flexible working request example nhs

In the NHS flexible working is an arrangement which supports an individual to have a greater choice in when, where and how they work. This should alleviate and share some of the burdens and reduce the number of on-calls that everyone has to do. Alison is a paramedic and works three 13-hour shifts within a rota. We have updated our flexible working enablers for change to support employers to embed the key changes to section 33 of the NHS terms and conditions. Guide to making flexible working requests This flowchart has been designed to support both line managers and staff in the NHS understand the steps involved in making a request for a flexible working arrangement. They explained that this would suit their personal needs and ensure that there was reliable cover for the night shifts and give their colleagues more of the sought after early and day shifts. If your manager has not initially been able to agree your request, your employer should communicate this to you and discuss other alternatives including any opportunities for you to work flexibly elsewhere in your organisation. Since then, their organisation has been promoting flexible working as a benefit for all staff. Read your organisations flexible working policy. Kumar was able to agree to the compressed week, but with a compromise that as they were both supervisors, they couldn't both have a Friday off, as this left the team unsupported. Please note that the scenarios are for illustrative . Your employer must consider your whole request (including any appeal) within a maximum of 3 months of receiving the original request. Though Valerie wanted to support David, there were some initial concerns around David keeping their competencies and registration up to date. Your representative may have information on what happened when other staff members have requested shift changes. Flexible working arrangements help create a healthy work-life balance for employees and their families. Flexible working for NHS staff | The big issues | UNISON National Reena and Tim both wanted every Friday off and to work compressed hours over the other four days. Jos shares that they are currently one whole-time equivalent(WTE) person down and have interviews planned this week. Your employer canrefuse your requeston the grounds that it does not make good business sense. These scenarios have been developed to guide you through the different circumstances relating to flexible working. This monitoring information is anonymous. Some stories from the frontline, of what has been agreed and how much it has changed NHS workers lives, are here to give you some inspiration. Devin and their manager Bethany explore the types of shifts that might suit. If you are not sure or have any questions, speak to your local HR team or trade union representative to seek advice and guidance. Refusal of a flexible working application could, in some circumstances, be discriminatory. Salary and benefits are divided according to the hours worked, Specific weeks only e.g. Please contact usfor further advice. Asking for flexible working: Making a flexible working request - Acas David likes to work nights as it suits their lifestyle and the increased enhancements are important to them. This review will again discuss how it is working and whether anything has changed, such as childcare or the teams availability. Whilst this was workable before, they are now in a different position with no one to take care of the children overnight. The NHS Staff Council has developed a range of FAQs to help employers embed the new contractual flexible working provisions. If so, please contact us. It is a change of department, but would be an excellent opportunity for them, as the location is closer to their home address. Business Reasons to consider following a request to work flexibly Guidance Document 1 TYPES AND BENEFITS OF FLEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS Flexible working covers a wide range of options offering the employee flexibility in arranging work-life balance. Guidance and resources on the implementation of new contractual provisions for flexible working which became effective from 13 September 2021. This flowchart accounts forthechanges to section 33 of the NHS Terms and Conditions Handbook,which has been updatedas part of the wider NHS People Promise work which calls for the NHS to work more flexibly. This should be the same for stretch and promotion opportunities. Flexible working | RCN Magazines | Royal College of Nursing However,check your local policy to see if an appeals stage is included. This should alleviate and share some of the burdens and reduce the number of on-calls that everyone has to do. Q If I am already working flexibly, can I put in another request? During the meeting, it becomes apparent that it isn't the on-calls that are the actual issue, rather than their timing. Valid reasons for the refusal of all or part of a requestare: Hopefully your application will be successful but if not, you may be called to a formal meeting to discuss your application. However, if this is not agreeable, then I would be happy for my working pattern to be 9am to 5pm on Monday and 9am to 3pm Tuesday to Friday so that this request causes as little disruption to the business as possible. If on-call duties form part of the job-plan and changes may involve a consultation process such a job-plan review for each of the individuals impacted by the changes. If you want to start working flexibly on your return to work from maternity leave, it is worth thinking about the time frames set out in your local policy. Kumar agreed that the timings would still enable the relevant tasks to be undertaken. Please be aware that if the change is permanent, you will have no automatic right to revert to the previous pattern of work. Your employer can ask you for more time to make a decision, but only if you agree. The NHS Staff Council has developed a range of FAQs to help employers embed the new contractual flexible working provisions. If you are not a solicitor, you are advised to obtain specific legal advice about your case or matter and not to rely solely on this information. You have the legal right to request flexible working if you have been an employee with 26 weeks (six months) of continuous employment at the time you make an application. I have already requested parental leave to cover the first month when she is on half days, so I would like the new working pattern to come into force on 1st October 2019. The first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan was commissioned by the government to set out a series of interventions train, retain and reform the workforce, and put the NHS on a sustainable footing into the future. 24/7 workplace. Alison is working towards a degree at night college on a Tuesday night, and likes to use the day afterwards to study. Rae also cares for their elderly mother, who has dementia. Applying for flexible working - Citizens Advice The agreement also removes limits on the number of requests that can be made and strengthens the processes employers must use when considering requests. The definition supports a shared understanding of what flexible working means and the principles guide the ethos and values we want the NHS to aspire to when it comes to flexible working. From the 13 September 2021 all NHS employees in England and Wales have the right to request flexible working from day one of their employment and make more than one request per year. Examples of kinds of flexible working that you can request include: reducing your hours to work part-time changing your start and finish times having flexibility with your start and finish time (sometimes known as 'flexitime') doing your hours over fewer days ('compressed hours') working from home or elsewhere ('remote working') Option one being that Rae works compressed hours four days a week working 9.5 hours each day extending their finish time until later in the evening. ], [If you are unable to commit to a permanent contractual change, I would be happy to agree to a trial period of [ 3/ 6 ] months so that the business can properly assess if it is a viable option.] 