Career development

This brochure sets out a snapshot of the teams, in which you might work should you decide to join us in Medway. What it cannot do is set out a specific career path for you. You will have many opportunities to make progress as well as a comprehensive induction. We support our employees in gaining a wide range of qualifications from post qualifying awards to registered manager award. You will also be offered identified care organisation training. This will ensure that your skills are up to date and ensure that you can cope with the demands of the positions you take on.

Supervision

You will be offered regular supervision to help you develop your knowledge while providing clarity about what is expected. These sessions will also provide you with the opportunity to deal with any issues or problems from your work.

Training and personal development

We are committed to employee development and realising the potential of all our staff.

Medway Council is committed to developing its employees using a variety of methods. All employees receive a performance and development review annually and the council has a commitment to provide regular formal supervision sessions between the employee and their immediate supervisor. All employees are entitled to at least five days paid training or self-development each year post entry training for obtaining new, or updating existing, recognised qualifications relating to an employees career path. Some staff are offered secondments and work shadowing to broaden their experience.

Working

We provide a healthy working environment, which respects the dignity of people at work and values diversity.

Flexible working

Medway Council feels strongly that all requests for flexible working should be considered seriously. Flexible working patterns can allow staff to offer a first-class service and accomodate caring commitments and maintain a good work/home life balance.

Some examples of flexible working at Medway are:

  • flexi time
  • nine-day fortnight
  • parental leave and time off for dependents
  • part-time working and job share
  • employment break scheme
  • homeworking

Care first

Care first is a confidential service for information and advice or counselling, available free-of-charge to staff. Calls are answered by a professional and lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

Discounted leisure facilities and gym memberships

As an employee of Medway Council you are entitled to various discounts at gyms and leisure centres in the area. Council-run leisure centres have preferential rates for Medway Council employees. We also have corporate membership at some private gyms and health clubs in the area including:

  • Virgin, Medway Valley Park
  • The Waterfont, Pier Road Gillingham
  • Sebastian Coe Health Clubs across Kent
  • Village Hotel and Leisure Club, Maidstone

Council-run leisure centres offer discounts for staff on a range of activities such as swimming, badminton and the use of gym facilities.

Support for staff from minority groups

Medway Council is committed to equal opportunities and has a Black Workers Forum and a Disabled Workers Forum. The chief executive actively encourages all ethnic minority staff and disabled staff to attend the forums during working hours.

Living

We aim to recruit, retain and reward talented, motivated and satisfied employees.

Key worker housing

Moat Housing is the Homebuy agent for Medway and Kent. As Homebuy agent, Moat is responsible for providing a ‘one shop’ for key workers and employers on all key worker housing in zone. Under the key worker living programme there are three options available for offordable housing.

You can find out more about the scheme by visiting http://www.moat.co.uk/

All employees are entitled to claim a discount on course fees when enrolling for courses run by Medway Adult and Community learning service.

  • Non accredited courses attract a discount of 10 per cent
  • Accredited courses attract a discount of 20 per cent
  • Learn Direct courses attract a discount of 10 per cent

Incentives

We aim to recruit retain and reward talented, motivated and satisfied employees.

Childcare vouchers

As an employer we share your concerns about balancing your working life with the demands made on you as a

parent. With this in mind and to enhance our family friendly employment policies, we operate a childcare voucher scheme.

The scheme operates on a salary sacrifice basis, which means you exchange part of your salary for use for childcare.

You will not be required to pay tax and national insurance contributions on the total voucher value each month.

Relocation scheme

Medway Council’s relocation scheme helps newly appointed staff who move house as a result of their appointment. New employees, who qualify for the scheme, will be able to claim up to a maximum limit of £6,000. Some of the costs that can be reimbursed are:

  • removal costs
  • the costs of temporary lodgings for each week and
  • the cost of a return journey home each weekend
  • reimbursement of additional transport costs,
  • should temporary lodgings not be used
  • survey, estate agent, solicitor, building society,
  • stamp duty and Land Registry fees.To be eligible for assistance under the scheme employees must satisfy certain criteria.

Other incentives

  • Car lease scheme
  • Final salary pension scheme

Tourist information

Medway Council:
http://www.medway.gov.uk/
Phone: 01634 333333
email:mailto:info@medway.gov.uk

South East England Tourist Board
http://www.southeastengland.uk.com/
Phone: 01892 540766
email: enquiries@tourismse.com

Social work websites

Independent Social Care Organisation
http://www.medwaycare.org.uk/

General Social Care Council
http://www.gscc.org.uk/

Social work and social care careers
http://www.socialworkandcare.co.uk/

British Association of Social Workers
http://www.basw.co.uk/