Within the NHS you’ve been working under the framework for around twenty years and things have changed a lot during that time.
Many of the job profiles no longer reflect the knowledge, responsibility and clinical skills that registered nurses demonstrate on a daily basis.
This is why we pushed for the review of Band 5 nursing profiles as part of the 2022-23 pay offer. There is now a commitment to have existing Band 5 job profiles reviewed to determine if there are inconsistencies in their application and if they are fit for purpose. As part of this offer, a delivery plan will be in place by September.
The full AfC review, included in the new 2023-24 pay offer from Scottish government, will look to modernise the whole Agenda for Change framework to ensure it supports recruitment, retention and the long-term sustainability of the workforce. If the pay offer is accepted, a workplan for the review will be in place within four weeks, with a full review document to be prepared by the end of September.
We’ve broken down our priorities for the review into three areas:
- improvements to terms and conditions,
- changes to the pay spine to recognise the increased responsibility and knowledge that comes with promotion and to make career development more attractive and rewarding
- improvements to the overall job evaluation process that builds on the Band 5 review and ensures consistent application across all NHS employers
We believe that, should members vote to accept the current pay offer, in line with the recommendation from the RCN Scotland board, this review will give us a real opportunity to make significant long-term improvements for nursing within NHS Scotland.
If you are eligible to take part in our consultation, I would urge you to make time to read over the detail of the pay offer in full and consider what it would mean for you, and for our profession in the long term, when casting your vote.
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