Bands 8a and above intermediate pay point FAQs

The introduction of an intermediate pay step point was agreed as part of the NHS Pay Review Body recommendations for the 2024/25 Agenda for Change pay award, which means it will be effective from 1 April 2024, and will be implemented from 1 November 2024.  

Yes, the intermediate pay step is effective from 1 April 2024, meaning any staff eligible for back payments can expect this in their November 2024 salaries. This date is different from the 5.5 per cent uplift back pay which will be paid earlier, in October salaries. 

From the 1 November onwards, progression to the intermediate pay step point will require employers to record a successful pay progression in ESR. This will enable the pay step increase to be applied.  Employers will not receive the usual ESR pay progression notifications for the intermediate pay step point in November.  Therefore, organisations will need to identify employees who may be due to move to the intermediate pay step point during this period and take the appropriate action in ESR.  Staff with who reach the two year pay step date in November are encouraged to highlight with their manager to ensure it is recorded by the employer. 

From December, employers will receive the normal ESR notifications that staff are reaching a pay step point and the normal pay progression process will apply in ESR. 

No, the intermediate pay points are effective from 1 April 2024, so back pay is only applicable for members of staff from the 1 April 2024 and not the actual date when the employee attained two years’ service if that occurred prior to the 1 April 2024.   

As per point 44 of annex 23, if a staff member is absent from work for reasons such as sickness or parental leave when a pay step is due, the principle of equal and fair treatment should be followed so that no detriment is suffered as a result. 

The ESR system will progress existing staff automatically, however, for individual staff who may have active formal capability processes, live disciplinary sanctions or suspensions, employers should follow points 44 - 49 of Annex 23 of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (TCS) Handbook.  

Pay step dates will not be affected, and individual staff pay step dates will remain the same.

Time already spent within the band will count towards length of service on a pay step point, provided the appropriate level of performance and delivery has been achieved during the review period, as outlined in Annex 23.  

As per section 1.11 of the NHS TCS Handbook, annually earned pay points apply to staff at the top of bands 8c, 8d and 9, therefore the introduction of the intermediate pay step points will not impact re-earnable annually earned pay points.  

Pay protection arrangements are locally determined, and employers should refer to their local pay protection policies.