04727690). Another option (if both parties agree) is to useACAS Arbitration Servicefor England, Wales and Scotland. Q) I have a disability and need flexible working as a reasonable adjustment, whats the best way to ask for this? If your application is refused you should be able to discuss your request if there is new information that was not available at the time of the original decision, or if you feel that the application was not handled in line with your employers policy. Downloads can only be accessed using a UHB networked device. Kelly is a consultant and has recently split up from their partner, leaving them with solo parenting responsibilities. Please share as much detail as possible including: how long youve had a flexible working arrangement in place; how you found the process of requesting to work flexibly; the impact on your work-life balance; obstacles you faced getting your request approved etc. For many years the NHS has had to rely on demand and . Applying for flexible working should be a straightforward process butthere are a number of key areas to consider. If you are unable to commit to a permanent contractual change, I would be happy to agree to a trial period of 3 months effective from the date of 1 October 2019 so that the business can properly assess if it is a viable option. This type of flexibility was new to Tinas team, so they reached out to other teams where term-time only working was embedded to gain insight and good-practice principles. Alison shares that the unpredictability with the rota is causing them stress and explains about their studies. Flexible working | NHS Employers In addition, if you are concerned that you are being treated less favourably for any other reason, you may be protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. If you have the support of your colleagues it is much easier to put in a strong request, as it is likely your team will need to show some flexibility to accommodate you. Following on from this meeting, Rae reaches out to their manager, sharing the stress that they have been under. the burden of additional costs is unacceptable to the organisation, inability to reorganise work amongst existing staff, the employer considers the change will have a detrimental impact on quality, the employer considers the change will have a detrimental impact on the businesss ability to meet customer demand. The NHS People Plan sets out an ask for the NHS Staff Council to work alongside NHS England to develop guidance to support employers to make flexible working a reality for our NHS people. Flexible working letter templates They had much higher energy levels in the afternoon and evening. This page details guidance from the NHS Staff Council on contractual issues arising from certain forms of flexible working. UNISON will store your information securely and never share it or use it for any other purpose. Other common variations include: part-time working, flexi-time, job sharing and shift working. Option two - Helen offered to support Rhys to apply for any of the other roles HCSW that will provide them with the flexibility they require right now. Yumana then shares how their current team makes it work highlighting that the weeks that they are not available can be inputted into the rotas over a year in advance, which works well in their current team. However,check your local policy to see if an appeals stage is included. Tell us about how you are supporting flexible working. If you are employed by a private contractor and work on NHS premises, you will need to check your employers flexible working provisions. As a manager they needed to ensure that the work was being completed and wanted to establish what activities had to be in the office or could be completed from home to ensure work is effectively and appropriately delivered. If you aresubjected to any detriment (for example, bullying) or are dismissed by youremployers becauseof exercising your right to make a statutory application for time off, or for flexible working, you might be able tobring a claim in an employment tribunal. Guidance. It would mean an extra two to three day shifts available for the rest of the team, and potentially decrease the absence levels on the night shifts. If you work for the NHS, you may find their guidance for both staff and managers to be helpful. Having a clear appeal process can also help avoid a workplace grievance. It takes into account changes to the NHS Terms and Conditions Handbook that come into effect on 13 September 2021. During theCOVID-19pandemic, you may already have been able to work from home. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. For example, working your hours over four days instead of five, Working from home working some or all of your work patterns at home, Job share a form of part-time working where one full-time role is shared between two members of staff. By doing this you will be helping us to make flexible working a reality for more of our members working in the NHS. Flexible working in the NHS | NHS Employers These are also booked during traditional office daytime hours. For example, they could change some of their responsibilities, work fewer contracted hours, or move to a role that requires less from them. The RCN recommends using an updated browser such as Q How long does my flexible working request take to be decided? Priority for non-negotiable requests will be based on an alphabetical list that will be rotated each month. You should also have the chance to discuss your work/life balance through your health and wellbeing conversations. Devin is a housekeeper/domestic and works set shift patterns to support when and where the wards need to be cleaned, and these have been in place for several years. Joe shares, during a team meeting, how you can record your cCarer status on the ESR system and that the network is available to support carers in the organisation. You can visit the Labour Relations Agency or call their helpline Workplace Information Service on 03300 555 300. c/o Buzzacott LLP130 Wood StreetLondonEC2V 6DL, Helpline for parents & carers+44 (0) 0300 012 0312, Press enquiriespress@workingfamilies.org.uk, Administrative queriesoffice@workingfamilies.org.uk, * Please do not use this box to ask for advice or leave any personal information. My current working pattern is Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5 pm, with one hours lunch per day (28h). The request can cover hours of work, times of work and place of work and may include requests for different patterns of work. Working full-time hours but over fewer days. As Karen was a new starter, it was agreed with Naveen that they would be available to support Karen on their flexi-time days between 5pm-7pm. As you implement flexible working conversationsinto your organisation, please get in touch and share your good practice with us. They would still need to come to the office on a rotation with the other team members, so that everyone covers the in-office requirement fairly over a month. Follow your local organisations procedure for flexible working applications. So rather than working Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, you might choose a flexible work option, such as: Flexitime. The team review the shifts they are short for and discuss whether any of the team would prefer to work them.
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