At the assimilation stage Health and Personal Social Services payroll departments notify staff of their Agenda for Change pay bands and when they can expect to receive payment. At December 2006, (a) 48.7 per cent. of health staff affected by Agenda for Change, and (b) 13.3 per cent. of social services staff, have been notified and assimilated to the new Agenda for Change rates of pay.
The implementation of the Agenda for Change agreement is being taken forward in partnership with Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) employers and recognised trade unions. My Department’s officials and representatives from HPSS employers meet on a monthly basis with regional officers from the main health trade unions. I would expect any concerns about the implication of Agenda for Change to be brought to that forum.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, wrote to the trade unions and to the Health and Personal Social Services on 14 November 2006 setting out proposals on how the nursing and midwifery functions at the Department and the Health and Social Care Authority could be secured as part of the implementation of the review of public administration.
A discussion paper is to be issued shortly and no final decision will be made without taking the views of stakeholders fully into account.