NHS Staff Council

Responsible for the Agenda for Change pay system.

The NHS Staff Council has responsibility for the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system and has representatives from both employers and trade unions. Their remit includes:

maintaining the AfC pay system
negotiating any changes in core conditions for staff on AfC contracts and reflecting these in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook
providing national support on interpreting the national agreement for employers and trade unions.

Watch our short video to find out more about the role of the NHS Staff Council

Executive members and meeting dates

NHS Staff Council executive members

Details of the executive members of the NHS Staff Council.

Article

NHS Staff Council meeting dates

Details of the executive and plenary meetings scheduled for 2025.

1 January 2025

Where local partnerships are unable to agree an interpretation of the NHS terms and conditions of service, parties can submit a joint referral to the NHS Staff Council seeking clarity.
These can be made to the joint NHS Staff Council via the secretariat. Referrals must be made in partnership (employer and trade union) in order for the NHS Staff Council to be able to give a view.

Key information

Article

NHS Staff Council joint statements and papers

Statements, papers, and guidance that has been agreed jointly through the NHS Staff Council.

14 April 2025

Handbook

NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook

This document sets out the full terms and conditions of service (TCS) for staff on Agenda for Change contracts.

1 April 2025

An interview taking place across a desk.

Article

NHS Staff Council - Key pieces of work for 2024

This web page highlights some of the key pieces of work and meeting details from 2024.

1 January 2025

The NHS Staff Council sub-groups

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Group

The Health, Safety and Wellbeing Group (HSWG) is a sub-group of the NHS Staff Council.

The Job Evaluation Group (JEG)

The Job Evaluation Group is a sub-group of the NHS Staff Council

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group (EDIG)

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group (EDIG) is a sub-group of the NHS Staff Council

Latest news

Article

Stage 2: Consistency checking course

This one-day training is designed for experienced job evaluation practitioners and those who wish to train as members of consistency checking panels.

14 May 2025

Article

Stage 4: Refresher training

This training programme is designed for participants who have completed their job evaluation (JE) training and wish to refresh their knowledge.

7 May 2025

Article

Stage 1: Job matching course

This two-day training programme is designed for NHS employees who wish to sit on job matching panels.

7 May 2025

Article

Accrual of statutory annual leave and sickness

An overview of key points relating to annual leave and sickness from the most important cases, together with frequently asked questions on this issue.

25 April 2025

Article

NHS Staff Council joint statement on 2023 non-pay commitments

Statement from the co-chairs of the NHS Staff Council following a letter from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

14 April 2025

Article

NHS Staff Council joint statements and papers

Statements, papers, and guidance that has been agreed jointly through the NHS Staff Council.

14 April 2025

Article

Agenda for Change pay deal 2023 - latest non-pay commitments update

April 2025 update on the non-pay commitments following the Agenda for Change pay deal agreed in 2023.

10 April 2025

A diverse group of nurses walking down a corridor.

Article

Job evaluation and equal pay

The importance of equal pay and why effective job evaluation practice is still so important today.

10 April 2025

Article

The history of pay in the NHS

Background into the history of pay including the establishment of the General Whitley Council, Agenda for Change and the medical and dental contracts.

8 April 2025