NHS Direct

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Benefits at NHS Direct

When you join NHS Direct, we offer you a comprehensive induction programme to help you make the most of your talents.

Some other benefits of working at NHS Direct are outlined below.

The New NHS Pension Scheme

With effect from 1 April 2008, new NHS employees aged 16-75 have the opportunity to join the New NHS Pension Scheme. This includes non-GP partners but does not include general dental practice staff.

The scheme offers a retirement pension based on 1/60th of the employee’s reckonable pay for each year of scheme membership and proportionally for any part year.

Members’ contributions are tiered, based on the employee’s full-time equivalent pensionable pay including pensionable allowances. Contributions range from 5% to 8.5%.

Further information is available from the NHS Pension Scheme website.

Annual leave 

Annual leave is linked to your length of service.

When you join NHS Direct as a full-time employee, you are entitled to annual leave of 27 days a year. This increases to:

•  29 days a year after 5 years’ service, and
•  33 days a year after 10 years’ service.

Entitlements to annual leave are pro rata for part-time employees.

Flexible working

Our flexible working options include:

•  part-time working,
•  job sharing, and
•  temporary reduced hours.

Season ticket loan

If you use public transport to travel to and from work, you may benefit from our season ticket loan. You can apply for a loan of up to £5,000 a year, and the repayments are spread throughout the year, in 12 monthly instalments taken directly from your salary.

Buying a 12 month season ticket for public transport may also be cheaper than buying individual daily or monthly passes or tickets.

Employee assistance programmes

We operate a confidential staff support helpline.

Occupational health

Our occupational health service offers medical support for all our staff.

Partnership working

We work in partnership with several union bodies, including:

•  the Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
•  Unite and
•  Unison.

Flexible retirement

Retirement involves a significant change in lifestyle. Support and policies are available for staff approaching retirement, offering various options.

Improving Working Lives (IWL)

All employers in the NHS are expected to achieve the IWL standard which means they value the contribution their staff make. As an NHS employer, NHS Direct offers:

•  modern employment practices,
•  recognition that staff need to strike a healthy balance between work and home life,
•  involvement in developing working arrangements, and
•  personal and professional development and training opportunities.

See all current vacancies at NHS Direct