Unite in Health update on Annex 31
A Unite in Health reps update on the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme/Agenda for Change - Annex 31
On 1 April 2026 a new annex to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, Annex 31, was published relating to the requirements of the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme (NHS JES).
The publication of this annex is one part of a programme of work asked for by trade unions and committed to by the government to restore confidence in and build local capacity to improve job evaluation practice across the NHS.
At this event lead professional officer Dave Munday updated reps on Annex 31 and discussed how this could be used locally. He was joined by Paul Smith (Unite representative on the NHS Staff Council Job Evaluation Group) during a question and answer session. The Q&A session was not recorded but information about the topics covered are available in the FAQs below.
Watch the Unite in Health reps update ↓
FAQs | Annex 31 questions and answers from the Unite rep's session
Yes. Download a copy of the Annex 31 presentation [PDF].
Yes, you can watch the presentation embedded on this page or directly on YouTube.
Yes. Annex 31 is a part of the NHS terms and conditions of service (TCS) for Agenda for Change handbook. There is more information about the launch of the annex and the FAQs mentioned in the presentation - Annex 31 handbook.
It’s not surprising that some trusts will want to suggest that staff have less rights than they do. If they are under the Agenda for Change agreement, the scheme, all elements of it, must be followed. It is important the local staff sides push back against any undermining of the agreement. If you are facing such problems locally, please contact your Unite regional officer to discuss further.
The NHS Job Evaluation Handbook (Chapter 3, section 5) gives information about how new roles should be treated. It includes an often ignored element, the requirement to allow the job to ‘bed down’ and once the full demands of the post are clear, the post-holder and/or their manager should review the job description and, if any changes are made to it, the job evaluation outcome must be reassessed using the matching or evaluation procedure as appropriate. The handbook highlights that “the application of the reassessed job evaluation outcome would normally be backdated to the start date of the new job”.
NHS Employers have provided advice on how to write good job descriptions on their website.
The work on and around Annex 31 includes a requirement to properly resource job evaluation locally. Work has been done to develop an auditing process that should uncover problems with capacity. This process should be completed in partnership so one side cannot provide a ‘rose-tinted’ view on progress being made.
The only training courses that staff side should be supporting is that delivered by the NHS Staff Council. Further information is available from the NHS Employers website.
JEG has produced guidance on AI which includes the following statements: “AI must not be used to make decisions or determine the band outcome of roles in any job evaluation processes. AI, machine learning or other digital solutions cannot replace the panel processes required in the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme as outlined in the NHS Job Evaluation Handbook.”
There is currently guidance in the NHS Job Evaluation Handbook on where these can be used in very limited situations and with recommended safeguards in place (JE handbook - chapter 3, section 8.4). Unite however does not support the use of any third-party consultants and encourages their use to be resisted/refused.