Designated work space
Your work base will be nominated as either Macclesfield, Middlewich, Sandbach or Crewe, where you will have a dedicated workspace. There are also opportunities to work at other locations across Cheshire East providing you with an accessible and confidential work environment. Our offices provide a modern, comfortable working environment and all locations have close and accessible parking.
Recruitment and Retention payment
Experienced and progressed workers who join our Cin/CP Team in Crewe will now be eligible for a recruitment bonus of £3,000 which is paid on successful completion of your probationary period. Everyone working in the roles of Team Manager or Grade 9 and 10 Social Workers in the Cin/CP teams and Cared For Children and Care Leavers Teams are also eligible for an annual Retention Payment of £1,000 paid with your normal salary on the anniversary of appointment; it is subject to tax, national insurance and is pensionable. A £1,000 Retention Payment is also paid to ASYE social workers who progress through panel to their second year of employment.
Flexible working hours scheme
The scheme allows you to manage your time to deal with the peaks and troughs in your work allowing you to accrue up to 30 hours at any one time which can be taken as up to two days leave per month up to a maximum of 18 days per year.
Technical support
Each Social worker is provided with their own smart phone and works laptop which is wifi enabled making it possible for you to work from any location. Additionally Social Workers have the ability to access the Cheshire East network by using their smart phone as an internet tethering tool when not at any local sites.
A 24/7 IT support service is available.
Annual leave
Annual leave is 25 days per annum rising to 30 days after 5 years continuous Local Government service. Additionally, 8 paid Bank Holidays are granted each year.
Other employee support schemes
A range of employee support initiatives exist, such as the Purchase Of Additional Leave and an Employee Assistance Scheme giving you and your family living with you access to a range of advice and support.
Childcare
Childcare vouchers can be obtained through our current provider, Fidelity. Cheshire East has a range of childcare providers and a full list can be provided.
Professional fees
Any cost over and above the first £50 to register with HCPC will be paid by Cheshire East.
Relocation package
Relocation package. If you live more than 30 miles away and relocate your home within two years of your appointment a relocation package of up to £10,000 may be offered to help with removal expenses; storage expenses for a maximum of two years; legal and estate agents fees and reasonable expenditure connected with the move.
Signs of Safety and caseloads
Cheshire East Children’s Services has introduced Signs of Safety as our operational model and we have been busy with a full programme of training across the teams as this work unfolds. We have also worked hard to reduce caseloads; Social Workers in our Cin/CP Teams have no more than 25 cases at any one time, whilst staff in the Cared For Children and Care Leavers Service generally work with up to 20 children and young people; ASYE caseloads are protected significantly below these levels.
Car parking and allowances
You will be allocated a parking pass which will enable you to park free of charge at any local authority owned car park. You will receive a car user allowance of up to £963 per annum depending on cc of your car, paid as 12 equal instalments with your monthly pay. You can claim up to 40.9 pence per mile travelled for business purposes. Cheshire East also makes available a green car scheme, where you can purchase a car for work and personal use at preferential rates.
Recruitment and retention strategy
Salary sacrifice car scheme
In today’s tough financial climate, a new car may feel more like a luxury than a necessity, but the truth is, it doesn’t have to cost the Earth. Tusker take the complications out of owning a car. They offer a complete motoring experience without the spiralling costs and endless headaches. Their package is simple: they offer you a brand new car, complete with insurance, breakdown cover and a host of other cost-saving benefits in exchange for a ‘salary sacrifice’ – a fixed monthly reduction from your gross salary. It’s cheaper than a standard car lease scheme and, with all the potentially confusing details of running your own car contained within one package, it makes your life simpler too. With packages starting from just £161 per month you could drive a brand new car and be debt and worry free! What’s included?
- All servicing and maintenance including tyres
- Fully comprehensive motor insurance
- Annual Road Fund Licence
- Roadside assistance
- Protection for certain lifestyle events
Children’s records
Cheshire East Children’s Social Care uses Liquidlogic as our electronic case recording system. The software is built on a modern platform which is flexible, intuitive, secure and constantly refreshed; it provides a modern and efficient tool for all workers to work effectively with children and their families. Full training is provided and on-site support is available to staff and managers by a dedicated support officer.
