§ Baroness Michie of Gallanachasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to the 2000 Equal Value case between speech and language therapists and clinical psychologists, and to the loss of comparability between those professions under Agenda for Change; and [HL1650]
Whether the job profiles for speech and language therapists will be reviewed if the outcome at early implementer sites confirms the loss of comparability between speech and language therapists and clinical psychologists. [HL1651]
§ Lord WarnerThe speech and language therapists' pay and grade structure introduced in 2000 recognised the need to review the arrangements in the light of the proposed new National Health Service pay system. Under Agenda for Change basic pay will be based on a job evaluation framework developed in partnership with the NHS trade unions to ensure fairness and consistency.
The applicability of all nationally agreed job profiles is being tested as part of the early implementer stage.
§ Baroness Michie of Gallanachasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made any projection of the impact on the National Standards Framework for Older People, especially with regard to stroke care, if Agenda for Change results in a significant number of speech and language therapists leaving the National Health Service; and [HL1652]
Whether they have made any projection of the impact of Agenda for Change on the provision of speech and language therapy services in rural areas, given that experienced generalist therapists providing these services will be excluded from higher salary levels. [HL1653]
§ Lord WarnerAgenda for Change has been developed in partnership with National Health Service staff organisations to deliver to NHS staff a fair and flexible employment framework that supports career development and offers greater rewards for those who take on extended roles. The new system includes flexibility for NHS employers to apply recruitment and retention premia where necessary on top of basic pay. We do not expect the new system to have any adverse impact on delivering either the national service framework for older people or services in rural areas. Our information suggests that there will be 100 per cent compliance with the national service framework for older people 2004 milestone.