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Archived pay and conditions circulars for Agenda for Change staff

This page is an archive of Agenda for Change pay circulars issued between 2005 and 2017.
Agenda for change

15 October 2019

Access pay and conditions circulars and advice notices, which include any amendments to pay and terms and conditions for staff under the NHS terms and conditions of service (Agenda for Change).

  • Pay advice notice (AforC) 1/2017

    This notice advises of amendment number 38 to the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook.

    A new Annex 2 is inserted, pay bands and pay points on the second pay spine in England from 1 April 2017. The value of each pay point on the pay spine is increased by one per cent. This is a consolidated increase in the values of the pay spine points. The pay bands and pay points from 1 April 2016 is retained as Table 9(m) in Annex 3 to allow employers to refer to it should they need to.

    The values of minimum and maximum high cost area supplements are increased by one per cent. The expired table 15(i), high cost area supplements from 1 April 2016, is retained as table 16 in Annex 9.

  • 03/2016
    Contractual continuity of service and employer discretion - Pay and Conditions Circular (AforC) 3/2016 (Published 05/12/16)

    This pay and conditions circular provides employers with additional guidance in relation to Section 12: Contractual continuity of service and the use of employer discretion when considering relevant service outside of the NHS. A new Section 12 FAQ has been added to Annex 28: Guidance on frequently asked questions (FAQs) (England and Wales*1) and Annex 28: Guidance on frequently asked questions (FAQs) (Scotland and Northern Ireland).

    02/2016

    Updates to the NHS Terms and conditions of service handbook - Pay and Conditions Circular (AforC) 2/2016 (Published 18/07/16)

    This pay and conditions circular informs employers of changes to the NHS Terms and conditions of service handbook which have been agreed by the NHS Staff Council. These include the addition of Health Education England (HEE) to the list of NHS employers in Annex A.

    01/2016
    Pay in Agenda for Change effective from 1 April 2016 - Pay and conditions circular (AfC) 1/2016 (Published 14/03/16)

    This pay and conditions circular informs employers of pay from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 for staff whose contracts of employment incorporate nationally agreed pay provisions in the NHS Terms and conditions of service handbook (Agenda for Change).

    The amendments to the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook, detailed in this circular, will be published in amendment number 36.

  • Shared Parental leave and flexible working - Pay and Conditions Circular (AfC) 3/2015 

    Date: 12/3/15

    This Pay and Conditions circular informs employers of textual amendments to the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook (Agenda for Change) to incorporate:

    • the recent introduction of shared parental leave
    • general amendments to ensure continued compliance with equalities legislation and consistency with good practice.

    The amendments to the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook, detailed in this circular, will be published in amendment number 35. Pay circular (AfC) 1/2015, published alongside this one, contains details of changes to pay. Pay circular (AfC) 2/2015 contains changes to redundancy.

     

    New arrangements for redundancy pay - Pay and Conditions Circular (AfC) 2/2015 

    Date: 12/3/15

    This Pay and Conditions circular informs employers in England of new redundancy provisions for staff covered by the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook (Agenda for Change) which take effect, in England only, from 1 April 2015.

    The amendments to the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook, detailed in this circular, will be published in amendment number 35. Pay circular (AfC) 1/2015, published alongside this one, contains details of changes to pay. Circular (AfC) 3/2015 refers to Shared Parental Leave and flexible working.

    Pay in 2015/16 - Pay and Conditions Circular (AfC) 1/2015 

    Date: 12/3/15

    This Pay and Conditions circular informs employers of the pay arrangements for staff covered by the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook (Agenda for Change) which apply between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016, only.

    The amendments to the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook, detailed in this circular, will be published in amendment number 35. Pay circular (AfC) 2/2015, published alongside this one, contains details of changes to redundancy provisions. Circular (AfC) 3/2015 refers to flexible working and parental leave.

    Changes to Agenda for Change in Wales - Information note number 1

    Date: 15/01/15
    This information note details changes to Agenda for Change which have been agreed by the parties in Wales and confirmed by the NHS Staff Council. These changes have been incorporated into amendment number 34 to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook.

