What is the NHS AfC notice period for Band 5?

Usually 2 months on both sides in NHS trust contracts (6 to 8 weeks at some trusts). The AfC Terms and Conditions Handbook does not set notice periods by band, so your contract governs. Statutory notice under section 86 Employment Rights Act 1996 acts as a floor (one week from you once you have worked one month), and a 2-month contractual figure exceeds it.

Do NHS doctors follow Agenda for Change?

No. Doctors and dentists are on separate national contracts - the 2016 Junior Doctors Contract, the 2003 Consultant Contract and the 2021 SAS Contract. AfC covers most other NHS clinical and non-clinical staff (nurses, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, admin, estates, catering).

Where is the AfC notice figure defined?

In your contract of employment and your trust's local policy. The NHS Staff Council Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook (Agenda for Change) does not set notice periods by band; its Section 15 covers leave and pay for new parents, not notice. The figures in this table are the ones most trusts use. Section 86 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 sets the legal minimum underneath any contract.

What notice does a Very Senior Manager give?

Individually negotiated in the appointment contract. 6 months is typical. Some VSM contracts extend to 12 months, particularly for Chief Executives, Executive Medical Directors and Executive Directors of Finance.

Does AfC apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Yes but each nation has its own AfC handbook. NHSScotland, NHS Wales and HSC (Northern Ireland) each publish AfC-equivalent terms and conditions with the same band structure but small local variations in enhancements and specific clauses. Check the handbook for your nation.

NHS Agenda for Change Notice Table (2026): All Bands + Doctors

Full notice table

Band / Grade	Employee notice (typical)	Employer notice (contractual, typical)	Employer notice (statutory minimum)
Band 1	1 month	1 month	1 week (1 month to 2 years); then 1 week per full year, up to 12 weeks
Band 2	1 month	1 month	Same statutory floor
Band 3	1 month	1 month	Same statutory floor
Band 4	1 month	1 month	Same statutory floor
Band 5	2 months	2 months	Same statutory floor
Band 6	2 months	2 months	Same statutory floor
Band 7	2-3 months	2-3 months	Same statutory floor
Band 8a	3 months	3 months	Same statutory floor
Band 8b	3 months	3 months	Same statutory floor
Band 8c	3 months	3 months	Same statutory floor
Band 8d	3 months	3 months	Same statutory floor
Band 9	3 months	3 months	Same statutory floor
Junior Doctor (Foundation / Core / Speciality Training)	3 months	3 months	Statutory floor per ERA 1996 s.86
SAS Doctor (Specialty / Associate Specialist)	3 months	3 months	Statutory floor
Substantive Consultant	3 months (some 6)	3-6 months	Statutory floor
Clinical Director / Medical Director	3-6 months	3-6 months	Statutory floor
Very Senior Manager (VSM)	6 months typical	6 months	Statutory floor
Chief Executive	6-12 months	6-12 months	Statutory floor

Band figures are the ones most commonly found in NHS trust contracts and policies. Trusts differ: some use 4, 8 and 12 weeks instead of 1, 2 and 3 months, some put Band 7 with Bands 5-6 and others with Bands 8a-9, and some senior contracts set a longer period. Your contract is the document that decides.

How the Agenda for Change framework works

Agenda for Change (AfC) is the national terms and conditions framework for most NHS staff introduced in 2004. It replaced the pre-2004 patchwork of Whitley Councils and local contracts. AfC is negotiated nationally by the NHS Staff Council (unions plus employer representatives) and published as the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook.

The handbook covers pay bands (1-9), sick pay, annual leave, leave and pay for new parents, redundancy pay and unsocial hours enhancements. It does not set notice periods by band. Notice is one of the terms each trust sets in its contracts and local policy, which is why figures differ between trusts.

Contractual vs statutory notice

NHS notice is set at whichever is higher of:

The contractual figure in your contract of employment (set by your trust, not by band in the national handbook).
The statutory floor under section 86 Employment Rights Act 1996 (one week from one month of service, rising with tenure for the employer side).

With the typical figures above, the contractual notice is longer than the statutory floor for the employee-to-employer direction. In the employer-to-employee direction the statutory floor can bite for long-serving staff: from 5 years’ service it exceeds a 1-month contractual figure, from 9 years a 2-month figure, and from 12 years (12 weeks) a 12-week figure is matched.

