Rewards & Benefits - Jobs & Careers
Terms and Conditions
Working for Staffordshire County Council brings a total reward package: fair and equal pay; flexible working; generous annual leave; generous employer contribution to pension, along with leisure time benefits.
Annual Leave
The majority of posts are subject to NJC terms and conditions of employment. Under these terms you will be entitled to a minimum of 24 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays). The amount of annual leave increases over time and is based on the level of your post and is pro rata for part time employees. Our annual leave year runs from 1st April to 31st March. In calculating your actual annual leave entitlement we take account of the length of continuous local government service you have as well as your basic salary. New entrants to the service are entitled to annual leave proportionate to the completed months of service during the leave year of entry.
Please note, different annual leave arrangements apply to some categories of staff such as those employed on Soulbury, Teaching or JNC terms and conditions of service (for example School Inspectors or Youth Workers)
NJC Terms & Conditions
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Grade SCP
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0 - 4 yrs
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5 - 14 yrs
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15 – 24 yrs
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25 yrs & over
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Up to SCP 28
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24
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29
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30
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31
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SCP 29 – 40
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26
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30
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31
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32
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SCP 41 & over
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27
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31
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32
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33
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Soulbury Terms & Conditions
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Continuous Local Government Service
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0 – 4 Years
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5 – 14 Years
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15 – 24 Years
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25 Years +
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27
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31
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32
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33
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JNC Terms & Conditions
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SALARY
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0 - 4 yrs
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5 - 14 yrs
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15 – 24 yrs
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25 yrs & over
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Chief Officer
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30
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32
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33
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34
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Public/Extra Statutory and Local Leave
As well as annual leave, our offices are closed on the following 9 days, and paid leave is granted to staff:
Good Friday and Bank Holiday Monday
May Day (first Monday in May)
Late Spring Bank Holiday (Monday and Tuesday)
August Bank Holiday (Monday and Tuesday)
Christmas and Boxing Day
New Year's Day
Supportive Leave
We recognise there are times when you may need extra time off work and we offer a range of supportive leave options. Sometimes these are dependant on length of service.
Working Parents
We know it can be a challenge to juggle the competing demands of work life and family life and we want to make sure that you get all the help and support you need.
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We offer Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Parental Leave
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Breastfeeding: We actively support breastfeeding mum's, and we ensure that mum gets the time and facilities to continue feeding.
Compassionate Leave
We know that there may be people outside of work who depend on you, perhaps you have caring responsibilities, and that there are times when these commitments need to take priority. We offer limited paid leave in order to give you time to fulfil your short-term caring responsibilities.
Emergency Leave
Sometimes unexpected emergencies arise, which mean that you need some time off work. You might find that you have to deal with an emergency as a carer for which you need to be absent from work and we will allow you to take a reasonable amount of unpaid leave to deal with these emergencies.
Workbreak
You may need to have a longer break from work - perhaps because of caring obligations or because you have another interest you want to dedicate some time to. The workbreak scheme allows for a complete break from work for up to twelve months without needing to resign unless you subsequently decide not to return at the end of that period. At the end of the workbreak you will be able to return to a job which is both suitable and appropriate which may, where circumstances permit, include your former post.
Job Sharing
You'd like a job, but perhaps aren't looking for full-time employment. As well as many part-time vacancies, we also offer the option of job sharing. In principle, almost any job can be shared successfully. By Job Sharing two people can share one full-time job and work permanently part-time. Job sharing allows you to enjoy all the benefits of a full-time post (pro rata), and to balance your career with other responsibilities and activities.
Working Hours
The standard working week for full-time staff is 37 hours. Wherever possible we operate a scheme of flexible working hours. Some of our positions are shift-based. Hours of work and shift patterns are usually indicated in the advertisement and application pack.
Home/Flexible/Agile working
Many roles can be delivered without a permanent desk base – Staffordshire County Council has a number of employees who are field based, work from home and who use ‘touchdown centres’ across the county to connect to the network and work wherever they are. Home and agile working arrangements are agreed between individual employees and their line management within a clear policy framework.