    Please note, this has been issued as an information note and not a pay circular as these changes have no impact on employers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.

  • Updates to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook - Pay and Conditions Circular (AfC) 4/2014
    Date: 11/08/14
    This Pay and Conditions Circular informs employers of various textual changes to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook which have been agreed by the NHS Staff Council.

    Amended mileage rates from 1 July 2014 - Pay and Conditions Circular (AfC) 3/2014
    Date: 18/7/2014
    This Pay and Conditions Circular informs employers of changes to the mileage rates published on 4, June 2014, in Pay and Conditions Circular (AforC) 2/2014. This follows the AA’s publication of a correction to one of the figures in its general guide to car running costs 2014/15.

    Mileage rates from 1 July 2014 - Pay and Conditions Circular (AfC) 2/2014
    Date: 4/6/2014
    This Pay and Conditions circular informs employers of new rates of mileage allowances which apply to business journeys made on and after 1 July 2014.

    Pay for 2014/15 - Pay and Conditions Circular (AfC) 1/2014 
    Date: 24/3/2014
    This Pay and Conditions circular informs employers of the pay arrangements for staff covered by the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook (Agenda for Change) which apply between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015 only.

  • New system of mileage payments - Pay Circular (AfC) 3/2013
    Date: 16/5/2013
    Changes to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook (amendment number 29): reimbursement of employee NHS business travel costs.

    Changes to pay progression and sickness pay - Pay Circular (AfC) 2/2013

    Date: 27/3/2013

    Changes to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook (amendment number 28): pay and conditions for NHS staff covered by the Agenda for Change agreement.

    Pay in 2013/14 - Pay Circular (AfC) 1/2013 

    Changes to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook (amendment number 28): Pay and conditions for NHS staff covered by the Agenda for Change agreement.

  • Additions to the list of NHS Employers - Pay Circular (AfC) 3/2012
    Date: 5/9/2012
    This pay circular informs employers of changes to the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook, which has been updated to acknowledge the creation of the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups.

    Pay from 1 April 2012 - Pay Circular (AfC) 2/2012 
    Date: 15/3/2012
    This pay circular informs employers of the changes to the national pay scales that take effect from 1 April 2012 for staff covered by the Agenda for Change agreement.

    Amendments in line with the Equality Act 2010 - Pay Circular (AfC) 1/2012 
    Date: 1/2/2012
    This pay circular informs employers that changes have been agreed to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook.

  • 3/2011

    Withdrawal of national recruitment and retention premiums - Pay Circular (AfC) 3/2011 (Published 11/4/2011)

    Transitional arrangements for the withdrawal of national RRPs.

    2/2011

    Pay uplift effective from 1 April 2011 - Pay Circular (AfC) 2/2011 (Published 31/3/2011)

    Pay uplift for employees earning a full time equivalent of £21,000 or less.

    1/2011

    Changes to employment break scheme - Pay Circular (AfC) 1/2011 (Published 31/1/2011)

    Changes in line with the NHS Pension Scheme Regulations effective from 1 April 2008 and 1 October 2008.

  • 6/2010

    New guidance on the knowledge and skills framework - Pay Circular (AfC) 6/2010 (Published 16/11/2010)

    New, simplified guidance on the use of the framework to meet local operational needs.

    5/2010

    Guidance on on-call and leased vehicles - Pay circular (AfC) 5/2010 (Published 2/11/2010)

    Additional guidance on principles underpinning local on-call negotiations and guidance on procedures when leased vehicles are offered to employees.

    4/2010

    New guidance on the right to raise concerns in the public interest (Whistleblowing) - Pay Circular (AfC) 4/2010 (Published 13/9/2010)

    Guidance on new contractual rights for employees to raise genuine concerns with their employer about malpractice.

    3/2010

    Introduction of an optional mutually agreed resignation scheme - Pay circular (AfC) 3/2010 (Published 02/09/17)
    An optional scheme, for NHS organisations to run from mid September 2010 to the end of October 2010, in line with agreed principles.

