Employee Benefits

NHS Oxfordshire is a modern forward thinking organisation. It serves a vibrant multi cultural population with easy access to a rich educational and social environment.

NHS Oxfordshire promotes a positive approach to Equality of Opportunity, aiming to ensure that no job applicant or employee shall receive less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, religion, creed, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin or sexual orientation. NHS Oxfordshire is committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. To demonstrate this commitment we use the Two Ticks Disability Symbol (positive about employing disabled people).

As an employee, you will be eligible for a number of benefits, including:

Balancing work/home life

NHS Oxfordshire recognises and accepts that staff have a demanding home life to balance with a varied and fulfilling working life. We are developing comprehensive policies covering a range of leave and working practices required to support staff in achieving this. For example, flexible working practices include a range of working hours such as full/part time, flexi time, self-rostering, term-time only, job share etc. There are also an increasing number of opportunities to develop working practices designed to fit in with your own domestic/personal life arrangements.

Contact: HR.Admin@oxfordshire.nhs.uk for more details.

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Individual and professional development

All staff commencing employment with NHS Oxfordshire receive a comprehensive induction programme which is tailored to individual and service needs. To support this and ongoing development, there are a large number of in-house training courses, including mandatory programmes which are developed to meet the needs of the service and individuals. All staff have the opportunity to meet with their manager on a regular basis to discuss their personal development plan. NVQs and NHS Learning Accounts are offered for some professionally unqualified staff and there are a wealth of opportunities for secondment and professional training. There are opportunities to develop through the NVQ route to professional nurse training

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Staff counselling service

This is completely anonymous, confidential service available to all staff. No other member of staff will know that you have accessed this service and it can be accessed for any reason (even if it is not work related). After an initial support session, the Trust will pay for a further six counselling sessions per year.

Call 01865 223370 for more details.

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Occupational health service

The Occupational health service provides a range of health services designed to promote, maintain and improve the physical and mental wellbeing of all employees. The main services are:

  • Pre-employment screening
  • Return to work assessments after illness
  • Work station assessments and ergonomic advise
  • Immunisation of staff at risk from infectious diseases
  • Dietary advice
  • Access to counselling and psychotherapy services
  • Help and advice for staff who wish to more exercise
  • Smoking cessation
  • Complimentary therapies including acupuncture, reflexology, aromatherapy massage

Contact 01527 577242 for more information.

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Maternity, paternity, adoption leave

Even with changes in legislation, entitlements for the above leave and pay are greater than the minimum statutory levels. Maternity leave is available to all female staff: with a year's service the maximum benefits are up to a year's leave. This entitlement is also mirrored in adoption leave. Paternity leave for partners is currently two weeks full pay.

Contact HR.Admin@oxfordshire.nhs.uk

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Pension scheme

As a member of the NHS pension scheme you receive an excellent package of pension benefits, fully protected against inflation and guaranteed by the government. A summary of the benefits are:

  • A pension and tax free lump sum when you retire
  • Life assurance cover
  • Voluntary early retirement benefits
  • Ill-health retirement benefits
  • Redundancy benefits
  • Family benefits
  • Options to increase your benefits

Details of the scheme are available on request or from the website http://www.nhspa.gov.uk (external link). Other pensions can be transferred into the NHS scheme or frozen, depending on what is best for you. There are various ways of topping up pension benefits, flexible ways to retire and pre-retirement courses.

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Accommodation

NHS Oxfordshire is working to improve access to housing for staff through key worker housing schemes. For further information contact:

Keith Raw
Housing co-ordinator
South Central Strategic Health Authority

01865 336929

Contact Health Housing Solutions on 0870 890 0175 or visit www.healthhousingsolutions.com (external link)

You can also visit the new keyworker website: www.homebuy.co.uk (external link)

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NHS benefits online

NHSDiscounts.com (external link) is a website dedicated to providing discounts exclusively for NHS staff and their families. With a huge range of suppliers of holidays, electrical goods, mobile phones, fashion, insurance, days out and discounted gym membership, this site can save you up to 10% of your salary.

Go to NHSDiscounts.com (external link) to see what they can offer. Registration is free to all NHS employees.

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