BSW Hospitals Group Bank - Frequently Asked Questions

Joining or leaving

What is the process for this transfer?

Firstly, the Trust will assist by sharing certain details with Bank Partners. During June & July, the Bank Partners team will contact you via email to:

- Confirm your personal details
- Collect your bank account details
- Request a copy of your Right to Work documentation
- Provide you with a copy of the new Terms and Conditions

Details of how to provide this information will be within the email, we will also share the dates of our virtual and in-person drop-in sessions where you can come for help with registering or to ask any questions you may have.

This process ensures a smooth transition and that all necessary information is up to date.

To continue working bank shifts at BSW Hospitals Group, start your fast-track registration here.

How will my bank details be collected?

We will request this information via email using a secure dual authentication process to ensure your data is protected. Look out for your email from Join.BSW@bankpartners.co.uk, this will be sent to you once you have completed the initial sign up link.

How do agency workers join the bank?

Agency workers looking to become part of the BSW Hospitals Group Bank will be able to initiate their application process by reaching out to us. For detailed guidance and support, please contact us via email at Join.BSW@bankpartners.co.uk and we will assist you with every step of the application.

What happens if I choose not to transfer?

If you decide not to onboard onto the BSW Hospitals Group Bank, your bank posting and grade will be closed. You can continue to work bank shifts up until 31 July 2026, but you will no longer be eligible to book or work any bank shifts after that date.

How do I request my P45 if I decide to leave the Bank?

Should you decide you no longer wish to be considered for shifts with Great Western Hospitals, Royal United Hospitals or Salisbury NHS Trust, your payroll team will assist with sending your P45 to you and you will not have to complete the short onboarding process to join BSW Hospitals Group Bank.

Pay

Will my pay change?    

No, your pay will remain the same. The rates for each banding will continue to match those set by the Trust.

How will tax be managed under the new provider e.g. PAYE vs umbrella/self-employed?

Workers will be paid as PAYE.

Will there be any changes to pay rates or incentives?

Any changes to pay rates, including escalations or incentives, will continue to be determined directly by the Trust.

How will I receive my payslip?

Payslips will be available through the Bank Partners portal. You’ll receive your individual login details once you have completed the short onboarding process. Please note that both your payslip and payment will come from Pulse Healthcare Ltd.

Who should I contact if I have questions about my Tax/ NI / Student loan deductions?

If you need assistance with understanding or managing your Tax, NI, or Student Loan deductions at BSW Hospitals Group Bank, our Payroll Team is ready to provide the necessary support. Please email Join.BSW@bankpartners.co.uk.

Will weekend, bank holiday and night enhancements continue?

Yes. All Agenda for Change enhancements remain unchanged.

Will future Agenda for Change pay rises still apply?

We expect them to apply, as pay awards are determined by the Trust/NHS, not by Bank Partners.

Will holiday pay continue?

Yes, this will continue; however, the current rate of 12.07% will change to 15.56% after 1 August 2026.

Is sick pay available?

Yes, workers will be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

Will staff retain access to previous NHS payslips after the transfer?

Payslips will be available to view for up to 90 days. Please access and download everything you need for your own records within this timeframe.

Shifts

How do I book a shift?

The fastest and easiest way to book shifts is via the LOOP app. Until the 1st of August, if you need any support in booking shifts please continue to liase with your current temporary staffing bookings team.

How do I cancel a shift?

Until the 1st of August, you should continue to cancel shifts via your current route.

What should I do if my shift has not been finalised?

For finalising your shift at BSW Hospitals Group Bank, please contact the respective department where you worked. It's important to follow local procedures on signing in and confirming your hours for verification.

Can I continue to book shifts for after 1st August 2026?

Yes you can continue booking future shifts to take place after the 1st August 2026 launch date in the same way you do now.

Applications

How will I be updated on the status of my application?

As you progress through your application to join the BSW Hospitals Group Bank, we'll keep you well-informed. Expect to receive timely updates on your application status via email. We'll provide you with clear information at each step, so you're always aware of your application's progress and inform you you of any upcoming requirements.

Where can I find the current open vacancies?

You will be able to stay informed about the newest job openings at BSW Hospitals Group Bank by visiting the Bank Partners portal. Bank workers will be granted access to this portal closer to the launch of the bank on 1st August 2026.

Compliance

How will mandatory training be managed and recorded?

