Agenda for Change bands for HCAs
In England, the 2026/27 pay award took Band 2 to £25,272 a year (about £12.92 an hour on a 37.5-hour week). Band 3 starts at £25,760 and rises to £27,476 at the top of the band. Wales has adopted the same award, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own pay scales.
Band 2 or Band 3?
Band 2 is meant for personal care. If you regularly do clinical tasks such as taking blood, recording ECGs, doing observations and acting on the results, or caring for wounds, your job may match the Band 3 profile.
Over the last few years, unions have campaigned for HCAs doing this work to be re-banded, and many trusts have moved staff to Band 3, some with back pay. If you think you're doing Band 3 duties, keep a list of the clinical tasks you do and talk to your union rep or manager.
Unsocial hours and bank shifts
Agenda for Change adds an unsocial hours enhancement for nights, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, worked out as a percentage of your basic rate. The percentages are higher for the lower bands, so they make up a bigger share of an HCA's pay than a senior nurse's.
NHS England has told trusts to stop using agencies for healthcare support worker shifts, so most extra HCA shifts now go through trust banks. Bank shifts are often paid weekly or on a different cycle from your salary, and enhancements on bank shifts depend on each trust's rate card.
A worked example
On Band 2's basic rate of about £12.92, a 12.5-hour day shift with a 1-hour unpaid break pays about £148.58 before enhancements. The same shift on a Sunday attracts the Sunday enhancement on top, so check the Sunday hours appear as their own line on your payslip.
Track it shift by shift
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
What band is a healthcare assistant?
Usually Band 2 or Band 3 in the NHS. Band 3 roles include more clinical tasks such as bloods, ECGs and observations.
Can I get back pay if I've been doing Band 3 work?
Some trusts have agreed back pay after re-banding reviews. Speak to your union or HR with a list of the tasks you do.
Do bank HCAs get unsocial hours pay?
It depends on the trust's bank rate card. Many pay enhancements for nights and weekends, but check each one.