On Wednesday 29th February, Fórsa returned to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for an urgent engagement on the Career Pathway Review, after talks came to a standstill in the early part of February.

After a lengthy six-hour engagement, a further addendum to the WRC Agreements of the 4th September and 11th December was agreed and can be viewed here. 

National Secretary Linda Kelly welcomed the progress made but indicated there was more needed to be done by the HSE. “While the progress made in the WRC at our most recent engagement is welcome, the HSE need to arrive at a final resolution on the staff to senior pathway without delay. The recommendation in relation to this pathway was made by the independent chair in December 2020 and we cannot wait forever and a day for it to be implemented.”

“The HSE and funded agencies, are aware, but perhaps need to be more mindful that we are operating under the suspension of an industrial action following a very strong mandate from members in relation to the Career Pathway Review. The broader context is important here and this pathway is a key retention mechanism for HSCP staff in the eight professions. Fórsa are resolved to see this through to a conclusion”.

The eight health and social care professions are members working in dietetics, orthoptics, occupational therapy, podiatry, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, social care work, and social work within the HSE and HSE funded services.

A staff-to-senior career pathway has been a longstanding demand from the union. Proposals were agreed at the WRC in September and December 2023 following extensive engagement. These proposals built on the recommendation contained in the Career Pathway Review interim report published in 2020.
 
The most recent discussions focused on the bottoming out of the process already commenced in primary care, the appropriate pathway for social workers in primary care and the implementation of an equitable staff-to-senior pathway outside of primary care.
 
Fórsa secured agreement in relation to the grade progression from basic to senior social work in primary care, and the parties are in the final stages of agreeing a job description for social work in primary care.
 
Further engagement will now take place between the parties to reach agreement on the outstanding matters in the revised timelines agreed in the most recent addendum. 

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