The first career pathway review for health and social care professionals (HSCPs) for 16 years is now underway, following agreement with Fórsa. In a recent update, the union’s Head of Health Éamonn Donnelly said the process was due to conclude within a year.

This is the time allotted to the HSE’s nine community health organisation (CHO) ‘learning sites,’ to which agreement on the review was linked.

The grades covered include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, social care workers, dietitians speech and language therapists and podiatrists.

 
The process, which started in the first week of July, will consider career progression against the background of changed working environments since 2003. It will take account of career structures, advanced practise, clinical specialisms and advancement from basic to senior grade.

Éamonn said the HSE was now also processing ‘In Charge 3’ claims for professionals whose claim was heard by the Labour Court. These will be paid with effect from September 2016.

The remaining ‘In Charge 3’ claims will either be conceded, or further clarification will be sought, by the end of August. Successful claims will be paid with effect from September 2018.

The HSE has also agreed to present draft terms of reference for the career pathway review “as a matter of priority,” after which a reviewer will be agreed and will commence work. The process will be overseen by a joint union-management group consisting of four seats from each side. Two of the seats on each side will be rotational to allow for inputs from different professions.

The union has also won approval for a separate strand of discussions on the effect of the CHO network proposal on primary care managers’ roles.

Éamonn said Fórsa aimed to enhance the role and the future of HSCP’s for many years to come. “The profession has to be an attractive proposition for students so that a gateway into the health service is needed. Then, a pathway of career progression is required for those who develop specialist knowledge, as well as a skills set that can see HSCPs becoming involved in the service planning and delivery of services,” he said.