. It’s my first post, so here goes...
I am a band 6 midwife, top of the scale. 2 years ago I was at the top of band 7 and resigned as I was being bullied and took up a band 6 elsewhere. 

I now feel ready for a Band 7 again. Looking at the Agenda for Change guidance it implies that experience is what counts when deciding on pay. My question is, would I have to start back at the bottom of the Band 7 scale, or would my years of experience be taken in to account? I’m considering a post that doesn’t include unsocial hours payment so being paid at the bottom of the Band 7 scale would be yet another pay cut for me and so I don’t want to apply for a post to then have to turn it down. 

My current employer would definitely start me back at the bottom as it’s a Foundation Trust. My union representative “thinks this might be the case everywhere” but I need more than “thinks” 
If this is the case I won’t waste timeand sleepless nights applying for such positions. 

Thanks in advance 

Tammykitty

I have a similar query, i left the NHS 18 months ago, over 4 years into a band 7 role, and am now looking at returning, and like you think its bottom of the scale again.. but it seems to depend on the actual organisation, the AfC guidance doesn't give any advice on this area.
I know friends who have started in the NHS, and have been able to get moved up the scale due to prior experience.

I am going for the interviews anyway and seeing what comes out of them, and then if i get offered any of them, will see what happens re Pay

JamoLew

It varies from trust to trust and whether they value your previous experience.

They don't HAVE to, but they MIGHT - they won't just do it though, you will need to ask and put forward a good case as to why you think you are worth 6k more than they have to pay

It will not be easy - many refuse as not wanting to set a precident

Top of 6 to top of 7 with them having no direct knowledge of how well you functioned at that grade is risky at best

Sorry if this is harsh, but quitting from top of 7 due to bullying doesn't sound as though you were suited to that in the first place - there are much less drastic actions that someone on that grade could take and still expect resolution