Terms and Conditions
Most NHS jobs have been evaluated and placed within a pay band between 1 – 9. Each pay band has an entry point and then several steps to the top of the pay band. Each step is called an increment or spine point. Satisfactory employees move up this incremental range annually. So until the top of the pay band is reached, the employee will be receiving an annual rise usually on the anniversary of the date they joined the NHS. Pay in the NHS is reviewed annually in April.
Full time staff work 37½ hours per week. In some roles overtime may be on offer. The NHS is committed to family friendly job design and adheres to the European Working Time Directive to limit the total hours people can be asked to work.
Annual Leave is 27 days a year rising to 29 after five years and 33 after ten, along with 8 days of public holiday per year. Part-timers’ leave is pro rata. It also has paid sickness leave and maternity leave schemes.
The NHS pension scheme entitles members to:
- A pension that is linked to pay and length of membership and is index-linked with inflation
- A tax-free lump sum on retirement
- Life assurance cover while working
The NHS values its staff. It offers training at many levels and encourages staff to develop their skills, knowledge and careers. Part-time work is common and job sharing is possible. Some clinical staff work shifts so that 24/7 can be covered. Other jobs allow day working. Some jobs may also attract payments for unsocial hours.
All staff are entitled to join the trade union and/or professional association which negotiates on their behalf at local and national level.
For more detailed information on terms and conditions please click here. For information on the current payscales, please click here and select the pay circular document you require.
Produced and regularly updated by National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, www.nliah.wales.nhs.uk.
Please contact nhswalescareers@wales.nhs.uk for any queries/comments on this page.