Update on Cardiff and Vale UNISONS Health Branch - Pay Fair for Patient Care Campaign.
A thank you email was sent out to over a 100 staff for signing our petition and showing support to our healthcare support workers.
UNISONS work gathering evidence from healthcare support workers at NHS, Wales has highlighted that many healthcare support staff being paid at a band 2 are undertaking duties which are normally associated with the band 3 role profile. Not all band 2 healthcare support staff are affected, but the evidence we have collected shows that this practice is widely spread.
Our message was clear – staff should be paid properly for the job they do and shouldn’t be expected to carry out the duties of a higher banded role on lower pay.
While a fabulous group of supporters cheered us on at Woodland House, 9 of us sat shoulder to shoulder across the table from 2 members of the health board. The case was outlined by UNISONS Regional Officer on behalf of the 508 HCSWs who signed the grievance. The background of the campaign and the exploitation of Band 2s was presented and then HCSW statements were read in turn to provide evidence. Time was made to ensure the HB listened fully to the effect that carrying out B3 duties as B2s affects staff and how it effects patient care.
After some discussion around each topic, we requested the following from the Health Board.
1For Health Board Executives to send a letter to members acknowledging the legitimacy of the band 2 claim that they are doing band 3 duties above their current pay grade and that where evidenced a recognition payment will be honoured.
2 Detail in the letter the Health Board commitment to wholeheartedly put this right by applying the All-Wales implementation framework process and timeframes.
3 Make a commitment to stop local and senior managers asking Band 2’s to accept a band 3 job outside of an 'Organisational Change' or 'Job Evaluation' process, with immediate effect.
4 To communicate & update the trade unions and staff on agreed plans and progress being made to deliver on the All-Wales agreement.
The Health Board responded by acknowledging that the All-Wales framework states that the HCSW or equivalent roles are an essential part of healthcare delivery. These roles have evolved and expanded, with acknowledgement of taking on more responsibilities, with individuals undertaking fundamental care roles, such as washing and dressing, assisting with mobility, assisting with feeding, basic observations, and increasingly other aspects of clinical care, but without the pay and recognition for all the duties in the expanded role. Many of these HCSWs (or equivalent) will carry out a level of clinical patient care that has historically been defined in local Band 2 job descriptions. However, since the national review of HCSW (or equivalent) job profiles in August 2021, it is now deemed that clinical care is the remit of Band 3 HCSW (or equivalent), whilst the Band 2 HSCW role is defined by personal care.
The Health Board assured that it is working to implement the draft All-Wales National Framework in CAV UHB for the review of the HCSW Band 2 and 3s’ Job Descriptions across the organisation within the specified timeframes.
The template form that Line Managers are currently using in some departments for discussion with Health Care Support Worker staff, will be stopped with immediate effect. The process for Band 3 validation will be a consistent process with a standardised template provided by Corporate Nursing Team.
Communication throughout the All-Wales National Framework for HCSW Band 2 & 3s will continue to be provided to Trade Unions, with regular updates.
Next Steps:
Work in partnership with the HB to implement the draft All-Wales agreement ( and the full agreement once received).
Stage 1 and 2 is for Ward Managers/ Senior and Lead nurses to review the skills and competencies of the duties of each Health Care Support Workers individually, this is due to be fully completed by December 2025. A digital solution is being developed for implementation of the process alongside a few tools and resources, there will an FAQ’s that will be available on SharePoint shortly.
Pay fair for patient care
Are you a band 2 healthcare support worker? You may be entitled to better pay. Now’s your time to win it!
Calling all Band 2 Healthcare Support Workers in
Cardiff & Vale University
Health Board?
Are you worth less than the HCSWs in
Swansea Bay?
Across Wales, many Band 2 HCSWs are performing clinical duties and patient
observations - tasks which fall under Band 3 of the Agenda for Change pay scales.
Sign the collective grievance
Below for re-banding https://forms.office.com/e/6D4mFfCAZM
Healthcare support workers deserve to be:
- Rewarded – You should be paid at the right band for the job and compensated for the work you’ve been doing at band 3.
- Recognised – Without you performing these essential clinical duties, the burden would fall on other overworked colleagues and patient care would suffer.
- Respected – You should be offered high quality training and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and progress within the NHS.
Previous campaigns were successful because staff joined together in UNISON.
Band 2 HCSWs performing Band 3 clinical duties deserve
the same offer as those in Swansea Bay Health Board,
where members joined together in UNISON and ran a
grassroots campaign to win:
✓ Rebanding to Band 3 for HCSWs in a
substantive role carrying out clinical duties
✓ Top of Band 3 for those with 2+ years’ experience
✓ Thousands in recognition pay (for up to 5 years’
service)
They won by following in the footsteps of UNISON Pay Fair
for Patient Care campaigns across the UK, which have
collectively secured nearly £100 million for years of
underpaid work.
Become a campaign contact for your ward or team by filling in this quick form.
Have you Signed the Collective Grievance Yet
UHW-UHL SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE
You may have heard that the UHW-UHL shuttle bus service was recently withdrawn due to cost. Regular users of the service have contacted the branch to express their disappointment.
We are therefore seeking your views on the service and any impact its withdrawal may have had on you.
We would be grateful if you would scan this QR code and complete the brief questionnaire:
Alternatively, you can email the branch office on unison.office.uhw@wales.nhs.uk
or phone 029 2184 8280 with your views.
