Agenda for Change

OPTOMETRY AfC PROFILES

The complete family of Agenda for Change National Profiles for Optometry was published on 13th July 2005.

This family of profiles consists of:-

• Optometrist Entry Level (Band 4)
• Optometrist (Band 6)
• Optometrist Specialist (Band 7)
• Optometrist Principal (Band 8a/8b)
• Optometrist Consultant (Band 8c / 8d)

- Download pdf file for further details.

• Profiles for Professional Managers (Clinical, Clinical Technical Service) are also published.

- Download pdf file for further details.

There is also a family of profiles for orthoptists consisting of: -

• Orthoptist
• Orthoptist Specialist
• Orthoptist Advanced

- Download pdf file for further details.

KEY DOCUMENTS (which can be downloaded)

• HOC Document Preparing for Implementation - July 2004
• Job Evaluation Handbook (2nd Edition) -Aug 2004
• Job Evaluation Factors - Scores & Levels
• Job Analysis Questionaire (JAQ)
• Knowledge & Skills Framework (2nd Edition) - Aug 2004
• AfC Proposed Agreement - Sept 2004
• AfC Staff Booklet - Oct 2004
• AfC Terms & Conditions Handbook
• HOC KSF Information - Oct 2005
• AfC Job Evaluation Handbook Third Edition - Feb 2010

PLEASE ALSO CHECK YOUR OWN TRUST INTRANET FOR LOCAL INFORMATION

BACKGROUND

Historically NHS employees pay and terms and conditions were determined by General Whitley Council and 38 different functional Whitley Councils for different disciplines.
In March 1999 joint management/staff side discussions began on developing a new mechanism.

The requirement for a new pay system was driven by the need for the NHS to modernise, to manage equality issues and recognise the concept of equal work of equal value.

Pilot NHS Trusts (also known as early implementors) implemented Agenda for Change (abbreviated as AfC) with effect from 1st June 2003. The only Pilot NHS Trusts which employed Hospital Optometrists were City Hospitals NHS Trust (Sunderland) and Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust (Liverpool). The Agenda for Change process was not completed in the pilot Trusts before the other trust commence the AfC process.

Other NHS Trusts were instructed to begin the implement Agenda for Change for all posts between December 2004 and March 2005. Management intended that the the process would be completed by the end of September 2005. In practice the process has taken several years longer. Any pay increases/changes in terms conditions will be backdated to 1st October 2004.

Sample Job Descriptions:
Sample job descriptions have been prepared by HOC members intended to provide you with ideas for writing your own job description (JD) . They cover a range of posts at various levels. They are not definitive for the levels indicated in the job titles, as job titles may vary in different Trusts. NOTE: These Job Descriptions have not been assessed.

It is important to understand that this is not the only or necessarily the best way to write a JD. Each Trust will have its own template for a JD and may ask for yours in a different format, for example by including a separate Person Specification.

It is suggested that you read the AfC documents, most of which can be found in the Agenda for Change section. It is intended to add more samples as they become available.
If you would like a copy of these sample JDs please e-mail:
aptompkin@tompkin.org.uk

Information is also available from the DoH

Agenda for Change website and NHS Employers website