Our business is all about people. Our people make the difference to our patients and communities, and so we regularly review our staff benefits package to ensure it recognises the effort and energy of our team and reflects the things staff have said are important.

The following are some of the things we offer (click on each to find out more):

Fair & flexible

Competitive salary

Take a look at our payscales - our salaries are aligned to the current Agenda for Change rates and we use the Agenda for Change banding system.

Generous leave entitlement

We offer a full time leave entitlement of 27 days holiday rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years (pro-rata for part time staff). We also recognise service with other NHS providers (including other social enterprises) so if you have previously worked in the NHS, your service will count towards your holiday entitlement at Bristol Community Health.

Supportive approach to sickness absence and sick pay

We work with FirstCare, the UK leaders in absence management, who provide an innovative 24 hour absence helpline for our staff offering nurse-led consultations for anyone unable to attend work due to illness. Our absence management policy Supporting Attendance is all about helping you to remain in work where possible and to return to work as soon as you are able, if you are off sick. We are supported by IMASS who deliver a range of occupational health services to our staff. We also have partnerships with a number of local independent counsellors who provide free and confidential counselling if staff ever need it. Our sick pay allowance is as follows:
- During the first year of service – one month full pay and two months’ half pay;
- During the second year of service – two months’ full pay and two months’ half pay;
- During the third year of service – four months’ full pay and four months’ half pay;
- During the fourth and fifth years of service – five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay;
- After completing five years of service – six months’ full pay and six months’ half pay.

Recognition of previous NHS service for holiday and sick pay

If you have previously worked in the NHS, or for a provider delivering NHS services, we will recognise your service with that provider in the calculation of holiday and sick pay. However, we only recognise service for sick pay from an NHS organisation or provider if there has not been a break in service of more than 12 months but the item above does not advise this.

Flexible approach to pensions, including choice between an NHS Pension, a lower contribution Scottish Widows Scheme or a cash option

Recognising that we all are different, we offer a range of pensions options so that staff can choose one that works best for them. Working for Bristol Community Health means you can choose from one of the following options to suit your lifestyle:
- Access to the standard NHS Pension with an employer contribution rate of 14.5% and an employee rate which varies dependent on your salary. Read more information about the NHS Pension.
- Access to our Scottish Widows Scheme with matched contributions of between 1 and 8% of pay.
- A cash option of 5% of basic pay.
- Access to our Scottish Widows scheme and a cash option (choices are 1% cash and 4% pension, 2 % cash and 3% pension or 4% cash and 1% pension).

Positive approach to flexible working

Around 50% of our staff already work flexibly and we offer a range of working patterns to suit different lifestyles and family commitments. Please contact our recruitment team to find out more.

Additional flexibility and support for staff with caring responsibilities

For staff who have caring responsibilities outside of work, we offer 2 paid days of carer’s leave a year, plus 8 unpaid days of carer’s leave a year, in addition to the statutory parental leave provisions.

Holiday trading - buy extra leave

You can buy up to three days of extra annual leave (pro rata), tax-free - and you can spread the cost over 12 months.

Staff focus

Vibrant and innovative organisation which encourages staff to think and do things differently

We work across a range of diverse and vibrant communities and as a community organisation, we strive to reflect the diversity of local people in all things. We are a relatively young organisation and we are changing all the time. We are always looking for people who share our values and enjoy working for a company which is committed to inclusion, innovation and improvement. Key programmes, such as our partnership with Total Mobile to make our clinicians mobile through the use of tablets or our self-care programme with Philips Healthcare, which aims to support patients with long term conditions to manage their health at home, demonstrate our commitment to innovation and improvement.

Employee-owned business where staff have a real say in what happens in our organisation

Our organisation is 100% owned by staff. Joining us means that you will automatically become a shareholder (after successful completion of a six month probation period), with the right to vote on important decisions such as pay and an ability to influence the decisions we make at a strategic level. We don’t pay dividends to shareholders because we don’t exist for profit, we exist for local people. Any money we make is reinvested in our services for local benefit.

Quality clinical organisation where staff strongly recommend the care we deliver

Clinical quality is at the heart of our ethos. In our last staff survey, 83% of our staff said they would recommend our services if a friend or relative needed care. This puts Bristol Community Health in the top 15% of NHS providers nationally for this key measure and is a clear indication that the people who know what really happens in our organisation think we are good at what we do. This rating is further supported by the fact that 95% of our patients would also recommend our care to family and friends.

