Publish date: 2 July 2025
A mutually agreed resignation scheme (also known as MARS) was approved and opened for applications from Thursday, 19 June 2025 to Friday, 4 July 2025. The scheme aims to support the Trust through rapid change and redesign of its services.
The scheme is currently open to staff in corporate, non-clinical, non-patient facing or clinical staff operating in managerial roles, which will not impact on clinical service delivery are eligible to apply for this scheme. However, where there are current high levels of vacancies in non-clinical roles, or where recruitment is underway, there may be non-clinical roles whose eligibility may be restricted.
The scheme in line with the National MARS rules is open to colleagues who have a minimum service of 12 months’ continuous service (continuous service being defined as NHS service with no break of greater than a week measured Sunday, to Saturday). Anyone who has already formally expressed their intention to retire will not be eligible to apply.
New and important dates to be aware of:
- 7 July - Divisional sign off
- 7 July (PM) - MARS Panel
- 8 July - Applicants will receive an email confirmation and copy of their settlement agreement (this is the date notice is served)
- 9 July - Legal sessions will take place
- 11 July - Employee returns their signed agreement
- 14 July - Trust signs and returns a copy of the agreement to employee.
Please note that if your role contains any aspect of clinical work, such as ancillary staff, then your application will be declined and returned to you.
Managers must support your application following their review of the manager guidance notes made available to them.
This is a time limited scheme, and all applications must be received by 5pm on 4 July 2025.
MARS payment will be inclusive of notice and the date of resignation will be individually agreed. Staff will now be allowed to leave between 5 August 2025 and 30 September 2025 depending on their notice period.
Please refer to the scheme document regarding payments for MARS based on years of service in the NHS and note that the maximum payment allowed under MARS is £80,000 no matter what your salary and length of service.
Please note, even if your manager agrees to you applying for MARS that this is not confirmation that your application will be formally approved. The approval process for MARS has several steps and will be agreed and signed off by the Trust.
The full details, timeline, process and an application form are available on YourSpace.
Having read the full details, if you have any queries or need more information, please email: mars