§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if it is his policy that Community Health Council staff will not be made redundant until the Community Health Council has been formally abolished; [84068]
what guidance he plans to give employing authorities on making redundancy payments to Community Health Council staff; [84067]
if he will offer salary protection in cases where posts for the Clearing House staff are graded at salaries lower than those paid to Community Health Council staff; [84069]
what the total cost is of making all remaining Community Health Council staff redundant. [84066]
§ Mr. LammyThe Government takes the view that community health council (CHC) staff have valuable skills which are important to the smooth running of the national health service. We are working closely with the trade unions to ensure every action is being taken to support CHC staff to find suitable alternative employment. This includes the setting up of a clearing house system, training and careers interview facilities.
We are also currently working with the trade unions and other interested parties to develop a human resources (HR) framework which will provide support to CHC staff and managers. The HR framework will cover a variety of areas including employment options and the role of the clearing house system that will be 611W established to help CHC staff find employment in the NHS family and the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH).
The CPPIH has agreed to advertise all their vacancies through the clearing houses as well as in the national and local press. CHC staff applying for a post with the CPPIH who meet the specific job criteria would be guaranteed an interview.
The Government currently has no plans to make CHC staff redundant until all employment options have been fully considered. It is therefore not possible to give a redundancy cost at this time.
Redundancy terms for CHC staff, as strategic health authority (StHA) employees, are covered in Section 45 of the General Whitley Council Handbook or in accordance with the contract of employment for senior and general managers. A copy of the General Whitley Council Handbook is available in the Library.
Pay protection arrangements for those staff who find suitable alternative employment in a StHA are outlined in Section 48 of the General Whitley Council handbook.
Where CHC staff find suitable alternative employment in NHS trusts, trusts have the power to recognise previous service in the NHS.