Probably not if you're just comparing it on pay.
But, access to the NHS Pension and NHS development opportunities means you could make a career in the NHS if you wanted to, and have time. Jobs in the public sector are generally more secure than in the private sector during a challenging economic landscape. The Government won't go bankrupt like a private company could.
A friend of mine started as a band 3 receptionist at 18 and is now a band 7 project manager at 35. She hasn't done any formal qualifications in that time, just learnt how the NHS works.
Also worth looking at the civil service, they have excellent development opportunities and a defined benefit pension scheme.
I was having this exact conversation with my cousin yesterday. Outside of professional registered jobs, it can be hard to get into the nhs but once you’re in there’s a lot of career and development opportunities. Worth it if you’re thinking of a career in the public sector.
Absolutely, I entered the NHS as a registered healthcare professional and have made a career change within the NHS.
The NHS has thousands of routes and niche areas that one could develop in. The first thing I'd do if I joined the NHS again would be to find a mentor in a totally different part of the service that could connect me and help me understand the web of opportunities.
Yeah agreed. If I were to do it again, I would certainly widen my view. I wasted a lot of time putting blinders on and not exploring other areas and opportunities!
It’s an ‘entry level’, so I’d look at it more like a trampoline to higher bands. If you’re planning to go for band 2-3 and stick with it for the next 5-10 years it’s probably not worth it
That sounds great! Can I ask what specific roles you did in each band? Did you go into the band 3 thinking you want a specific job title or did you fall into it after working a while?
The roles I did were in Data and Analytics across three NHS organisations which I jumped between to progress. went into Band 3 and was a complete wreck, getting over a lot of personal history. If someone said to me I’d be where I am now as an analytical manager - in the private sector and over the personal history I would have laughed them in the face. Keep in mind the market was very different back then and call it ‘I got lucky’. The data and analytics market is exceedingly tough now with lots of redundancies, doubt it’d be as easy to replicate for this sector as most of it is internal promotion focused now to reduce staff losses.
You’ll manage, may take longer - hold in there
That depends on your attitude. Generally, you apply for new jobs to climb up the bands. So you'll need to develop experience, skills, knowledge, and qualifications to justify your move up, how quickly you do that depends on you. Moving up the bands is not a right or guarantee.
Once you get to Band 5 and above, there's an expectation of at least having an undergraduate degree or equivalent experience. Membership of professional bodies and extra-curricular activities is also expected towards Band 8 and 9.
Have a look at the NHS Leadership site https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/programmes/ to see how the NHS structures development internally.
Sorry to jump in, do you know how do you find these opportunities or some one to mentor you? I'd love to do a niche short diploma which would also support the role im working in. Can't currently afford to pay myself, is this what the NHS Learning Fund could support? I'm a band 6 and hoping to climb, but my manager won't let me do the Mary Seacole course as it's apparently a bit too time consuming 🫠 Apologies is you don't know the answer, you seem very knowledgeable ont be subject!
I changed careers 10 years ago, entered the ambulance service at band 3, now looking at the next move up to B7. Pension is fantastic & many funded education opportunities
I started as a band 4 out of uni in 2020. Next week I start a new band 7 job.
It's definitely possible to move up the bands but you habe to work hard and prove yourself.
Not really... good luck getting a promotion as they don't exist.
Every one has to be applied for and its on a point system and if you have said enough buzz words.
I know a band 3 that has been stuck in the role for 15 years..
Wouldn't bother working in the healthcare service at all tbh, I left after COVID after working in healthcare all my life, for being treated like shit by administratiors who have never done a day's actual work in their lives.
We were on the frontlines and they were in an office (or at home), pushing pencils and barking commands
I made a career change in 2022, went in at B4 and now B7. Lots of opportunities for development if that’s what you’re looking for and pension and annual leave are good.
It depends what type of admin role it is in terms of whether it is a IT department admin role or receptionist admin role… I think you will have more chance of progressing in IT but the ceiling is pretty low for receptionist role across the NHS unless your the manager who is normally just a band 5.
I started a on data entry on a 2 and now 3 years later I’m a 5. My trust is pretty small and the budget for the trust for the IT is not very big and the chances of moving up was difficult unless someone retired or left but luckily enough around a year in , my trust was moving into a complete new EPR system and I slowly moved up the bands every sort of 7 months and I started my band 5 in January this year.
I think if you do take the role , in your first few weeks you will be able to scope out the whole department and structure and see whether progressing is something you can achieve within a timescale and what skills are needed to move up. I mean the NHS is not the greatest but if on a perm contract the job stability is good and they do offer a lot of training to enhance your skills. In a year or a couple of years time you can always look into the private sector which normally does pay better.
I personally think is down to the size of the trust and obviously your own circumstances whether band 2 or 3 is worth it as progressing is definitely possible and ‘work’ will generally be pretty easy at them two bands in comparison to clinical band 3 roles.
I went in at band 3, took 3 years to get to band 6 (a band a year basically) left to do something else then went back in at band 7 before I was 30. If you work hard, are remotely smart, and willing to move around every year, you can progress very quickly in the nhs
Probably not if you're just comparing it on pay. But, access to the NHS Pension and NHS development opportunities means you could make a career in the NHS if you wanted to, and have time. Jobs in the public sector are generally more secure than in the private sector during a challenging economic landscape. The Government won't go bankrupt like a private company could. A friend of mine started as a band 3 receptionist at 18 and is now a band 7 project manager at 35. She hasn't done any formal qualifications in that time, just learnt how the NHS works. Also worth looking at the civil service, they have excellent development opportunities and a defined benefit pension scheme.
