AT THE MOST RECENT PARTNERSHIP FORUM, the meeting between operational management and staff side representatives, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust announced that it was looking to re-band all health care assistants from Band 2 to Band 3.
This follows a 3 year Covid-19 interrupted campaign instigated by Nick McMaster, UNISON Branch Secretary and lead steward for Brighton & Hove. The campaign involved member engagement, a discussion paper, a staff survey, promotion across social media and frequent conversations with senior management at all levels of the organisation.
Partnership forum minutes from the meeting on the 2nd March state that the Trust Board reached an agreement on implementing moving staff from band 2 to band 3 with some further work to do. Operational Services will set up a working group to look at the plan, with the group seeking representation from Staff Side.
Nick McMaster, who is also staff side lead for Brighton & Hove stated:
“Having worked in inpatients for thirty years, with a few years experience of being a health care assistant, I know the hard work and dedication required to to do this demanding job.
“Whilst we recognise the financial benefits of being on a higher banding, our campaign was based on recognition of the skills set needed to fulfil an increasingly complex and demanding role. Such recognition would naturally lead to a higher banding and we hope contribute to improving recruitment and retention in our hard pressed services.
“I would like to thank UNISON members and other colleagues for their support, including from our sister unions, for supporting the campaign, and to Trust management being open to hearing our concerns.
“Finally I would like to thank all our HCA’s for their input and especially their patience when all of us had to turn our focus on the Coronavirus pandemic. Now we hope this process can move ahead efficiently so this group of staff can be rewarded at long last.”
At the time of writing, the exact details of the Trust’s plans and the next steps are still to be announced. UNISON Branch intends to be at the heart of future discussions and to keep member’s regularly updated.