Review of Agenda for Change in NHS Scotland – Equality Impact Assessment
This EQIA has been prepared for the Review of Agenda for Change (AfC). As part of the 2023/24 pay deal, Scottish Government committed to a review of AfC. The review was conducted in collaboration with Scottish Government, Health Trade Unions (Staff Side) and NHSScotland Employers.
Framing
Results of framing exercise
A summary of engagement and data gathering is as follows:
- Consultation began with Staff Side and Employers on 19 January 2023.
- Review of Agenda for Change negotiations initiated with consultation from Staff Side and Employers (31 January 2023).
- Second Negotiations meeting with consultation from all partners (9 February 2023).
- Heads of Agreement confirmed with consultation from all partners at the third Negotiations meeting (16 February 2023).
- The Heads of Agreement and the Agenda for Change pay offer was unanimously accepted (21 March 2023).
- Received approval from the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care to proceed with the Review of Agenda for Change (May 2023).
- Partners involved in Working Groups approved by STAC (May 2023).
- Confirm Review of Agenda for Change project approach and deliver workshop (May 2023).
- Confirm Governance (May 2023).
- Gather data across all Health and Specialist Boards (May-Sept 2023).
- Establish Terms of Reference for Working Groups (June 2023).
- Data gathering: a range of evidence and sources on the numbers and statistics used to populate this framing exercise regarding people potentially affected by the policy (Sept-Oct 2023).
- Research on the Reduced Working Week impact across multiple countries Health Services indicates benefits to both Employees and Employers that include but not limited to: Productivity and service provision remaining the same or improved across the majority of trial workplaces; Increase in staff morale and job satisfaction; Improvements in Recruitment and Retention; Reduction in staff turnover absenteeism; Helping to address gender inequality and, Increase in worker wellbeing.
- Consultation feedback relating to potential impacts of the policies on equalities groups or under the Fairer Scotland Duty reviewed by the Working Groups, EQIA department and assessed in relation to evidence gathered (Oct 2023)
- Prepare recommendations to STAC Secretariat based on results consultations (Nov 2023).
- Present recommendations to STAC Secretariat (Nov 2023).
- Receive final approval from STAC Secretariat on approach and way forward (Nov 2023).
- Provide update to Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care and Director General (Nov 2023).
- Cabinet Secretary confirms implementation of AfC Review Recommendations would take effect from 1 April 2024 (1 March 2024).
- Adjust for any required amendments and agree on implementation and evaluation plans (March 2024).
- NHS Circular: PCS(AfC)2024/1 Protecting Learning Time for Agenda for Change Staff in NHSScotland is issued (21 March 2024) and re-issued (12 July 2024) to include clarification around the two-tier workforce).
- NHS Circular: PCS(AfC)2024/2 Reduction in the Working Week for Agenda for Change Staff in NHSScotland is issued (22 March 2024).
- NHS Circular: PCS(AfC)2024/3 Review of Band 5 Nursing Roles is issued (4 June 2024).
- NHS Circular: PCS(AfC)2025/1 Reduction in the Working Week for Agenda for Change Staff to 36 Hours is issued (18 February 2025).
- NHSScotland Health Boards completed outline plans for Reduction in the Working Week implementation (1 May 2025).
- NHS Circular: PCS(AfC)2024/2 Reduction in the Working Week for Agenda for Change Staff in NHSScotland was updated to include additional information to the FAQ (16 September 2025).
- NHSScotland Health Boards finalised full and final Implementation Plan (1 October 2025).
Extent/Level of EQIA required
As stated above, on the basis that these policies and processes, and associated supporting documents set the standard for employment practice for all NHS Boards in Scotland to follow, an overall EQIA was deemed appropriate for the four Agenda for Change Working Groups.
The evidence captured in the next section has been drawn from a broad range of sources.
Primarily evidence has been gathered from existing national data sets:
- NHSScotland Workforce data
- The Scottish Household Survey
- Labour market statistics
In addition to the protected characteristics as listed within the Equality Act 2010, wider socio-economic considerations were made as part of the Fairer Scotland Duty commitment.
Consultation Feedback
Whilst there was no general consultation undertaken for any of the protected characteristics, the working groups considered in the round during the review process.
Review of Agenda for Change negotiations commenced on 31 January 2023 and Staff Side consulted with members regarding the proposed Heads of Agreement. The second Negotiations meeting occurred on 9 February 2023 where Staff Side provided feedback from their consultation with members before confirming the final Heads of Agreement on 16 February 2023. The Heads of Agreement and the Agenda for Change pay offer was unanimously accepted on 21 March 2023.
Analysts have been consulted throughout this process regarding modelling with each of the four working groups and the data gathering exercise for each of the protected characteristics in the EQIA.
In addition, the outputs of the working groups have been agreed on a tripartite basis. All suggestions from the working groups were subject to review challenge by both STAC Secretariat and full STAC both of which include consideration of the protected characteristics and equality of treatment for all staff within the workforce.