KSF gateways and pay

As well as supporting learning, the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) is linked to pay progression. It does this at two 'gateways' on each payband.

• The foundation gateway - checks that the individual is on track in developing the required knowledge and skills. The foundation gateway takes place 12 months after you have joined a payband no matter at what point you start on it.
• The second gateway - checks that the individual is applying the knowledge and skills that needed by anyone fully developed in that post. The second gateway takes place at a fixed point towards the top of the pay band.

In between the gateways staff are expected to progress up the pay increments as they continue to learn and develop with the support of their manager. Even at the gateways the expectation is that, having met their learning needs, the member of staff will progress up the incremental scale in the payband. Key principles governing the operation of pay gateways were agreed by the national KSF Group and the NHS Staff Council ( January 2007). This overview has been developed to assist local gateway and KSF policy development and operation.

If there are concerns about how an individual is applying their knowledge and skills:

• they should be formally told by their manager;
• the reasons for deferral should be clearly identified and documented together with those aspects of the post outline that still to be achieved;
• an action plan needs to be agreed to help the individual develop and apply the necessary knowledge and skills; and
• a date for reviewing this position should be set.

Once there is agreement that the individual is working at the level required, they will receive their pay increment from that date. Some key points to remember are:

• the incremental date is not affected by the outcome of a KSF development review
• the increment due at a gateway point is a recognition that the KSF outline has been achieved by the individual, if this is not the case they are not entitled to the increment until they have met the outline
• the application of knowledge and skills cannot be backdated, and therefore the increment cannot be backdated.

Organisations must agree, in partnership, robust arrangements for:

• cases where development reviews cannot take place before an increment is due
• cases where there is not agreement on the outcome of a review.

These locally agreed arrangements may include providing backdated increments if it is found that they have been inappropriately deferred.

The pay gateways

• Pay band 1 - before the final point, as you move from pay point 3 to pay point 4
• Pay bands 2 - 4 - before the first of the last two points, as you move from points 7,11 and 16 to points 8,12 and 17
• Pay bands 5 - 7 - before the first of the last three points, as you move from points 22, 28 and 33 to points 23, 29 and 34
• Pay band 8 (ranges A - D) - before the final point, as you move from points 39, 43, 47 and 51 to pay points 40,44, 48 and 52
• Pay band 9 - before the final point, as you move from pay point 55 to pay point 56

Performing above the KSF outline

The post and associated KSF outline is what is required by the organisation to deliver a service or function. If an individual is performing above the outline, they will be able to use this as evidence in applying for a new post or to inform their career development. It does not entitle them to move to the next pay band.