Bank Partners will manage and record mandatory training via our Espirita Learning training platform. Practical sessions will be delivered at local venues in proximity to the hospitals, and workers will be reminded and supported 60 days before any training expires to ensure they are enrolled and booked onto a course. Core Skills for Health training is covered; role-specific training must be completed either externally or via host Trust requirements (as applicable).

Will staff need to repeat training or will records transfer across?

Training records will be shared as part of the implementation. Bank Partners will work with all bank workers to identify and close any gaps and to keep records up to date. To avoid delays at go-live, workers should be compliant before moving over so training does not lapse.

Who is responsible for ensuring training compliance under the new provider?

Bank Partners will manage overall compliance. Workers are responsible for completing required training before it expires; if training lapses, workers will be restricted from booking shifts until compliance is updated.

How will Trust-specific training (e.g. resuscitation) be delivered?

Practical training (for example, basic life support, moving and handling) will be booked through the Espirita Learning training platform and delivered at local venues near the hospitals via the practical training supplier, Healthier Business. Once final details of where this will be delivered is agreed it will be shared with all bank workers.

How will managers access training records for governance purposes?

Training is managed by Bank Partners. If managers need training-record updates for governance, they can request this via the operations team.

Will a new DBS check be required?

DBS checks will be valid for 3 years (or annually if held on the update service). DBS information will be requested to transfer over as part of the implementation and DBS’s will be required for update upon expiry. Bank Partners will work with all bank workers to close any gaps or put them through a DBS check where required.

Do I have to work a minimum number of shifts to remain active on the Bank?

To remain active on the bank, you are required to work shifts. If you do not work a shift in 6+ months, your record will be archived from the system. If you wish to undertake shifts after you have been archived, our team will support you through the onboarding process. If you are on long-term sick leave or maternity leave, your account can be protected, and you will need to advise our bookings team so that it can be reactivated prior to you returning.

How do I update my bank details, address or contact details?

The processes to be followed will be shared with all workers closer to our 1st August launch date.

How do I claim sick pay, maternity or paternity pay?

The processes to be followed will be shared with all workers closer to our 1st August launch date.

Do staff have to pay for mandatory training?

No. Mandatory training is free. You may be charged for late cancellations in order to re-book.

Will training continue through trust training departments?

Where possible, yes. Otherwise Bank Partners will provide training at local venues.

Will workers be paid for both online and practical training?

We are waiting on trust decisions and will update once confirmed.

For midwives, will courses or study days still be supported for subjects such as fetal surveillance or PROMPT?

Yes. All role-specific courses will still be supported locally. Bank Partners will support both practical and eLearning courses aligned to the Core Skills Training Framework.

Transfer process

Will staff retain NHS email accounts and access to systems such as Teams?

Yes, staff will retain their NHS email accounts and access to Trust systems required to fulfil your role.

Will access to internal platforms (e.g. learning systems. Dictation systems) continue?

Your access will be maintained as required to fulfil your role.

What happens to existing system logins and access?

Access will be maintained as required to fulfil your role.

Will additional training be required for different IT systems across sites?

Where different sites use different IT systems, any required system training and how it will be delivered will be communicated in advance. Access to systems for workers will remain the same to support fulfilling your role.

Will there be any changes to uniforms?

No. Trust uniforms will be retained, and these will continue to be provided by the Trust.

Will staff still have access to employee benefits (e.g. discounts, self-referral services)?

Eligibility for some employee benefits will remain, including Blue Light card for example. From the 1st August, access to benefits will be made available to workers. Bank Partners also have their own Occupational Health service for workers to access as Trusts will no longer be providing these services for workers.

Will expenses e.g. travel for roles such as Hospital at Home still be reimbursed?

Where expenses are agreed by managers, this will still be paid at the Trust rates.

When are the drop-in sessions, and does everyone have to attend?

Bank Partners are hosting a series of drop-in sessions across all three trusts. Attendance is optional and designed to help you understand more about the process and ask any questions you may have. A full list of the dates, times and locations can be found here.

Should I use a personal or NHS email address to register?

This is a personal choice. Bank Partners have begun communicating with all bank workers via the email address supplied to us from the Trust. If you wish to use a different email address to register, please do so. Should you wish to change the email address you use to manage your bank work, please email Join.BSW@bankpartners.co.uk to request this.

Working arrangements

Will community staff still be based at the same locations?

Yes. Community staff will continue to be based at their current locations, with no changes to their usual place of work.