Financial benefits

Childcare vouchers - tax-free childcare

Salary sacrifice Childcare Voucher scheme where staff use a proportion of their pay to buy vouchers which can be used for childcare. That proportion of pay is free of tax and so they save money each month.

Cycle Scheme - 25% discount on cost of a new bike

We work with Cycle Scheme who provide our staff with bikes for travelling to work. Staff pay for the bike directly from their pre-tax salary - doing this saves around 25% on the cost of a new bike.

Discounts on shopping, healthcare and cinema

Lots of lifestyle extras through our partnerships with Health Service Discounts and Bluelight Card. Save money on essential groceries and also get big discounts on trips to the cinema and local attractions. Just taking your Bristol Community Health ID card to many businesses locally will also get discounts on goods and services.

Tax-free purchases

Salary-sacrifice savings on electronic goods, car leasing, car parking, charity donations, childcare (paid monthly through salary, before tax).

Holiday trading - sell leave to boost annual funds

Staff can sell up to three days of extra annual leave (pro rata) to boost annual funds.

Physical wellbeing

Free eye tests

£50 towards an eye test and glasses if staff need them for work.

Occupational health support

Pre- and in-employment assistance to our staff supporting them to stay in work and to return to work as soon as they are able (with our Occupational Health partner IMASS). We have a positive approach to disability and wherever possible, we will find ways to make adjustments to facilitate people with disabilities joining and staying in our organisation. We support the 2 ticks Positive about Disability scheme and if you are disabled and you meet the basic requirements of the job, we guarantee you an interview.

Discounted gym membership through MoveGB

Membership valid at multiple fitness providers at a discounted rate of £1.66 per session.

Free fitness sessions at work

Fitness sessions at work for staff to try out new classes like yoga, Pilates, boot camp, circuits, Zumba and more.

Team sponsorship

We’ve pledged to sponsor staff who enter organised races or start up their own staff sports team.

Free physiotherapy support

Our staff physiotherapy assessment and treatment service helps improve our staff’s ability to carry out normal daily activities. This includes advice on health promotion, preventative healthcare, exercises, hands on treatment and rehabilitation

Mental wellbeing

Free counselling

Confidential, independent and free counselling provided by a network of local partners.

Stress-management workshops

Help for staff to make practical changes to ease stress. Individuals can reflect on all aspects of their lives and develop a small network that can provide support beyond the boundaries of the workshop.

Confidential support phoneline

Help with work, health, personal, legal or financial concerns, with face-to-face counselling also available.

Mental wellbeing away days

Facilitated listening events designed to encourage all team members to identify and understand specific problems, and work collaboratively to find a solution.

Learning & Development and recognition

Comprehensive induction programme

All new staff receive a planned local and corporate induction programme including a two-day event with other new starters where we welcome you to the organisation. Our induction ensures you have the knowledge, skills and information you need to succeed at work.

A wide range of learning and development opportunities

Learning is one of our core values and as a result, we offer a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical training to all staff. In addition to a complete programme of essential skills training, we regularly support staff to undertake a range of courses and qualifications including non-medical prescribing, district nursing and PRINCE2. It’s one of the things our staff say is great about our organisation.

Leadership and Management Development Programme

All managers at Bristol Community Health have the opportunity to attend Management Matters, our bespoke leadership and management training programme. Management Matters is a mix of practical and theoretical learning aimed at developing the leadership and management skills of managers and the experience of our staff. The programme includes modules on finance and performance, people management, change management, Myers-Briggs Type Indicators, programme management and leadership.
“No matter how experienced you are as a manager, I believe there is always scope to develop and explore management skills,” Heart Failure Service Lead.

Staff recognition awards and party

Every year in late November, our staff nominate each other for the BOSCAs – our annual staff recognition awards. The BOSCAs reflect our values and recognise the huge contribution individuals and teams make to local people and to colleagues. The awards are given at a ceremony during a big staff party which all staff are invited to. The party is a thank you to staff and an opportunity to relax and celebrate with colleagues.

Colleague of the Month Award

In addition to the BOSCAs, staff nominate each other for our Colleague of the Month Award. When a colleague has done a brilliant job and staff want them to recognised for it, they nominate them to be profiled in In Touch– our regular staff newsletter. Winners receive a certificate and small gift to recognise their achievement. The award is all about recognising and celebrating the efforts of staff in their day-to-day work.

We are always looking for new staff who share our values. Get in touch with us today to find out whether we have any permanent or contract job vacancies that you would be interested in, or call our recruitment team on 0117 900 2207 or email [email protected].