What We Can Offer
Allowances For Newly Appointed Staff
Flexible Working Opportunities
Training and Career Development
Car User Allowance/Loan/Lease Scheme
Occupational Pension Scheme
Quality Assurance Systems
Staff Care
Physiotherapy Service
Secondment Opportunities
Staff Recognition
Continuous Service
Other Helpful Services
A Nice Place to Live, Work and Bring up a Family
Few areas have such variety as County Durham, from the rugged Pennine hills in the West to the limestone cliffs of its North Sea coastline in the East. At its heart lies Durham City with its exceptional Cathedral and Castle. To the West of the city the lovely scenery of Durham Dales forms part of one of England’s largest areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North Pennines.
County Durham is also an excellent base for touring the rest of Northumbria with attractions like Hadrian’s Wall and the Northumberland Coast and Gateshead Metro Centre on the doorstep. The Scottish Borders, Lake District and Yorkshire Dales are within easy reach.
Allowances For Newly Appointed Staff
The County Council operates a scheme of removal, lodging and separation expenses towards relocation if new staff must move house to take up their new job. Subject to the eligibility criteria you may be entitled to relocation expenses of up to £6,000 towards removal expenses, separation and lodging, storage, travelling expenses, legal and estate agents fees and settling in allowance. In addition two days' special leave' with pay is available to assist with your moving house.Flexible Working Opportunities
We expect staff to be committed to us but in return we recognise that there are instances where life at home takes over. We are therefore flexible with regard to our approach to achieving a work life balance and can offer the following options with manager’s agreement:- Flexitime
- Teleworking (i.e. working from home)
- Job share policy
- Career breaks
- Paid / unpaid Leave of Absence
- Compassionate Leave
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Parental leave
- Adoption leave
- Flexibility in the workplace
- Reduced working hours
Training and Career Development
We aim to provide training for everyone to be competent in their own job and to develop staff for future roles.
We have a life long learning policy that promotes a culture of continuous learning and seeks to provide greater opportunities for education and training to develop staff to their full potential. We have a staff development section which facilities in house training and development activities and produces a guide to learning and development opportunities.
Our pay structure is based on the Local Government National Joint Council conditions, which allow for progression with the range of the grade with increments payable on the 1st April.
Car User Allowance / Loan /Lease Scheme
A car user allowance may be attached to some posts where staff may be required to use their private cares for official business. Staff will be reimbursed for mileage costs incurred and a car loan may be made available or alternatively leasing arrangements may be available.Occupational Pension Scheme
Pension information is sent to all new staff with their contract of employment . Staff are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme and contributions rates vary for different pay bands.Quality Assurance Systems
We operate a Quality Assurance Framework, which focuses on the way we set standards, monitor them and develop in order to assure the quality of our services.Staff Care
We have developed a comprehensive staff care and counselling service to promote the well being of all staff. A staff care officer is employed to provide a confidential staff care service and a counselling service is available with access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Physiotherapy Service
A physiotherapy service is available, free of charge, to employees of the County Council. Staff will generally receive an appointment with the physiotherapist within days of the referral being made. This service has proven to be effective in preventing staff from being absent due to sickness and in hastening their return to work following sickness absence.Secondment Opportunities
We allow staff the opportunity of secondment subject to meeting criteria.Staff Recognition
We recognise the hard work and commitment shown by our workforce not only in the work they do from day to day but also in improving our service that we offer to the public. As a sign of appreciation we hold an Awards ceremony.We also have a corporate staff suggestion scheme which encourages all staff to make suggestions on ways to improve the quality of service offered by us.
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Continuous Service
Service with any Local Authority and other specified authorities, which is continuous with your employment with Durham County Council will count towards the calculation of annual leave, sick pay, maternity leave and redundancy payments.Other Helpful Services
Community Information OnlineThe Children's Information Service
Provides information about the range of childcare and education facilities available in County Durham:- Childminders
- Nurseries
- Nursery Education
- Sessional day care e.g. playgroups and crèches
- Out of school childcare
- Infant, junior and primary education