Are staff covered by trust indemnity?

Yes, while working under trust policies and procedures, you are covered whilst on shift. Personal indemnity insurance is recommended but not mandatory.

Can staff work in multiple trusts?

Yes, after obtaining the relevant access and inductions.

Will community staff still receive mileage payments?

Yes. Mileage payments will continue to be paid in line with the current policy, with no changes to the existing rates.

Is mileage paid when choosing to work elsewhere?

No, mileage is not payable if you choose to work elsewhere.

How many shifts, or how often, am I required to work to remain on the bank?

At least one shift every six months.

If you are a substantive worker, how many bank hours can you work?

If you have not opted out of the Working Time Directive, you can work up to 48 hours in total across substantive and bank hours. If you opt out, you can work up to 60 hours, or the maximum set by your trust’s policy (typically 56 or 60 hours).

Do arrangements differ for staff who only work bank?

Arrangements are mostly the same, but compliance responsibilities differ. The Trust will manage the ongoing maintenance for training and DBS for substantive staff who also work bank, while Bank Partners will support this for bank-only workers.

If I am on the bank and would like to work at another hospital within the BSW Hospitals Group, will I need to be recruited onto that bank and complete full inductions

No, you will not need to go through the full recruitment process again. However, you will need to inform Bank Partners so that the appropriate system access on LOOP can be arranged. You will also be required to complete any local induction requirements specific to the Trust.

Will staff continue booking shifts the same way?

Yes. HealthRoster/Optima processes remain unchanged.

Can managers still arrange last-minute cover directly?

Yes. The process will remain the same.

Can wards still directly book me as a bank worker, or do I need to go through Bank Partners? Has the process changed for booking shifts?

Yes, they can. The process will remain the same: wards can book you into a shift, you can self-book via LOOP, and the Bookings team will also be on hand to support with queries and bookings.

Is compensation provided for late cancellations?

Yes, where cancelled with less than two hours’ notice.

Will shift lengths change?

No, they remain as currently operated by the Trust.

Can staff apply for other bank/admin roles?

Yes, through the portal and bookings team.

Can admin staff move into higher-band roles?

Yes, through approval or vacancy processes.

Will there be disruption to existing bookings during transfer?

No significant disruption is expected.

Can staff use personal email addresses when completing the Fast Track onboarding process?

Yes, staff can use a personal email address to complete the Fast Track onboarding process.

Is a new induction required?

No. An additional induction will not be required. Staff will receive a handbook.

Who should staff contact with queries?

Bank Partners provide dedicated email, portal and phone support. Please email Join.BSW@bankpartners.co.uk with any queries ahead of 1 August. Key contact details will also be provided in a handbook one week prior to 1 August to help direct queries to the appropriate person or team.

Will Bank Partners have staff on site?

Yes, alongside a central support team.

Pensions

Can I still pay into my NHS Pension?

No. You will be automatically enrolled into the Bank Partners Pension 12 weeks after you start working through the BSW Hospitals Group Bank. It is a requirement for us to auto enrol all workers after 12 weeks. The 12 week period begins from when you recevie your first payment. Should you wish to opt out after this time you can contact the Peoples Pension directly on 0300 2000 555 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-6pm) to do so.

Can I opt out of pension contributions? What is the process?

Should you decide to opt out of pension contributions, please contact People's Pension directly, via their website (https://www.peoplespension.co.uk/) or by calling 0300 2000 555.

How do I request pension contribution refunds?

For this and any further information about the pension scheme, please contact People's Pension directly, via their website (https://www.peoplespension.co.uk/) or by calling 0300 2000 555.

Will staff be automatically enrolled into a pension?

Yes, staff will be enrolled into Bank Partners' pension scheme, provided by People’s Pension, after eligibility requirements are met.

What are the employee and employer contribution rates for People’s Pension?

Contributions are 5% employee and 3% employer on pensionable earnings between £120 and £967 weekly.

Can staff contribute to NEST or another scheme instead of People’s Pension?

No. The pension for Bank Partners payroll is People’s Pension, and payments cannot be processed for NEST.

I have other questions about pensions; how can I get support?

For further information about the pension scheme, please contact People's Pension directly, via their website (https://www.peoplespension.co.uk/) or by calling 0300 2000 555.

Where can I find out more about People's Pension and the benefits?

You can find out more at the People's Pension website: https://www.peoplespension.co.uk/