Voluntary redundancy scheme frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions - Outcomes from Voluntary Redundancy

(Updated 9 April)

My application was supported, what happens next?

This document outlines your voluntary redundancy settlement agreement process.

You will receive your settlement agreement from Capsticks within 5 to 10 working days of your outcome being confirmed. It will come from this email address NHSMAT@Capsticks.com

You will be provided with clear instructions to support your understanding of the process. You are asked to review and return the settlement agreement within 10 calendar days of receipt.

The password for your settlement agreement is: VNMQMW-HHYYWV

What will be my leaving date and final redundancy payment?

Your period of notice will be set out within the settlement agreement. We recognise that the NHS Pay Award has been applied to our salaries from 1 April 2026 and your leaving date will soon be agreed once the settlement agreement is returned and signed. These changes mean that a revised redundancy calculation will be provided to you before your leaving date; this is likely to be greater than the redundancy estimate figure already provided. In the unlikely situation that this figure reduces a new settlement agreement will be provided to you for review.

Why do I need to get legal advice?

For a settlement agreement to be legally valid, you are required to obtain independent legal advice before signing it. For your convenience, the Trust has arranged for Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, an independent firm, to be available to provide such advice. You are under no obligation to instruct this firm and may choose any suitably qualified independent adviser. If you do choose to instruct Womble Bond Dickinson, the Trust will contribute £500 (plus VAT) towards your legal fees in connection with that advice, in accordance with the terms set out in the agreement.

How do I access Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP if I chose to use them?

Please contact them directly on dptadvice@wbd-uk.com

I have decided to instruct a suitably qualified independent adviser - How do I reclaim the up to £500 (plus VAT) towards my legal fees?

Please contact the VR inbox and confirm the name and full details of the qualified independent adviser you wish to use. If they are already an approved supplier to the Trust we can receive an invoice directly.

If they are not an existing approved supplier, you can either pay directly and reclaim through expenses - or we will need to set them up as a new supplier.

How do I notify you if I secure a new appointment with a new employer? (as per section 8 of the settlement agreement)

Please write to the VR Inbox, confirming the name of your new employer, role and start date.

Where can I get financial advice from?

Decisions which impact on pension arrangements and financial situations are extremely important individual decisions.

We would therefore strongly encourage you to take independent, qualified financial pensions advice before making any decisions that may affect your pension. Seeking this advice is entirely at your own discretion and any costs must be wholly borne by you.

What happens if my application for Voluntary Redundancy is supported and I am over the minimum retirement age?

Employees who have reached minimum pension age and have two years' membership to the NHS pension scheme can opt to take their pension early. In effect, the employee buys out the reduction with their redundancy payment. If the redundancy payment is not sufficient to buy-out the full reduction then the employee can choose to make an additional payment at the time of the redundancy to make up the full or partial difference. (Section 16 (England): 16.14).

It is not the responsibility of the Trust to contribute to any shortfalls in the above.

What if I would like to access my pension benefits on leaving?

If you are planning to take pension benefits on leaving, please confirm this with our team by completing this short form before 5pm on 10 April. For people planning to access their pension we will need to contact NHS Pension Agency to seek further information and additional time will be provided for you to review and return the settlement agreement.

I intend to access my pension early, do I need to return my settlement agreement within the same timeframe?

If you are planning to take pension benefits on leaving, please confirm this with our team by completing this short form before 5pm on 10 April. For people planning to access their pension we will need to contact NHS Pension Agency to seek further information and additional time will be provided for you to review and return the settlement agreement.

What is my notice period?

If your application is successful, you will be required to work your notice period. There will be no payment in lieu of notice (PILON).

Your period of notice will be: four weeks’ notice or one weeks’ notice for each continuous year of service with DPT up to a maximum of twelve weeks, whichever is the greater.

Can the notice period be adjusted?

Contractual notice periods can be varied with agreement from both the employer and the employee so this can be explored as an alternative to working a full contractual notice if requested by either the Trust or an employee.

How do I request to shorten my notice period?

You initially need to request this through your local management team in writing. If they support your request, they can inform the VR inbox who will request a revised settlement agreement to be sent to you.

Can I withdraw my application?

Yes, an application can be withdrawn at any time up to the point when a settlement agreement is signed. Once the settlement agreement is signed and returned it is legally binding and your application can not be withdrawn.

