The Health Board believes it is important to clarify the facts about the current dispute with Unite regarding the banding of our health visitors.
Health visitors are being paid the correct band 6 salary
The pay banding for health visitors in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is the same banding for health visitors across Wales and England.
The salary range for Band 6 health visiting roles within NHS Wales is between £40,559 and £48,841 a year.
It would be inappropriate for CTM UHB, as an individual Health Board, to work in isolation to re-band its health visitor workforce.
There is not an agreed band 7 job description for health visitors
There is no band 7 health visitor job description that has been agreed in partnership with CTM UHB, and there is no revised All-Wales band 7 job description.
This means the band 6 job description for health visitors in CTM is the current, agreed job description.
The Health Board is committed to resolving this dispute
We know that the staff who are taking part in this industrial action want to return to work, and the Health Board is committed to bringing the dispute to an end, for these colleagues and for the families who rely upon these important services.
However, as an NHS organisation with more than 13,000 staff, which is funded with public money, it is important that this is done correctly.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has revised the training standards for health visitors, meaning that new health visitors require a Masters-level qualification. This change needs to be reflected in health visitor job descriptions. An Expert Partnership Group has been set up to review the job descriptions on an All-Wales basis. However, Unite has decided not to join this group.
We urge Unite to join these important discussions and we continue to speak with the union and work with ACAS – an independent organisation that helps to resolve disputes – to find a resolution that works for all parties.
We would also like to acknowledge the professionalism, resilience and ongoing commitment shown by all staff, particularly those who have continued to work flexibly to maintain services for our children, families and communities.
We are making sure that families who need support and care urgently are receiving it
We are working hard to minimise the impact of this industrial action on families.
However, to keep services safe and ensure we can support families with more complex and urgent needs, we are having to restrict some activities, including routine appointments.
To help families access support we have set up a single point of access which we would kindly ask you to use as the main way to contact the Health Visiting service. You will find the details below.
- 01443 803930
- CTM.SPOAHealthVisiting@wales.nhs.uk
We aim to respond to all enquiries within two hours.
Useful information is available at: Children’s Health Visiting
Remember, if your baby or child is unwell and you are concerned, you should contact your GP or 111 as you normally would.
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