The views of both staff and employers have helped shape the final agreement, which is the result of two years of partnership working. The new arrangements aim to encourage a proactive approach to managing long term sickness absence and keeping staff in work.
The new arrangements for ill health retirement benefits will form part of the overall main pension agreement and will be covered by the Scheme’s governance arrangements. An enabling agreement identifying minimum standards for managing sickness absence has also been agreed and this will sit within the NHS terms and conditions handbook.
The new arrangements will be implemented from 1 April 2008 alongside changes to the NHS Pension Scheme.
Full details of the new arrangements are available in the Partnership review of ill health retirement, injury benefit and sickness absence in the NHS: Final agreement. A briefing for employers, Ill health retirement and sickness absence management: new arrangements for the NHS, is also available.
NHS Business Services Authority Pensions Division is the Scheme administrator and is responsible for implementing the changes. They will be publishing comprehensive information about the Scheme changes and how to administer them over the coming months, to guide employers through the process: www.pensions.nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Other information to support the review includes: