"Friendly atmosphere, progressive policies, excellent benefits."
NHS South of Tyne and Wear serving Gateshead PCT, South Tyneside PCT and Sunderland Teaching PCT, offers its staff a number of benefits that can be enjoyed either at work or outside, including:
Susan Matheson is the Carer Coordinator for NHS South of the Tyne and Wear serving Gateshead PCT, South Tyneside PCT and Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust.
The role of the coordinator is to act as an adviser and advocate to parents working in the NHS and to co-ordinate affordable childcare which will suit individual needs, as well as looking at the needs of carers and what services are available to help individuals cope with any pressures they may face.
Working in the NHS, being part of a team that delivers care 24 hours a day every day, means that combining work and family responsibilities isn’t always easy.
The NHS is taking up the challenge to become one of the country’s most flexible and family friendly employers.
NHS South of the Tyne and Wear is committed to supporting staff to achieve an effective home/work life balance and recognises that staff are likely to have different pressures to deal with at different stages during their working lives. This can either be from childcare problems or carer difficulties. The Trust recognises the contribution made by carers to our society and therefore recognises the difficulties faced by employees who are carers as well as the impact this has on their working lives.
Part of the co-ordinator’s role is to ensure that all staff are aware of the service, advice and support available to them. It is about raising awareness to everyone that external issues such as childcare problems and carer responsibilities exist and that they can have huge implications on the people who have them.
The following initiatives available to staff are:
- Telephone helpline Monday to Friday 9am till 5pm
- Holiday play schemes for children aged 4 years to 14years
- Emergency childcare for the well child aged 0 – 5 years
- Keep in touch scheme for staff on maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Bi monthly drop ins for staff to meet the coordinator face to face and receive information and advice
- Childcare voucher scheme part of a salary sacrifice scheme which can save staff money on the cost of the childcare used.
- Organised carer days – where staff are invited to come and talk to various local and national carer organisations and receive advice and information from them.
For more information on the service available from the Carer Coordinator contact Susan Matheson on 0191 5297257 or email susan.matheson@sotw.nhs.uk
A free and confidential counseling service is available for all our staff including:
- Occupational Health Services
- Confidential counsellors
Staff can contact the occupational health and counselling service on: 0191 283 1000 or at the below address:
Occupational Health Department,
South Tyneside PCT,
Clarendon,
Windmill Way,
Hebburn,
NE31 1AT
Zero Tolerance
Zero Tolerance means that any form of intimidation and / or violence against staff working in the NHS is not tolerated. Violence against staff working in the NHS is a crime and the Trust will work with the police to prevent it.
The NHS Pension Scheme is acknowledged as an excellent pension scheme which is an important and valuable benefit for staff. Membership to the scheme is voluntary and is available to all employees irrespective of the number of hours worked.
For further information on the scheme package of benefits, please contact the Human Resoruces department on 0191 5297073 or visit NHS Pensions Website.
NHS Discounts is the number one independent discount retailer resource for NHS employees and their families. The benefits package that has been developed brings all NHS employees free access to a number of trusted retailers and suppliers, which includes a variety of shops and services, such as holidays, insurance, theme parks and more.
These retailers and suppliers have discounted their products and services in recognition of the job that all NHS employees do. Visit www.nhsdiscounts.com for more information and to register online.