Data NHS England is collecting

All providers in scope are expected to be able to provide this information. However, as this is a new data collection, it is acknowledged that some providers may not yet have fully developed data monitoring systems. There is an expectation that providers will align with the requirements of the job evaluation data collection over time.

To support data quality during this transition, providers have the option to indicate where job description volumes and review data are estimated.

To support benchmarking, workforce data will be drawn down centrally by NHS England from the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This will provide comparator data to assess job evaluation activity volumes across the system.

A summary is provided below to outline the key elements of phase 1 of the data collection.

Additional details on the job evaluation metrics requested, including submission requirements and data validation criteria, are provided in Annex 1.

Providers will confirm key statements (either as yes/no) in relation to awareness of and/or action taken on:

• Secretary of State’s 23 April 2025 written ministerial statement
• appointment of a Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) or sponsor to oversee the JE process.
• the Nursing and Midwifery profile review, and prioritising review of nursing and midwifery job descriptions
• NHS Staff Council’s guidance  Action needed on job evaluation outcomes for nursing and midwifery staff, including Appendix 1, which informs a forthcoming national audit
• NHS England’s 30 May 2025 JE letter to boards

Total number of nursing and midwifery job descriptions currently in use, broken down by band (5, 6, 7, 8a and above).

Of these, the number of job descriptions reviewed in:

• the last 3 years
• the last 12 months

Total number of nursing and midwifery staff whose job descriptions have been reviewed within the past 12 months, broken down by band (5, 6, 7, and 8a and above).

Of those reviewed, the number of cases resulting in:

• an increase in band
• a decrease in band
• no change to the band

The Assessment of JE Practices Audit is a mandated annual collection, commencing in April 2026. Returns will be submitted via the Data Collections Framework (DCF) portal, alongside the nursing and midwifery JE metrics for the relevant reporting quarter.

The audit has been developed and agreed by the NHS Staff Council to support NHS organisations in reviewing the robustness, governance and partnership delivery of their local job evaluation arrangements.

All providers in scope are expected to be able to provide this information.

The audit builds on guidance to support the publication of updated profiles for nursing and midwifery but applies to all staff employed under the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system.

A statement confirming that the assessment has been completed in partnership will form part of the submission process.

The audit consists of 21 questions covering JE organisational governance, partnership arrangements, training and resources, panel capacity, timeliness, monitoring arrangements and record-keeping.

Questions are presented in 3 formats:

• RAG-rated assessments against defined criteria (e.g., in relation to governance arrangements, panel composition and training provision)
• yes/no responses on areas such as partnership processes and adherence to the JE Handbook
• numeric entries, including the number of active JE panel practitioners and staff-side panellists

Further details on the JE practices audit metrics requested, including submission requirements and data validation criteria, are provided in Annex 2.