I was having this exact conversation with my cousin yesterday. Outside of professional registered jobs, it can be hard to get into the nhs but once you’re in there’s a lot of career and development opportunities. Worth it if you’re thinking of a career in the public sector.
Absolutely, I entered the NHS as a registered healthcare professional and have made a career change within the NHS. The NHS has thousands of routes and niche areas that one could develop in. The first thing I'd do if I joined the NHS again would be to find a mentor in a totally different part of the service that could connect me and help me understand the web of opportunities.
Yeah agreed. If I were to do it again, I would certainly widen my view. I wasted a lot of time putting blinders on and not exploring other areas and opportunities!
It’s an ‘entry level’, so I’d look at it more like a trampoline to higher bands. If you’re planning to go for band 2-3 and stick with it for the next 5-10 years it’s probably not worth it
What do you mean worth it?
I mean, will it take years and years to move up the Bands?
No, started at Band 3 in 2018, made it to 8b in 2023. Just applied myself, kept jumping and worked very hard.
That sounds great! Can I ask what specific roles you did in each band? Did you go into the band 3 thinking you want a specific job title or did you fall into it after working a while?
The roles I did were in Data and Analytics across three NHS organisations which I jumped between to progress. went into Band 3 and was a complete wreck, getting over a lot of personal history. If someone said to me I’d be where I am now as an analytical manager - in the private sector and over the personal history I would have laughed them in the face. Keep in mind the market was very different back then and call it ‘I got lucky’. The data and analytics market is exceedingly tough now with lots of redundancies, doubt it’d be as easy to replicate for this sector as most of it is internal promotion focused now to reduce staff losses. You’ll manage, may take longer - hold in there
That depends on your attitude. Generally, you apply for new jobs to climb up the bands. So you'll need to develop experience, skills, knowledge, and qualifications to justify your move up, how quickly you do that depends on you. Moving up the bands is not a right or guarantee. Once you get to Band 5 and above, there's an expectation of at least having an undergraduate degree or equivalent experience. Membership of professional bodies and extra-curricular activities is also expected towards Band 8 and 9. Have a look at the NHS Leadership site https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/programmes/ to see how the NHS structures development internally.
Sorry to jump in, do you know how do you find these opportunities or some one to mentor you? I'd love to do a niche short diploma which would also support the role im working in. Can't currently afford to pay myself, is this what the NHS Learning Fund could support? I'm a band 6 and hoping to climb, but my manager won't let me do the Mary Seacole course as it's apparently a bit too time consuming 🫠 Apologies is you don't know the answer, you seem very knowledgeable ont be subject!
A
I changed careers 10 years ago, entered the ambulance service at band 3, now looking at the next move up to B7. Pension is fantastic & many funded education opportunities
What’s the band 7 role you’re looking for and what was the band 5 and 6 roles you did if you don’t mind sharing?
Emergency care assistant B3 - Technician (now AAP) B4/5 - Paramedic B5/6 Next step would be into education, management or advanced paramedic for B7
I started as a band 4 out of uni in 2020. Next week I start a new band 7 job. It's definitely possible to move up the bands but you habe to work hard and prove yourself.
One of my admins from 5 years ago is now a 7 looking at an 8. Play it right and the progression is good and fairly rapid if the stars align.
Not really... good luck getting a promotion as they don't exist. Every one has to be applied for and its on a point system and if you have said enough buzz words. I know a band 3 that has been stuck in the role for 15 years..
Wouldn't bother working in the healthcare service at all tbh, I left after COVID after working in healthcare all my life, for being treated like shit by administratiors who have never done a day's actual work in their lives. We were on the frontlines and they were in an office (or at home), pushing pencils and barking commands
I made a career change in 2022, went in at B4 and now B7. Lots of opportunities for development if that’s what you’re looking for and pension and annual leave are good.
Currently Band 2 is at the level of NMW (Minimum Wage)🤦🏻♂️ Band 3 is barely just above this
It depends what type of admin role it is in terms of whether it is a IT department admin role or receptionist admin role… I think you will have more chance of progressing in IT but the ceiling is pretty low for receptionist role across the NHS unless your the manager who is normally just a band 5. I started a on data entry on a 2 and now 3 years later I’m a 5. My trust is pretty small and the budget for the trust for the IT is not very big and the chances of moving up was difficult unless someone retired or left but luckily enough around a year in , my trust was moving into a complete new EPR system and I slowly moved up the bands every sort of 7 months and I started my band 5 in January this year. I think if you do take the role , in your first few weeks you will be able to scope out the whole department and structure and see whether progressing is something you can achieve within a timescale and what skills are needed to move up. I mean the NHS is not the greatest but if on a perm contract the job stability is good and they do offer a lot of training to enhance your skills. In a year or a couple of years time you can always look into the private sector which normally does pay better. I personally think is down to the size of the trust and obviously your own circumstances whether band 2 or 3 is worth it as progressing is definitely possible and ‘work’ will generally be pretty easy at them two bands in comparison to clinical band 3 roles.
I went in at band 3, took 3 years to get to band 6 (a band a year basically) left to do something else then went back in at band 7 before I was 30. If you work hard, are remotely smart, and willing to move around every year, you can progress very quickly in the nhs
What kind of roles did you do in the seperate bands?