Childcare Vouchers
We have a childcare voucher scheme for all eligible working parents, that's mum and dad! Childcare vouchers can save you up to £1,196 a year on the cost of your childcare or up to £2,392 a year if both parents participate! Note that from April 2011 the maximum benefit from childcare vouchers for higher rate taxpayers (earning above £42,475 from April 2011) has been reduced to a year on the cost of your childcare or up to a year if both parents participate! Note that from April 2011 the maximum benefit from childcare vouchers for higher rate taxpayers (earning above £42,475 from April 2011) has been reduced to £624 a year.
Sports and Social Facilities
For less than 50p each month, which you can opt to have taken out of your salary, you can become a member of our Staffordshire Social Club and take part in organised sporting and social events.
Staff club members can use the sports facilities at Shugborough Hall at a reduced rate, and have access to the Social Club in Stafford which offers food and drink at discounted rates. The Social Club also organise a wide variety of trips and events, which are open to all members of staff, at discount prices. As an employee of the County Council you can also access bargain priced tickets to popular tourist attractions, such as Alton Towers.
Pension
We offer an excellent final salary pension scheme. The Local Government Pension Scheme is a statutory, funded pension scheme and its benefits are defined and guaranteed in law. Membership is automatic for most employees (not casual employees), but is not compulsory. Please visit http://www.staffspf.org.uk/| for further information regarding our award winning pensions service.
Wellbeing at Work
We care about your wellbeing, both at work and at home and offer a range of benefits and support to enable you to balance the demands of life and work. We have a range of wellbeing initiatives throughout the year and these include free flu jabs for staff who are in regular contact with vulnerable members of the public, health check-ups and themed events to support national events such as "no-smoking week".
Counselling Service
We know there may be times when you need some extra help and support. We operate a counselling service, which is available for all of our employees, and can offer help with overcoming difficulties faced either at work or in your personal life. Support Groups
Employee networks have been encouraged to develop throughout the organisation, which provide forums for mutual support, and make valuable contributions to the development of our working practices and policies. These groups include the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Group, the Black and Minority Ethnic Workers Support and Development Group and the Workers with a Disability Support Group.
Car Loans and Leasing
Essential car users (and some casual users) are eligible for a preferential rate loan (C 5%) of up to £15,000 towards the purchase of a suitable car.
Staffordshire County Council (in association with the car leasing company) operates a Staff Car Hire Scheme. The employee (driver) pays an appropriate monthly contribution (hire charge) to the Council. Deductions are made through payroll and the annual revision of driver’s hire chargeare supported by the Leasing Section.
ICT discounts – Microsoft Home Use and Orange Perks
Because you use Microsoft Office at work, Microsoft provides a special offer for employees of Staffordshire County Council –staff are eligible to participate in the Home Use Program (HUP). This program enables you to get a licensed copy of Microsoft Office software to install and use on your home computer for less than £10.
Orange Perks – As Staffordshire County Council uses Orange for as our mobile network provider you and up to five of you family and friends, get special discounts when you sign up to Orange for your personal plan:
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10% off monthly line rental with any pay monthly contract
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10% off any 18 month mobile broadband contract
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£20 off any pay as you go phone over £30
Travel benefits
Staffordshire County Council is committed to sustainable travel and provides a subsidised public transport scheme to help employees purchase season tickets and spread the cost through monthly payroll deduction.
The council operates a cycle loan scheme which offers savings on VAT, tax and national insurance contributions whilst spreading payments through monthly payroll deduction.
In addition we also access a car share scheme for employees - www.share-a-lift.com|., and provide an efficient pool car in Stafford for staff to book out when making local journeys.
Staffordshire Credit Union
The Credit Union offers a broad range of innovative financial products to members whose monthly contributions can be made directly through payroll deduction.
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