The best and the brightest supporting you
At Somerset Council, we work hard to attract (and keep) the best and the brightest people. And we want to make sure that once you’re on board, you’re well supported and rewarded for the work that you do.
From car sharing, to carers support, to flexible working, we do everything that we can to help you achieve the work-life balance that you need. Need some extra time off? Our salary deduction scheme means that you can apply for up to two weeks additional unpaid leave each year.
We’ll give you every opportunity to develop and achieve your full potential. There is a real sense of being valued at the council – and that’s why we give you the option to work flexibly, and help achieve a healthy balance between your work life and your private life.
Rewards and benefits
Holiday allowance
You’ll enjoy a generous holiday allowance. You’ll also be able to buy extra days through our salary sacrifice scheme.
Staff discounts
We all love to save money on the things we buy. As well as discounts on everything from bikes and laptops, to cinema tickets, insurance to professional memberships, our My Staff Shop scheme gives you access to thousands of deals, savings and benefits from national and local businesses.
Salary sacrifice scheme
We’ve a range of services in place to help you understand and improve your financial health.
Cycle to Work scheme
Buy a new bike and safety equipment through salary sacrifice and take off the tax – that’s a big saving!
My New Car salary sacrifice scheme
If you’re looking for a new car, this scheme gives you access to a range of over 4,000 brand new factory order cars on three- or four-year deals.
Pension scheme
The Local Government Pension Scheme is a secure pension that keeps pace with any cost of living increases. Your monthly pension contributions are boosted by tax relief and additional employer contributions. You’re also able to make Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC). Any payments you make are deducted from your salary with full tax relief.
Flexible working
Because we all have lives outside of work, we’ll help you balance work and home commitments in a way that’s suits you.
Technology
We’ll make sure that you have the technology you need to do your job to the best of your abilities. And importantly, technology that enables you to work smarter and work flexibly, and work where and when you need to. We also have a number of smart offices dotted across the county, which you’re able to work from.
Personal and professional development
One of the ways we help you to manage your career is through regular appraisals, supervision and one-to-ones. You’ll spend time with your manager to check in, talk about what you’ve achieved, what you want to achieve and how to get there, plus any areas where improvements are needed.
The Learning Centre (TLC), our award-winning online training portal, has thousands of e-learning modules, coaching opportunities, and career toolkits available for you. You’re able to learn in your own time, at your own pace, and it’s a great way to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date.
Learning and development
Your personal and professional development means everything to us. We’re passionate about growing our own talent and giving you the opportunity to take your career in the direction you want it to go. This way, you achieve your full potential, love what you do, and do it brilliantly. Everyone’s happy.
Upskilling apprenticeships
We want you to get the most out of your career with us. So you’ll have access to a range of training programmes designed to help you develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We recognise the benefits of apprenticeships, and we’re now able to support you across all educational apprenticeship stages, from GCSE, to master’s degree equivalent qualifications.
Coaching
We’ve an impressive and very active network of qualified and experienced coaches here. They support our people through formal coaching and mentoring sessions. Many of our people have found coaching incredibly useful when taking on a new role or challenge. If you manage people here, we offer a coaching course to help you learn to use coaching as a management tool.
Technology and Innovation Champions
Our Innovation Champions play a key role in the transformation happening across our complex organisation. They help us to explore and promote new ways of working, and share inventive, creative ideas with fellow Champs and colleagues. Similarly, our Technology Champions focus on the delivery, testing and support of new technology. Anyone who works here can apply to become a Champion – and it’s a brilliant way to further develop your skills, and get involved in projects outside of your day-to-day work.
Volunteering
One of the less obvious ways to increase your skills is through volunteering. As well as being great for local communities, it’s brilliant for boosting self-confidence, or developing teamworking skills. That’s why we encourage everyone here to give it a go. We’ll give you up-to five days a year paid time off to do your bit. Now that’s got to be worth doing.
Maintaining your wellbeing
When you’re feeling well, you’re working well. That’s why we make it a priority to look after your health and wellbeing. We’ve invested in the Working Well programme, which provides information, guidance and support on a range of issues, including stress management, Occupational Health and our Rapid Access to Physio scheme. We also have a team of Working Well Champions and Mental Health Ambassadors who support workplace wellbeing across all our locations.
Championing diversity and inclusion
We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. When you start working with us, we’ll ask you to do half a day of equal opportunities training. We also have a number of policies and initiatives in place to support our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Our support networks include:
Equality and Diversity Forum
Wellbeing Network
Armed Forces Network
BME NOW Network
Carers Network
Disability Network
LGBTQ+ Network
Men’s Health and Women’s Health networks
Disability Confident Employer
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and we’ll interview every disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria for a job application. And to help you feel more comfortable, we’ll make reasonable adjustments for your interview with us. If you let us know on your job application, we can get in touch with you before your interview to make the necessary arrangements. Of course, if you get the job, we’ll also do what we reasonably can to support your employment with us.
Foster Friendly Organisation
As an official Foster Friendly Organisation, we recognise and support the responsibilities of Foster Carers and Approved Kinship Carers. Approved Kinship Carers are now specifically referenced within our Fostering Policy. This means that if you have this arrangement, you’re able to benefit from paid time off to settle the child, and attend Social Care meetings, in the same way that Foster Carers already do. Like other parents, Kinship and Foster Carers are also eligible to take unpaid time off to deal with emergencies of those in their care.
Veterans Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to the Veteran community, we’re really pleased to offer a Veterans Guaranteed Interview Scheme. That means if you’re a Veteran, or the partner of a Veteran – including bereaved, who’s been in service in the last five years, you’ll be guaranteed an interview if you apply and meet the essential criteria for the job.
As an official signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we recognise the valuable transferable skills veterans bring, and want to support ex-service personnel to access our employment opportunities.
Care Leavers Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to the care leaver community, we are proud to offer a Care Leaver Guaranteed Interview Scheme for all care leavers of any age, where the essential criteria of a role are met.
Supporting flexible working
If you’re looking for some flexibility in where or how you work, we’ll try to support you. Most of our people enjoy the option of flexible working hours, with different start and finish times, depending on their and our needs. Depending on your role, you may be able to work part of the day or part of the week. Some of our jobs are also potentially open to job share. It’s a great way for working parents to fit work around family responsibilities.
Some of our roles are also available for term time working. This means you’ll be on a permanent full or part-time contract, with the ability to take unpaid leave during the school holidays. If the role allows, you’ll have the flexibility to use the workspace at any of our locations. You also may have the option to work from home, as and when you need to, due to domestic, or health reasons. We’ll also help you to support the local community, by offering up to two days’ paid time off each year for voluntary work.
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