Shift work for nhs bank & agency staff
Many nurses, healthcare assistants, midwives and allied health professionals pick up bank shifts with their own trust or a bank such as NHS Professionals, and some also work through nursing agencies. Each one has its own booking system, rates, timesheet rules and pay date, which makes it easy to lose track of what's been paid.
How your pay works
- Bank rates are set by each trust or bank. Many follow Agenda for Change pay bands, and some add enhancements for nights, weekends and bank holidays. Check the rate card for each bank you work for.
- Bank shifts are often paid weekly or on a different cycle from your substantive salary, so a shift worked at the end of one month can appear a month later.
- Timesheets usually need to be approved on the bank's system before you're paid. If a shift isn't approved by the cut-off, it moves to the next pay run.
- Agency work through a nursing agency has its own rate and payroll. After 12 weeks in the same role with the same hirer, agency workers are entitled to the same basic pay and conditions as directly employed staff.
- If you have a substantive NHS job and bank shifts, your total hours count towards the 48-hour average working week.
What to keep a record of
- Each shift: ward or unit, trust or agency, start, finish, break
- The rate for each shift (day, night, weekend, bank holiday)
- Timesheet approved or not
- Which pay run it should appear in
- Paid, part-paid or missing
Get started
Not sure what the legal minimum is for your age? See the current minimum wage rates. With Shiftaan you can mark each shift paid, part-paid or disputed, and see what every employer still owes you. It's free for up to 3 companies.
Common questions
Do bank staff get paid more for nights and weekends?
It depends on the trust or bank. Many pay enhanced rates for unsocial hours, but there's no single national rule for bank work. Check the rate card for each bank you work with.
Why hasn't my bank shift been paid?
The most common reasons are a timesheet that wasn't approved before the cut-off, a shift booked under the wrong rate, or a different pay cycle. Check the approval status first, then raise it with the bank office with the date, ward and hours.
Can I do bank shifts at more than one trust?
Usually, yes. Keep an eye on your total hours and rest between shifts across every trust and agency, and check any rules in your substantive contract.