NHS pay banding

pcedog12

Hi. 

Does anyone know, if I’m applying for a job in the NHS of the same band, can I ask to be put up an increment point on appointment? 

TIA. 

Andy_L

You can ask.

Its unlikely to happen.

pcedog12

Andy_L said:

You can ask.

Its unlikely to happen.

What makes you say that? I have heard of it before but I wasn’t sure in the new banding system 

baser999

Think the job will be advertised at a set band and increment point

Andy_L

pcedog12 said:

Andy_L said:

You can ask.

Its unlikely to happen.

What makes you say that? I have heard of it before but I wasn’t sure in the new banding system 

Higher starting pay is at the discretion of the employer (AfC is silent on its use - it only covers progression/promotion/downgrading) However all the internal policies I've seen (3, so admittedly not that great a sample size) say there must be solid justification in terms of experience/qualification etc which, is going to be had to justify if you are already working at that band

ETA, I suspect its even less likely now that the new system has fewer, but bigger, increments

Andy_L

baser999 said:

Think the job will be advertised at a set band and increment point

jobs are only advertised at a band, they never mention an increment point for a successful applicant, unless its to say new starters will start at the bottom

ETA: Almost literally as I said that  NHS jobs has changed (since yesterday) and they now give top/bottom of the band salary, but not the actual band!

MalMonroe

You certainly can ask - if you're invited for interview they will normally ask if you have any questions at the end and that's a relevant question and the appropriate time to ask it.  Sometimes experience you have had in the past - especially if you have worked in the NHS before - can earn you an increment point. As others have said, you can ask - they could say no but they may say yes?

Good luck with your application.   

josephine82

This definitely used to be the case, (in the three trusts I worked for) if you were moving internally within the NHS your new post automatically put you up to the next increment. But given the new pay structure with fewer increments I don’t believe this is the case any more. 

But as others have stated, if you feel your experience and skills reflect a pay increase, then you can ask. 

pcedog12

Thanks all - I think it’s worth an ask. She who dares and all that! 

Purplelady65

I would wait until you are offered the post before you ask for an increase in increment. Then you know they want you for the job and can negotiate a starting point. Although the annual increments have now gone with most bands you could potentially negotiate going up a pay step point or two. You move up the pay step points annually but an increase in pay does not apply to all of them. Some of the pay step points within the band do not lead to an increase in pay but put you closer to the pay step point with a salary increase attached to it. So that could be another area of negotiation where you are put up a pay step point or two which means you would get an increase in salary sooner than doing a straight transfer across. 

TheSpiddalKid

Pay points still exist and since 2018 are based on years worth of experience so to make an argument for a higher pay point you may need to show you have the equivalent number of years of experience at the particular band within the role you are being offered.