Advice on consistency checking of perfusion outcomes

The NHS Staff council has agreed advice following the consistency monitoring of approved outcomes of perfusion jobs on CAJE carried out by the Job Evaluation Monitoring Group.

Following several requests, the Job Evaluation Monitoring Group has carried out some consistency monitoring of approved outcomes of perfusion jobs on CAJE.

This led to some concerns around the robustness of evidence given in the rationales, particularly with regard to factor 2, Knowledge, Training and Experience. Many of the level 8 and some of the level 7 outcomes were not supported by the evidence given in the rationales or explanatory text. JEG found that there was no evidence that a PhD or equivalent was necessary as a demand of the job - this is different from the post holder bringing a qualification at that level to the role for personal development purposes.

There was in many cases frequent reference to large number of years' experience, in some cases up to 15 years, as a justification of awarding a higher level in the KTE factor; this runs against guidance in the JE Handbook and also advice posted on the NHS Employers website about the dangers of flouting age and equality legislation by making it difficult for women to aspire to higher levels by means of high numbers of years' experience.

In some of the higher banded outcomes there was also evidence of inflation of the Analytical Skills, Patient/Client Care, Mental Effort and Physical Effort factors and the levels were not substantiated by evidence provided. Concerns were also expressed about the evidence for level 5 Communications Skills.

Following discussion with the NHS Staff Council Executive, it is recommended that organisations revisit their perfusion outcomes and satisfy themselves that the demands of the job have been rigorously evaluated, particularly in relation to the KTE factor and other factors mentioned above. There may be a risk of equal pay claims being difficult to defend if the evidence provided is not robust and supportive of the levels awarded.