Pay Fair for Patient Care: support lone-working Rehabilitation Support Workers in South Yorkshire

Our dedicated Rehabilitation Support Workers working in the community are the backbone of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust patient care. These lone-working support staff visit patients in their homes, providing vital care and support—often in challenging and unpredictable environments. 

Despite their crucial role, our Rehabilitation Support Workers are paid on the lower Band 2 of the NHS pay scale, even though their duties often go beyond personal care tasks like feeding and bathing. They regularly carry out clinical responsibilities, such as patient observations and interventions, which should be recognized with appropriate pay.

Healthcare Support Workers across South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust have actively campaigned through UNISON. As a result, we have negotiated back pay and re-banding for healthcare staff performing similar clinical duties, moving them from Band 2 to Band 3. Moving from Band 2 to Band 3 is worth nearly £2000 a year and has been back dated to August 2021 for staff.

However, the same recognition has been unfairly withheld from our Rehabilitation Support Workers, who remain on Band 2. These frontline workers deserve fair pay for their skills, dedication, and the risks they face every day.

·        Re-band our Rehabilitation Support Workers from Band 2 to Band 3, reflecting their clinical duties and responsibilities.

·        Ensure fair pay, recognition, and support for staff who work in often challenging and unpredictable environments.

Please sign this petition to show your support for these vital workers. Together, we can demand that they are paid fairly and recognized for the critical role they play in patient care.