Making a pay claim
One in four RCN members works outside of the NHS, and the RCN believes they also should have a pay system that delivers fair pay, good terms and conditions of employment and supports career development. The NHS employs the majority of nursing staff in the UK. NHS terms and conditions of employment (Agenda for Change - AfC) covers pay, terms and conditions, career development (through the Knowledge and Skills Framework) and equal pay through an equality proofed job evaluation system.
It is, however, unlikely that members employed outside of the NHS will automatically benefit from all of the benefits of AfC. However, even if non-NHS employers do not adopt AfC in full it is still possible that certain parts of the package may be attractive to employers and employees. Certainly if employers want to attract staff they will be mindful of NHS pay rates before advertising for new recruits. The RCN has, subsequently, developed a tool to help those individuals or groups of individuals raise the issue of AfC with their employer.
Many employers may not be aware of the detail or scope of the new AfC package and it is, therefore, important that nurses work with them to understand the full package and how it can be beneficial to them as employers and service providers.
Pay tool
In order to make an effective claim, individuals need to present their request in a concise manner with clear rationale for making the claim. The tool provides a draft letter and a pro-forma pay claim. It is available to download: Making a pay claim (PDF, 144KB) [see how to access PDF files], or you can order copies from RCN Direct on 0845 7726 100 (quote your membership number and publication code 002 763).