    2/2010

    Pay effective from 1 April 2010 - Pay circular (AfC) 2/2010 (Published 22/02/17)
    Uplifts to the pay spine points and cash allowances effective from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.

    1/2010

    Extension of the period of protection for local on-call arrangements - Pay circular (AfC) 1/2010 (Published 25/01/10)
    Protection of local on-call arrangements and updates to equal opportunities provisions in line with legislation and current practice.

  • 3/2009

    Agreement on unsocial hours payments during annual leave - Pay Circular (AfC) 3/2009 (Published 16/11/09)
    A Change to the method for calculating unsocial hours payments during periods of annual leave.

    2/2009

    Changes to contractual continuity of service - Pay circular (AfC) 2/2009 (Published 14/10/09)
    protection of the contractual rights of employees transferred out of NHS employment.

    1/2009

    Pay effective from 1 April 2009 - Pay circular (AfC) 1/2009 (Published 13/02/09)
    Uplifts to the pay spine points and high costs area minimum and maximum allowances effective from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2017.

  • 5/2008

    Changes to the rates of mileage allowances for motor cycle users - Pay circular (AfC) 5/2008  (Published 21/07/08)
    Uplifts to rates of mileage allowances for motor cycle users effective from 1 July 2008.

    4/2008

    Uplifts to mileage allowances - Pay Circular (AfC) 4/2008 (Published 07/07/08)
    New rates of mileage allowances for business motorists effective from 1 July 2008.

    3/2008

    Three year pay settlement starting on 1 April 2008 - Pay circular (AfC) 3/2008 (Published 19/06/08)

    This circular informs NHS employers of changes in the pay and terms and conditions for staff on Agenda for Change contracts. A multi year pay settlement will apply to national pay scales that take effect from 1 April 2008, 1 April 2009 & 1 April 2010.

    2/2008

    Changes to the provisions for management of sickness absence - Pay circular (AfC) 2/2008 (Published 06/02/08)
    Provision for locally agreed procedures to include regular reviews to assess and monitor staff who are absent due to sickness.

    1/2008

    Introduction of a new system of unsocial hours payments - Pay Circular (AfC) 1/2008 (Published 28/02/08)
    A new system of unsocial hours payments is to be phased in starting 1 April 2008.

  • 2007

    4/2007

    Uplifts to pay spine points effective 1 April 2007 and 1 November 2007 - Pay Circular (AfC) 4/2007  (Published 17/10/07)

    A two stage uplift to pay and allowances and the introduction of a new allowance to support clinical staff in England where registration with one of the regulatory bodies is mandatory in order to practice.

    3/2007

    Changes to redundancy provisions effective 1 October 2006 - Pay Circular (AfC) 3/2007 (Published 27/03/07)
    Redundancy pay and early retirement on grounds of redundancy.

    2/2007

    Changes to maternity pay and leave; a general statement on equality and diversity and changes to leave for parents and carers - Pay Circular (AfC) 2/2007  (Published 28/03/07)

    Changes in line with the Work and Families Act 2007.

    1/2007

    Provisions for the remuneration of public health specialist trainees - Pay Circular (AfC) 1/2007 (Published 01/01/07)
    Pay levels to be set by calculating a percentage of the pay of qualified staff.
     

    2006

    1/2006

    Pay uplifts effective from 1 April 2006 - Pay Circular (AfC) 1/2006 (Published 25/05/06)
    Uplifts to pay spine points and high cost area maximum and minimum allowances effective from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007.
     

    2005

    2/2005

    Pay uplifts effective from 1 April 2005 - Pay Circular (AfC) 2/2005 (Published 25/05/05)
    Uplifts to pay spine points and high cost area maximum and minimum allowances effective 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006.

    1/2005

    Changes to provisions on working time in line with ECJ judgements Pay Circular (AfC) 1/2005 (Published 20/04/05)
    Amendments to the provisions on working time in line with the "Jaeger" and "SIMAP" judgements in the European Court of Justice.