What is the NHS MARS Scheme?

The NHS Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) is avoluntary exit programme allowing staff to leave their organisation in returnfor a one-off financial payment.

Unlike redundancy or dismissal, MARS is a resignation agreed by both you and your employer. NHS trusts often use the scheme to reshape their workforce, reduce costs, or free up specific posts, while offering staff a financial incentive to move on.

Each trust runs its own version of MARS, so eligibility, application processes, payment formulas, and timescales vary. Typically:

  • Applications are open for a limited period.
  • Approval is at the trust’s discretion.
  • Payments are often calculated using length of service and current salary.
  • Accepting a MARS offer ends your employment permanently, you’ll usually forfeit any future redundancy pay or redeployment rights.
  • Many trusts impose a “return to work” restriction (often 6 months) within the same or neighbouring trust.
Why Legal Advice is Essential

While a MARS agreement is not the same as a formal settlement agreement, it still carries legal and financial consequences. Once you sign:

  • Your employment ends by mutual consent, with no right to withdraw later.
  • You may be giving up future legal claims against your employer.
  • Your decision can affect pension rights, tax liabilities, and benefit entitlements.

Some NHS trusts will even require you to confirm you’ve had independent legal advice before processing payment, particularly if extra clauses (e.g. confidentiality, non-disparagement, or restrictive covenants) are included.

How Fixed-Fee Legal Support Helps

Because MARS application windows are often very short, you may have only a matter of days to make a decision. Our fixed-fee service for NHS staff is designed to give you clear, timely guidance when you need it most. We take you through your MARS agreement clause by clause so you fully understand its meaning and effect and assess whether the financial package is fair.

We also identify any restrictive clauses that could affect your next career move, and provide advice on the tax treatment of your payment under HMRC rules. With a fixed price agreed upfront,there are no hourly rates or hidden costs, and in most cases we can complete a review within 24 to 48 hours, including evenings and weekends when urgency is required.

Planning Your Next Step

Before agreeing to a MARS offer, it’s worth thinking carefully about how it fits into your long-term plans. You should weigh up whether the payment on offer is equal to or better than what you might receive under redundancy, and consider whether returning to the NHS in the near future could be affected by a break in service. This can have consequences for your pension and other benefits. It’s also sensible to reflect on any career or personal commitments that might make leaving your role at this time more challenging. Seeking legal advice early in the process, rather than waiting until the final stage, will give you the clarity and confidence to make a well-informed decision.