Check the link to see job description
http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/cgi-bin/vacdetails.cgi?search_db_no=2&selection=911736222&vn=11

How is this Band 5/6 ? There is a published job description and person spec. and either this matches to band 5 or it matches to band 6! AFC is very consistent on this point. If this is Banded at 6 then you can appoint to a lower band whilst the applicant gains the necessary experience, and they will then move up to band 6 automatically when they meet the requirements; Or you could appoint direct to a different post at band 5. But banding of a post cannot vary at the whim of management.

In fact with the KSF system such that the full requirements of the post do not have to be met until the second gateway, it is now much harder to justify appointing initially to a lower band. The job description and person spec have to describe the requirements for the full KSF profile to be met, SO if it says five years experience then in theory you can appoint someone with one year straight in at the bottom of the band 6 since they have 4 years in which to meet the full profile at the second gateway (especially since asking for x-years experience is now deemed probably illegal under age descrimination legislation).
This aspect seems to have been given little thought by any HR department as yet.

Paul
The JD provided is for a Band 6, but if an individual does not have all the required specifications they may be appointed at a lower band. This is explained on the vacancy page. Unfortunately the NHS web site cannot have more than one JD. We did question this and our HR stated that the advert was OK.