Support workers launch petition for higher pay

Workers at Kendray Hospital in Barnsley would be paid about £2,000 more annually if they were moved up a pay band, Unison said

Rehabilitation support workers who are taking on "increasingly complex" tasks have gathered more than 1,800 signatures in support of a pay rise.

Unison said staff at Kendray Hospital in Barnsley had been carrying out duties above their pay grades, such as performing observations and clinical care work.

South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust has been giving back pay for extra tasks but has not adjusted workers' pay bands, and staff were still "barely scraping a living wage", according to union organiser Charlie Carruth.

The trust said it had been handling the dispute internally to "ensure that all voices are heard" and it was "committed to resolving grievances" with trade unions.

Unison said trust managers should move the workers from band two to three, which would be worth almost £2,000 annually.

'We care about our patients'

Mr Carruth said "hundreds" of other staff had been regraded and leaving rehabilitation support workers out "makes no sense".

"They're skilled professionals carrying out important jobs and the trust's refusal to pay them properly isn't on," he said.

Along with adjusting the pay band fairly, the petition asks the trust to ensure recognition and support for the staff.

Susie Massey, who has been a rehabilitation support worker for more than 20 years, said the staff "do the job because we care about our patients".

"We go into environments which are often unpredictable on our own to ensure they get the care and support they need," she said.

"We're simply asking to be paid properly for the work we do."

The trust said it valued its staff and recognised their "significant contributions" to NHS services.

"We remain committed to resolving grievances in partnership with our trade unions," it said.

It said an internal process was ongoing, which was "designed to ensure that all voices are heard and concerns are appropriately addressed".

"While this process may take time, it is important. We will continue to communicate openly with all parties involved," it added.

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