To withdraw from the scheme after you have made an application complete this brief online form:

https://forms.office.com/e/KnNahMmw60?origin=lprLink

To withdraw use this QR code:

Will I be able to return to work in the NHS after voluntary redundancy?

Employees who leave under voluntary redundancy and are re-employed with an NHS Employer, a government department or an arm’s length body will be required to repay some or all of their voluntary redundancy payment. This is known as clawback.

The clawback period depends on the amount of voluntary redundancy payment and the individual terms and conditions. The table below sets out these arrangements.

Terms and conditions

VR Pay

Clawback period

Executive Senior Manager (ESM) / Very Senior Manager (VSM)

Any

12 months

Agenda for Change

<£100,000

6 months

Agenda for Change

£100,000=>

12 months
Table Caption

Employees will be asked to disclose any redundancy payment they have received to prospective employers, and appropriate redundancy clawback arrangements will be contained within the terms of the settlement agreement.

In all cases, the formal settlement agreement will specify the requirements to repay monies in such circumstances so you can fully understand this before finalising your decision.

What counts for a NHS Trust, government department or an arm’s length body?

This includes:

• NHS Trusts including Foundation Trusts

• Special health authorities

• Integrated Care Boards

• NHS England (which incorporates Monitor and NHS Trust Development Agency (NHS Improvement), The Health and Social Care Information Centre (NHS Digital) and Health Education England)))

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

• Health Research Authority

• NHS Blood and Transplant

• NHS Business Service Authority

• NHS Counter Fraud Authority

• NHS Resolution

• The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB)

How does the scheme ‘clawback’ apply if I already am already employed by another NHS Trust, a government department or an arm’s length body?

The clawback terms will only apply to new employment with another NHS Trust, a government department or an arm’s length body following ending employment with DPT by reason of voluntary redundancy.

What happens to any annual leave or TOIL?

You are expected to use any outstanding annual leave or hours owed to you before your agreed leaving date.

If, due to exceptional circumstances and with prior agreement from the Chief or Deputy Chief People Officer this is not possible, any outstanding annual leave or TOIL owed would be paid.

You are expected to work any hours owed to the Trust prior to an agreed leave date, if this is not possible, deductions from final salary payments will be made.

What happens if I owe the Trust money, for example from a historic salary overpayment?

Any monies owed to the Trust will be reclaimed in full prior to or as part of final salary payments. This will be outlined in any final agreements with you where it applies.

If leave the Trust through the Voluntary Redundancy scheme, when can I expect to receive my final salary and redundancy pay?

This is dependent on the completion of paperwork and deadlines for pay. You will receive it either in the month of leaving or the following month.

If I have a DPT bank assignment and leave through Voluntary Redundancy what will happen to my DPT Bank contract?

On leaving your Bank Assignment with DPT will also end.

I have a query about the CSD date that was used for my estimate?

Please contact the VR inbox if you have a query about your CSD date, we undertook a number of checks to determine information for estimates. We appreciate that records are not always correct. It is helpful if you can share what you believe your CSD to be and provide any evidence you can.

My application was turned down - Can I appeal the decision?

If you would like to better understand the decision reached, you are encouraged to discuss this with your line manager or your Directorate or Department leadership team, who will be happy to provide further clarity.

If, following seeking understanding of the decision, you wish to appeal this outcome, or raise that the process has not been followed correctly, you may do so in writing (setting out the reasons for an appeal) within 10 calendar days of the outcome being confirmed (2 April 2026). Please send your appeal to: dpt.vr@nhs.net

Will the appeal deadline be extended?

No, this is a voluntary process for both the employer and employees. In the same way that there is no obligation for a colleague to apply or progress an approved application, there is no obligation on behalf of the Trust to accept an application.

Where can I access support for my wellbeing?

If you are facing problems at work or at home, you can access impartial, confidential advice from qualified counsellors for many different issues via Vivup's Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). Help is available 24/7, 365 days a year through their free helpline number 0800 023 9324. Additional Health and Wellbeing support is available here - Health and Wellbeing

Manager Questions

I have received a request from a colleague with a supported VR application to reduce their agreed notice period?

Please contact the VR inbox if you are able to support an adjusted notice period. We will then request a revised settlement agreement to be issued.

Do I need to complete a termination form?

No, this will be completed centrally.

 

(Version 1 -- after the decision)