Bristol Community Health (BCH) is introducing an improved pay and rewards package for staff after negotiations with union representatives and the wider staff team.
Bristol Community Health (BCH) is introducing an improved pay and rewards package for staff after negotiations with union representatives and the wider staff team.
The social enterprise is offering a new package, which closely mirrors Agenda for Change, including a one per cent pay rise for staff, as well as access to the NHS pension.
The package was agreed following a consultation with staff and negotiation with the organisation's Joint Consultative Negotiating Committee (JCNC), a union committee involving representation for RCN, Unison, Unite, British Medical Association, Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, British Association of Occupational Therapists and British Dietetic Association.
Tess Spence, a community matron at BCH, said: 'I feel it is a positive move that part of the total reward package includes an increase to BCH pay scales by bringing this in line with Agenda for Change rates. This means as an employee we will feel more valued by BCH and hopefully this will retain staff who may be enticed to move to an alternative employer and encourage the best people to apply for jobs within BCH.'
Penny Philpotts, HR director at BCH, said: 'We really value our staff and we want them to be rewarded fairly and equitably. Following our spin from the NHS we were left with a legacy two-tier pay and rewards package, with TUPE'd staff benefitting from Agenda for Change rates and access to the NHS pension. After large-scale consultation with staff and positive negotiation with our JCNC, which took partnership approach, we have agreed an improved, standardised pay and rewards package, which all staff can opt into. This has been well received by our JCNC, staff council and our hard working staff, and we are now well underway with the implementation of the new terms.'
Debra Nicholson, JCNC Union representative said: 'This project clearly shows how good partnership working between unions and employers can lead to great outcomes for staff. The JCNC worked hard to secure this deal for all staff, and our negotiations led to improvements on the original package, including paid emergency leave for carers, and a principle of 'no detriment' for anyone who would be worse off once statutory mileage rate changes were applied consistently across the organisation.'
BCH spun out from the NHS three years ago. The social enterprise, which delivers over 35 services in and around Bristol, has over 1100 staff including 800 frontline nurses, therapists and healthcare assistants. The services range from community nursing teams, palliative care to prison healthcare and diabetes support.