Notice for excluded groups

Some NHS staff are not on AfC:

Doctors and dentists - separate contracts (2016 Junior Doctors Contract, 2003 Consultant Contract, SAS 2021 contract). See NHS doctors notice periods and NHS consultants notice periods.
Very Senior Managers (VSM) - individual contracts with individually negotiated notice (usually 6 months).
Executive board members - individual contracts with individually negotiated notice (usually 6-12 months).
Bank staff and locums - engagement-specific notice (often 24-48 hours to end an assignment).
Some Chaplains, Trust Fund employees - local terms.

Probation notice

Probation for AfC bands is usually 6 months. Notice during probation is often shorter than the substantive figure. Common patterns (check your contract):

Bands 1-4: 1 week during probation, typically 1 month on confirmation.
Bands 5-6: 1 month during probation, typically 2 months on confirmation.
Band 7: 1 month during probation, typically 2-3 months on confirmation.
Bands 8a-9: 1 month during probation, typically 3 months on confirmation.

See NHS probation period and probation period notice period for the framework.

Notice mechanics

Written resignation to the line manager copied to HR. Email accepted.
Notice runs from HR receipt date, in calendar months (not calendar-month boundaries).
ESR (Electronic Staff Record) will be updated by HR - check the leaver date is correct.
Final pay, accrued holiday and any owed enhancements paid in the next standard payroll run.
P45 issued within 30 days of leaving.
NHS pension record preserved; refund of contributions available if under 2 years scheme membership.
Return of ID badge, uniform, keys and any trust equipment on the final day.

Reciprocal calculators and guides

Direct links to the most-used calculators and band pages:

NHS notice period calculator - work out your final working day.
NHS Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 6, Band 7, Band 8a, Band 8b, Band 8c - band-specific guides.
NHS doctors notice periods.
NHS consultants notice periods.
NHS employment rights pillar.
NHS resignation guide.

Where the table might not apply

Trust-specific enhancements. Some trusts have negotiated longer notice for particular roles (Community NHS trusts and integrated care systems in particular). Check your contract.
Legacy contracts. Staff who transferred into AfC in 2004 may have preserved rights. Check the transfer letter and Occupational Pay Preservation arrangements.
Devolved arrangements. Scotland (Agenda for Change equivalent under NHSScotland), Wales (NHS Wales AfC) and Northern Ireland (HSC AfC) have similar but not identical frameworks. Local handbook applies.
Employed by GP practices or non-NHS employers. AfC does not apply; the private-employer contract does.

Useful calculators

Related NHS guides

Authority pages

Frequently asked questions

What is the NHS AfC notice period for Band 5?: Usually 2 months on both sides in NHS trust contracts (6 to 8 weeks at some trusts). The AfC Terms and Conditions Handbook does not set notice periods by band, so your contract governs. Statutory notice under section 86 Employment Rights Act 1996 acts as a floor (one week from you once you have worked one month), and a 2-month contractual figure exceeds it.
Do NHS doctors follow Agenda for Change?: No. Doctors and dentists are on separate national contracts - the 2016 Junior Doctors Contract, the 2003 Consultant Contract and the 2021 SAS Contract. AfC covers most other NHS clinical and non-clinical staff (nurses, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, admin, estates, catering).
Where is the AfC notice figure defined?: In your contract of employment and your trust's local policy. The NHS Staff Council Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook (Agenda for Change) does not set notice periods by band; its Section 15 covers leave and pay for new parents, not notice. The figures in this table are the ones most trusts use. Section 86 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 sets the legal minimum underneath any contract.
What notice does a Very Senior Manager give?: Individually negotiated in the appointment contract. 6 months is typical. Some VSM contracts extend to 12 months, particularly for Chief Executives, Executive Medical Directors and Executive Directors of Finance.
Does AfC apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?: Yes but each nation has its own AfC handbook. NHSScotland, NHS Wales and HSC (Northern Ireland) each publish AfC-equivalent terms and conditions with the same band structure but small local variations in enhancements and specific clauses. Check the handbook for your nation.

Sources and further reading

NHS Staff Council: Terms and Conditions Handbook — The AfC master document, updated annually.
NHS Employers: Agenda for Change — AfC framework reference.
Employment Rights Act 1996, section 86 — Statutory notice floor for all UK employees.
NHS Pensions — NHS pension scheme reference.
Royal College of Nursing: employment — Union guidance on NHS employment terms.

General information about NHS notice, not personal advice. For your situation, contact the NHS Staff Council, your trust HR or your professional body.