Assumptions and pay data
Pay data: NHS Agenda for Change. Band 5: £32,073 to £39,043 over 3 pay points, rates from 1/4/2026. Checked 9/10/2026.
- Lost pay is your pay before the break multiplied by its length. No pay awards, steps up the scale or allowances are added.
- Re-entry pay is the spine point you choose on Band 5; 0 is the bottom, £32,073.
- AfC section 34 (employment break scheme): open to staff with 12 months' service (34.8), for 3 months to 5 years (34.10 and 34.12). You come back at the equivalent salary level, with any pay awards made while you were away (34.15).
Career Break Impact Calculator
EnglandNHS Agenda for Change employersFramework from 1/4/2026
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Guide for Mental Health Nurse
This guide helps Mental Health Nurse at NHS plan unpaid or non-paid breaks and illustrative re-entry pay on Band 5. Parental leave has separate rules; use the Maternity and Paternity calculator for enhanced pay during leave.
Career breaks for Mental Health Nurse
A career break, sabbatical or extended unpaid leave may mean no salary for a period. For Mental Health Nurse on Band 5 at NHS, re-entry pay depends on employer policy: some protect your spine point after agreed leave, others place returners at the bottom of the band.
Planning a break
A career break, sabbatical or extended leave may mean no salary for a period. Re-entry pay depends on employer policy: some protect your spine point, others place you at the bottom of the band. Pension and continuous service rules vary by scheme.
Parental leave
Maternity, adoption and shared parental leave have separate statutory and contractual rules. Use the Maternity and Paternity calculator for typical enhanced pay; this tool focuses on unpaid or unpaid-adjacent breaks and re-entry salary.
Example scenario
Example: a 1-year break from £32,073 costs £32,073 in gross pay, with a cautious return at the bottom of Band 5. The calculator opens on 2 years (£64,146).
| Pay before break (example) | £32,073 |
|---|---|
| Break length (example) | 1 year |
| Illustrative lost gross earnings | £32,073 |
| Re-entry (cautious) | Bottom of Band 5 |
Frequently asked questions
What would a career break cost me?
At £32,073, about £32,073 for 1 year, £64,146 for 2 years and £160,365 for 5 years, in gross pay. Your take-home loss is smaller, because tax, National Insurance and pension contributions stop too.
Does it allow for the pay rises I would have had?
No. It multiplies your pay before the break by its length. On Band 5 you would also have reached £34,592 after 2 years in the band, and pay awards would have added more.
Where will I come back on the pay scale?
AfC para 34.15 says you come back at the equivalent salary level, including any pay awards made during the break, so set the spine point on return to the one you left. Within a year you get the same job back as far as practicable; after that, as similar a job as possible.
Does a career break affect my pension?
AfC asks the break agreement to cover NHS Pension arrangements (34.15). Unpaid time builds no pension, and service-based entitlements such as leave are suspended for the break (34.18).
Do you store my information?
Your calculator inputs and results stay in your browser and are not stored. We only collect your name and email if you choose to give them, for example to download your results or sign up for email updates. We store them with MailerLite, our email provider, along with the page you were on. See our privacy policy.
About this role
What is a Mental Health Nurse?
A Mental Health Nurse is a registered nurse specialising in mental health care in hospitals, community teams or specialist services. Newly qualified MHNs typically start on AfC Band 5.
Typical demands, progression and balance
Mental health nursing is a high-demand specialty with strong progression into Band 6 specialist and Band 7 advanced posts.
What if I take a career break?
Returning after a break can affect pay and spine position. Use the calculator above to see illustrative re-entry pay and lost earnings.
Disclaimer
Illustrative estimates, not financial or career advice. Your payslip and contract decide what you are actually paid.