HCA Band 2 GMB Consultation Ballot
Consultation Ballot
Updated Wednesday 8th May 2024.
Please vote if you are;
- A HCSW, (HCA) Band 2 or Band 3 currently employed by UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PLYMOUTH NHS TRUST – HCA Band 3s may also participate in this consultation ballot because uplifts may have already been imposed on those HCAs previously employed as Band 2 and some may be entitled to some further back payments if Trade Unions and Trade Union members are successful in their current campaign.
- Currently a GMB Union member?
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General HCA Feedback.
Over the past few months we have spoken to our members in many areas in Derriford hospital and at the GMB Union information stalls. In some areas of the hospital there is some misunderstanding and ignorance about what is actually going on. This uncertainty is feeding some bad feeling between HCAs and other members of their teams. It is quite worrying when senior clinical staff ask Trade Unions for information about what is going on! If you need to better understand what is happening please contact your Trade Union.
GMB Reps will be more than happy to arrange a local workplace visit, please just let us know where and when you would prefer and we can arrange a visit. Or you can come and see us in the GMB Union office on level 9.
The HCA campaign is very important and GMB Union will continue to explore every option possible to try and resolve the dispute and to get the best outcome for our HCA members.
It is important to remember that there are many many more staff employed by the NHS that are struggling on NHS Band 2 wages which are just 1p an hour above the national living wage of £11.44.
NHS Pay claims are decided nationally, currently this decision is the responsibility of the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB). GMB Union along with some other Trade Unions do not believe that the PRB is currently fit for purpose.
Please read the GMB Union pay claim for 2024/25 here.
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HCA Uplift Update.
Recognised Trade Unions submitted a JOINT TRADE UNION (JTU) dispute to UHPT on 23rd October 2023. The reasonable demands put forward by the JTUs were rejected by UHPT therefore we currently await the opportunity to appeal.
The GMB Union at Derriford Hospital has invited HCSW, (HCA, ICA, MSW), members to participate in a workplace consultative ballot. This is not a Strike Ballot, a Strike ballot would become an option should the consultative ballot identify that a large proportion of GMB Union members employed by UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PLYMOUTH NHS TRUST are prepared to consider taking further action.
If you have not received the ballot link by email or text please contact 01752 660219 or email Raymond.stewart@gmbactivist.org.uk
GMB Union Consultative ballot will remain open until Friday 10th May 2024.
Shortly after the consultative ballot closes the GMB Union will arrange its own collective meetings for HCA members on the Derriford Hospital site where we can explain what the next steps of any ongoing industrial dispute could be.
What is a consultative ballot?
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GMB Branch members who have authorised electronic communication (email/text) should have received an SMS text with the link to the consultative ballot form.
Please ensure that we have your correct personal and work details. This ensures that we are able to communicate quickly with you. If we do not hold correct work and contact details for you will not receive electronic updates and news..
You can change personal or work details by logging onto the GMB Union website www.gmb.org.uk (top right corner of main page), contact your local GMB Union Rep 01752 439274 (ext. 39274), contact the GMB Plymouth Office 01752 660219
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Trade Unions have demanded the following as part of the formal dispute with UHPT.
Uplift all patient facing (HCSW) HCA Band 2 staff to band 3 – (To the top of Band 3 if you have more than two years substantive service as an HCA B2).
Back-pay needs to be considered alongside the uplift as a whole ‘package’. The job evaluation handbook states “4.5 If the banding outcome changes as a result of re-evaluation, that change should be backdated to when the postholder and manager agreed the job has changed.”
Back-pay therefore needs to reflect the length of time band 3 duties have been undertaken. Note that Aug 2021 was when the job evaluation group issued guidance for clarification on the distinctions between band 2 and 3. The distinctions existed prior to this date, so back-pay should be applied on service carried out at band 3 before August 2021 as well, where applicable. Trade Unions have agreed to demand back pay from 2019 to the uplift date.
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHPT) employs over 900 Health Care Support Workers / Health Care Assistants, Imaging Care Assistants, Maternity Care Workers (All HCA by another name) at Derriford Hospital and Mount Gould Hospital (Wards), on wards and in departments, delivering vital front line health care to patients.
The role of and HCA has evolved considerably over the years and this has happened without any recognition or fair pay; leaving HCAs feeling undervalued in their role, with over 80% of UHPT HCAs carrying out duties deserving of a higher pay grade (Band 3). Over 400 HCAs employed by UHPT should have been receiving Band 3 pay many years ago.
