Band 2 Healthcare Support Workers across Wales secure fair pay for clinical duties
Pay Fair for Patient Care
For years, Band 2 Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) have been carrying out vital clinical duties — including patient observations, wound dressings, catheter care and ECG monitoring — without the pay and recognition that should come with them.
Thanks to thousands of UNISON members across Wales standing together — lodging grievances, holding ballots and pushing NHS employers to the negotiating table — that’s now changing.
A new agreement means more than 7,000 of the lowest-paid NHS staff — who are predominantly women — will finally be paid for the work they actually do and move from Band 2 to Band 3. Many will also receive thousands of pounds in corrective and recognition payments. This isn’t a pay rise — it’s pay for the skilled clinical work HCSWs have been doing for many years.
This victory shows the power of getting organised — and why getting active in UNISON works.
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Are you a Band 2 HCSW who undertakes clinical duties? What the agreement means for you
Move to Band 3
- Entry point: for those with less than 2 years’ evidence of Band 3 duties.
- Top of Band 3: for those with more than 2 years’ evidence.
Recognition payment (up to £5,000)
- Covers up to 5 years of service prior to 01/01/25.
- Pro rata based on current contracted hours; subject to tax/NI; not pensionable.
- Band 2 staff who choose to remain at Band 2 are still eligible.
Corrective payment
- Staff will receive payment to cover their time between validation and 01/01/25.
- 1.95% for under 2 years’ evidence of Band 3 duties.
- 8.75% for over 2 years’ evidence of Band 3 duties.
- Subject to normal deductions (tax, NI, pension).
Updated job descriptions
- All-Wales job descriptions for Band 2 and Band 3 agreed in partnership. These are available here.
- Clearer distinction between personal care (Band 2) and clinical duties (Band 3).
What’s next
Implementation is happening in every health board. Validation will identify HCSWs who have been undertaking clinical duties and staff will move into their new band or receive recognition payments.
UNISON members will continue to hold employers to account and ensure every HCSW gets what they’re owed.
The validation process is designed to help validate staff skill set regardless of formal qualification. Where staff are carrying out clinical duties, the validation process sets out to recognise that and to identify any further training needs.
Link to: Validation of Skill Set Wales Nursing or Maternity Health Care Support Workers Band 3
Link to: Guidance for Staff – Validation of Skill Set Wales Nursing or Maternity Health Care Support Workers
Be part of the union that wins
This win proves the power of collective action: every grievance signed, every meeting attended, every ballot returned built towards this moment.
When ordinary NHS workers stand together in a strong union, they can win dramatic improvements at work. If you would like to see fairer pay and better patient care in your workplace, get involved in the UK’s largest trade union.
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