Seeking a job evaluation
Advice for nursing staff and managers
Your job description should accurately reflect the work you do today.
The nursing profession has evolved, but job descriptions and pay haven’t kept up. Many nursing staff have taken on more responsibility and are no longer paid fairly for their complex and demanding jobs. Staffing shortages and the ongoing impact of the pandemic have made this worse. Your job descriptions and pay may be more outdated than ever.
Job evaluation is the process of comparing and ranking jobs in an organisation. If you work in the NHS, it's an intrinsic part of your Agenda for Change conditions. If you work in independent health and social care settings, check whether your employer has its own job evaluation system in place.
If you think you’re not being paid fairly for the job you do, you can review and update your job description and ask for it to be evaluated.
You might consider job evaluation if you feel your job description and pay don’t reflect:
- your knowledge and qualifications
- your skills and competencies
- your level of experience
Decide if job evaluation is right for you
No matter your level, if you feel your role has changed significantly since you started, you can ask for a job evaluation – and we’ll support you.
> What to consider
Work in the NHS? Get started today
Sign up to get step-by-step guidance about requesting a job evaluation in the NHS. We’ll email you with proactive steps toward the pay you deserve – and keep you on track when life gets in the way.
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Helpful resources
The principles of job evaluation and the initial steps you take to analyse your role should apply in all settings at any employer.
Within the NHS, the formal Job Evaluation Scheme is how your pay is decided. In independent health and social care settings, the process to evaluate your role may be more complex due to different terms and conditions.
RCN guidance
‘We finally got pay justice... but this is just the tip of the iceberg'
Asking for a job evaluation might seem daunting. But securing the pay you deserve can be a reality – for you and your colleagues.
Read the inspiring story of 13 of our members in Northern Ireland, who used job evaluation to progress from band 5 to 6.
Need advice?
If you believe more than one role in your NHS team, ward or department needs re-evaluating, or you've already begun the job evaluation process and need to speak with someone, we’re here to help.
Fill in our simple contact form and we’ll be in touch soon.