For example,
Changes to the CSW/MSW band 2 and band 3 profiles have been made to ensure that the differences between these are clear.
HCA Band 2 would undertake personal care such as feeding, bathing, toileting, recording fluids balance and nutrition.
HCA Band 3 would undertake monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure, bloods and wound observations.
Summary and description of the changes to the profiles
What type of activities are defined as personal care?
Personal care broadly means daily activities of living. This can include toileting, bathing, dressing, feeding and assisting patients with their appearance including for example brushing hair.
What does recording patient information mean?
Recording patient information means activities such as fluid balance (intake and output), nutrition – eating meals and making notes of these on a patient information system. It also includes personally generated clinical observations, test results and patient care activities for example, changing a wound dressing, taking blood pressure.
What type of activities are defined as patient observations?
HCAs operate across a wide spectrum of healthcare environments in hospitals, community settings, mental health facilities, maternity services and clinics. Patient observations will therefore vary depending on the setting and activities carried out. These can include the following:
Taking blood pressure, blood glucose levels, pregnancy testing, routine maternal and neonatal observations, observing patients for signs of agitation or distress (mental health).
What are clinical care duties and clinical observations?
These include venepuncture, removal of catheters, removal of peripheral cannula, wound observation and dressings, urinalysis, pregnancy testing, infant feeding support, one-to-one observations in mental health settings and programmes of care, therapy or treatment determined by others.
GMB and the JTUs have made it clear to UHPT that we would have expected the communication with you relating to pay, terms and conditions, must include all necessary financial data. This meaning the inclusion of electronic links to the NHS Employers guidance (issued over 32 months ago in August 2021). Information regarding Band 2 scoping exercise (completed over 18 months ago in September 2022 and which is now out of date). Information of any possible detrimental financial implications. This letter clearly does not give you that necessary detail.
You are advised to seek advice from your Trade Union before responding to the letter or agreeing to any changes to your Job Description or Terms and Conditions.
You should also note.
Backpay is payment owed for work already done which has not been paid to the employee.
Back pay which is replaced by a non consolidated lump sum does not include any wages owed. It is simply a compensatory pro rata payment offered to all those who qualify.
Large payments may impact means tested social benefits. You should discuss any concerns about this impact with an independent financial advisor and with your social security contact.
Non Consolidated pro rata payment (Lump sum bonus). This payment will be liable for tax applicable to the individual.
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HCA Band 2 would undertake personal care such as feeding, bathing, toileting, recording fluids balance and nutrition.
HCA Band 3 would undertake Monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure, bloods, wound observations during analysis.
There will be very few HCA’s employed by UHP who have not undertaken the Care Certificate or additional clinical observations/skills training over the past four years. This should be evidenced either digitally on ESR or as a paper copy in their personal file held by their department/ward manager.
- These are not just blood pressure, pulse and temperature but must include skills such as venepuncture, visual acuity, neurological observations, blood glucose monitoring, pregnancy testing, routine maternal and neonatal observations, observing patients for signs of agitation or distress, wound observations and simple wound dressings, removal of peripheral cannula, urinalysis, removal of catheter.
- Guidance was provided to UHPT by NHS Employers in August 2021 – 33 months ago! clarifying the review and the key differences between an HCA Band 2 and the HCA Band 3 job profiles. This guidance lists different initiatives and programmes of work that have impacted on the roles of the HCSW CSW-employer-guidance.pdf (nhsemployers.org)
- UHP have indicated that they are not currently prepared to uplift longer serving HCA Band 2 employees to the top of Band 3. There are over 400 HCA Band 2 employees who have been identified as having over 2 years service as an HCA. GMB feels that those members deserve to be uplifted to the top of Band 3.
- NHS Staff Council agreed some helpful guidance on the interaction between promotion and unsocial hours Pay on Promotion Scenarios & FAQs | NHS Employers Section 1.18.
To ensure that you receive regular updates, please keep the GMB Union updated with your personal and work details.
If you have any questions please contact;
katherine.darcy@gmb.org.uk or raymond.stewart@gmbactivist.org.uk
Other local GMB Reps are contactable in different areas of the hospital and they will be able to give you factual updates on the HCA Band 2 situation at UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PLYMOUTH NHS TRUST (Derriford).