Investing in our Staff Employee Benefits U:\Benefits Statement August 09.doc Page 1 of 5
A- Z of Employee Benefits NHS Croydon is an Equal Opportunities Employer and has achieved Practice Plus status. This means that NHS Croydon is fully committed to improving the working lives of its entire staff and underpins this with the following policies, schemes and benefits. Accommodation Key worker living is a government funded scheme that helps key workers in London, the South East and East of England to buy a home, upgrade to a larger property to meet household needs or rent a home at an affordable price. A key worker is someone employed by the public sector in a frontline role delivering an essential public service in the areas of health, education and community safety where there are serious recruitment and retention problems. A key worker can get help to buy their first home or move into a family home. Opportunities are also available to rent homes at affordable prices. To find out what housing is available locally and to obtain an application form, key workers must contact a HomeBuy Agent for the area where they want to live. A HomeBuy Agent is a registered social landlord (commonly known as Housing Association) that markets housing schemes including those for key workers across an area. HomeBuy Agents provide a one stop shop and point They deal with applications and of contact for potential purchasers of the Open Market and New Build arrange the help that key workers need. A complete list of HomeBuy Agents and their contact details can be found on the Homes and Communities website www.communities.gov.uk Childcare Vouchers NHS Croydon, in conjunction with Busy Bees has introduced, as part of its family friendly initiative, a more flexible way to meet the costs of childcare through a salary sacrifice scheme through which part of an employee s salary can be sacrificed in exchange for Childcare Vouchers. Within specified limits, these vouchers are non taxable and exempt from National Insurance contributions and therefore represent a saving for employees who receive them as part of their total employment package. Childcare Vouchers U:\Benefits Statement August 09.doc Page 2 of 5
received can be exchanged in whole or in part for childcare services used. balance family and care responsibilities. We also recognise that work-life balance is important for good health and well being. Discounts NHS Discounts is a new scheme that has been developed to bring all NHS employees free access to a number of trusted retailers and suppliers who are discounting their products and services in recognition of the job that all NHS employees do. Employees can save money when they shop online, book a holiday, get a good deal on a new car or buy a home. They can also purchase home and motor insurance, get cash back when they use a range of banking products and get free advice from dedicated help lines. Gym Membership NHS Croydon has negotiated staff discounts on corporate membership fees with a number of leading health & fitness clubs in the area including Solutions Health Club, Fitness First, Greens Health & Fitness, Cannons Leisure Centre, and Living Well Health Club. All of the health and fitness clubs mentioned above offer a range of facilities and activities including gym equipment, exercise classes, swimming pools, sauna, spas and steam rooms, tennis courts and access to personal trainers. Explorer Travel Discounts This scheme has been designed to offer NHS employees discounts ranging from 5-12% on travel and holidays. Hairdressing Discounts Headmasters hairdressing salon in Croydon offers a 25% discount to all NHS Croydon employees who visit their salon between Monday Friday 9.00am 5.30pm. Flexible Working Options Programme Immunisation NHS Croydon is committed to providing the widest range of flexible working options for employees, whilst maintaining the highest quality of services to patients. We recognise the value that work-life balance can have for employees enabling them to NHS Croydon s Occupational Health Department provides an immunisation programme for clinical staff and those staff who work in the community and with children and vulnerable adults to ensure they have the necessary U:\Benefits Statement August 09.doc Page 3 of 5
vaccinations and also have these updated as and when appropriate. Standard flu vaccinations are provided annually in the autumn for all employees. Employees qualifying for long service awards are invited to attend an annual awards ceremony where a buffet and refreshments are provided. Keystone Eye Tests Keystone eyesight tests are offered to employees who use Display Screen Equipment on a bi-annual basis. Library The NHS Croydon Health Library and Resources Services provide staff with the evidence that they need to support clinical or managerial decision making. It can also provide skills and information to support learning and development and can provide expertise and information to support patient care. It can provide answers to detailed or general enquiries, using a wide range of information sources. It also keeps staff up to date with rapidly developing clinical and management fields with regular and informative updates tailored to individual needs. It also provides interactive desk-top access to the Library s books, journals and articles databases. Occupational Health Occupational Health is the promotion and maintenance of the physical, mental and social well being of employees in all occupations by promoting good health, minimising risk of injury at work and supporting employees in maintaining a regular effective attendance at work. NHS Croydon s Occupational Health department provides the following services:- Pre-employment health assessments Promotion of health and well-being Self referral Management referral Advice on Sharps Injuries Advice and guidance on stress management Advice on redeployment and early retirement Advice and guidance relating to sickness absence Referrals to Physiotherapy, Counselling and Chest Clinic. Long Service Awards NHS Croydon recognises long service in the NHS and awards employees with recognition leave. Red Guava Discounts The Red Guava Benefits scheme is available to all NHS employees providing access to money saving U:\Benefits Statement August 09.doc Page 4 of 5
offers on a range of activities, products and services including health and fitness, financial services, travel and shopping. Season Ticket Loans NHS Pension Scheme The NHS Pension scheme is a fully indexed linked contributory scheme where members contribute 6% (5% for manual workers) towards their pension and the employer contributes 14%. This is available for all NHS employees between the ages of 16-70 and is subject to tax relief. Benefits of the scheme include: Death in service benefits A tax free lump sum and monthly pension on retirement. (NHS pensions are calculated based on final salary). Ill health benefits Life Assurance and family benefits Voluntary early retirement options from age 50 Compulsory early retirement cover (redundancy benefits) Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) facility Injury benefits this is applicable to all staff regardless of Pension Scheme membership. Interest Free Season Ticket Loans are available to all employees which can be paid back over a 10 month period direct from their monthly salary. Training & Development NHS Croydon is committed to becoming a learning organisation where all staff engage in the learning process to develop their skills and thus improve the quality of the service we provide to our colleagues, partners and patients. We support all our staff, both clinical and non clinical, to access appropriate learning and development opportunities to help them develop, and we support them to develop in areas related to both their current role and in areas which will support their career progression, both within the organisation and the wider NHS. We offer National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) in a range of subjects including Business Admin, IT, Healthcare, Allied Health Support, Speech & Language Therapy, Management & Business Improvement Techniques. We also have an Internal Scholarship Grant scheme to employees to support their personal development. U:\Benefits Statement August 09.doc Page 5 of 5