Please click on the questions below to reveal further information.

In August 2021, the UK Staff Council approved revised job profiles and agreed updated guidance to clarify the difference between the roles of a Band 2 Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) and a Band 3 Senior Health Care Support Worker (SHCSW).  

NHS Wales is now implementing these changes consistently across all health boards, so that staff are fairly recognised and paid for the duties they actually carry out.

NHS Wales has updated national job descriptions for Bands 2 and 3 HCSWs (including nursing, maternity and theatre).

Band 3 HCSW Job titles will also be changed to Band 3 Nursing support assistant.

This agreement does not apply to Bank workers. 

Band 2: Mainly personal care duties (washing, dressing, feeding, mobility support).

Band 3: Includes personal care plus certain clinical care duties.

If you are currently a Band 2 but your duties meet Band 3 criteria, you may be rebanded.

In scope means that you were in one of the affected nursing, maternity or theatre HCSW roles in NHS Wales on 1 January 2025. If you are in scope, your role will be reviewed using a validation process.

First, your manager should ask to meet with you to complete the validation process. This is a checklist to identify if you are undertaking clinical care duties.

Employers will commit to ensuring capacity is identified to undertake this work as efficiently as possible. Each organisation will set a timetable for this work to be completed.

Will staff receive backdated pay?

There are 2 payments that are provided as part of the collective agreement. These are:

• A corrective payment which goes back to 1 January 2025
• A recognition payment for any Band 3 duties you may have carried out before 1 January 2025, going back to 2020

These recognition payments will be paid pro-rata to current contracted hours. A detailed Recognition Payment Rate Chart is set out at the end of the agreement.  

Due to the number of HCSWs across the health boards in Wales, the following calculation has been made to simplify the process.

This is a lump sum covering arrears from 1 January 2025 to the date your Band 3 pay starts.

• 8.75% of basic pay if you have 2+ years eligible service on 1 January 2025
• 1.95% of basic pay if you have less than 2 years eligible service. It is taxable, pensionable, and subject to National Insurance 

Once your role has been assessed, employers will be required to provide Payroll with the information necessary, so that you are: 

• Assimilated to the appropriate grade step on Band 3 and incremental date on ESR 
• Paid the appropriately calculated Corrective Payment 
• Paid the confirmed Recognition Payment if eligible. This information will be submitted to Payroll with a six-week lead time – this will be 16 weeks prior to the 4th day of month in which payment will be made.

Illustration example only: for payment in November 2025 the proforma would need to be completed in full and received by Payroll by the 25th September 2025.

All payments should be made by July 31, 2026 

This is a separate, one-off payment for the Band 3 clinical duties you may have been doing before 1 January 2025.

It will be:

• Based on how long you’ve been in your assessed role
• Paid pro rata to contracted hours
• Not pensionable but subject to tax and National Insurance

Each health board is expected to complete the validation process of “in scope” roles as soon as possible. However, some health boards are further along than others. All health boards are expected to complete the process and make the recognition no later than 31 July 2026.

A full payment rate table is available in Annex A.

Yes. Staff may choose to remain at Band 2 and still receive the Recognition Payment, for band 3 duties that were carried out but future duties should be adjusted accordingly to match the updated Band 2 profile.

• Bank workers
• Those who left NHS Wales before 1 January, 2025
• Those who have moved into roles not in scope before 1 January, 2025

Your job will be rebanded and this will be backdated to January 1 2025. You’ll receive the corrective payment.

You will receive a recognition payment paid by the 31 July 2026,

If you had less than 2 years’ service on January 1st 2025, you will move to the bottom of Band 3.

If you had more than 2 years’ service on January 1st  2025, you will move to the top of band 3.

We’ve been negotiating this agreement for all Band 2 HCSWs in Wales and believe it’s the best and final offer.

It’s important to recognise that these payments may be worth more or less depending on your individual circumstances, and you should consider its impact on you before you accept or reject the agreement offer.

You can appeal within 10 days using the HCSW Banding Appeal Procedure outlined within the agreement, with support from us, your union.

If you were:

• promoted within 24 months of 1 January 2025 and
• can show evidence that you were performing Band 3 duties for 2 years before, you may be eligible for the top pay point progression.

They will be paid through payroll into your pay packet.

Some staff may choose to receive the recognition payments in instalments to help with benefits and tax planning.

All payments are subject to tax and National Insurance. 

You will get a formal letter telling you:

• Your new pay point (if rebanded)
• Any training requirements
• Your Corrective Payment amount
• Your Recognition Payment amount
• Details of appeal rights

An Implementation Oversight Group (IOG) will be formed to oversee the process. Each organisation will appoint an employer lead and a trade union lead.