grading of seniority in uk

Hi,
could any one give me an idea how the experience of a physio is graded in uk. I mean I am confused with senior 1, senior 2 and those bands...4,5,&6.

thanks,
naveend
[email protected]

Yes, it is confusing.

Senior 1 is more senior than senior 2.
But senior 3 is higher than senior 1! God love the british system.

The old grading of juniors, senior 2's and senior ones have now been made completely redundant. Under the Agenda for change process each post has been evaluated to esablish the "worth" of each. Consequently there is a real mish mash of what old whitley grades are conpared to the AfC ones. For example basic graduates start on band 5. However, some junior posts have been banded at 6. Some senior 2 posts are banded at 5 with the majority at 6. There is almost a 50/50 split of senior one posts between 6 and 7. I know it looks very confusing, but it is something that many of the physios here didn't understand at the time they voted for it.

Thanks for the 'clarification'. After reasding your most informative I am now even more confused (no mallice intended). Perhaps the CSP should make a clear table in an edition of Frontline?

Here's some updated information

Physiotherapists in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) are paid in line with the Agenda for Change pay scales. You will often see the following term, ‘Band’, identifies a structured seniority (and therefore pay scale) when looking at public sector physiotherapy jobs listed in the UK. The following information might assist to understand what those mean.

• Band 4 - Band 5 Assistant Practitioners
• Band 5 - Physiotherapist
• Band 6 - Physiotherapist Specialist
• Band 7 - Physiotherapist Team Manager
• Band 8a-b - Consultant / Principal Physiotherapist

What about the old Senior One, Senior 2 physiotherapy Grades (Whitely grades)?

Physiotherapy has moved to the new NHS pay and grading system. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) says the good banding outcomes underline its view that Agenda for Change (AfC) is a good deal for the profession and for members.

The review of the early implementer (EI) sites shows some areas - such as clinical specialists and extended scope practitioners - have actually done better than expected. Also encouraging is the emergence of a clear, defined career structure for physiotherapy assistants.

So, how do the older Whitley grades fare under matching to AfC?

The results so far show AfC has delivered the grading results the CSP had hoped for assistants and technical instructors, with these grades being assimilated into bands two, three and four.

Junior grades have been matched into band five (Band 5) across most NHS trusts. A few junior posts with higher level duties and responsibilities have made it into band six (Band 6).

The vast majority of Senior 2 grades have matched into band six (Band 6), regardless of whether the post is a rotational or static one or whether the post-holder has been undertaking emergency duty. Some Senior 2 physiotherapists have matched into band five (Band 5). A very small number of Senior 2 posts have successfully matched into band seven (Band 7).

As anticipated, Senior I grades have largely matched into bands six and seven (Band 6/7). Specialist centres appear to have secured the most consistent results for this grade. In general trusts, Senior I posts have gone into both bands six and seven. Senior I's are more likely to be matched into band six if their patient caseload is relatively predictable and they have reasonably good working conditions. Another key indicator appears to be where the post-holder is not required to work in a multidisciplinary way and where there is little requirement for cross-organisational working or integrating physiotherapy treatments into broader treatment plans.

To score at band seven (Band 7), a senior I generally needs to be a clinical lead for a particular area of practice, work as the physiotherapy lead in a multidisciplinary team, or make a significant contribution to the training and development of staff and/or students.

Clinical specialists and extended scope practitioners have matched into band seven, with lots going into the starting level of band eight (Band 8). Department heads are assimilating into band eight too, along with consultants. Team leaders are matching to band seven (Band 7), as expected. More senior managers are being graded in all parts of band eight, demonstrating a reasonable career structure for clinical and more senior managers.

Take a look at the current physiotherapy jobs in the UK here: Latest Physiotherapy Jobs in United Kingdom