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    Employee benefits

    We understand that people are our most valuable resource, and we want to make your experience with us as positive and beneficial as possible. 

     

    We offer competitive pay to our colleagues, alongside comprehensive support. You will receive a full induction to help you settle into your new role. You will also get ongoing training and personal development opportunities to help you perform at your best, providing a work/life balance and supporting your wellbeing.  

     

    Employee benefits

    As part of the Pay and Reward offer, we have developed an attractive benefits package to support you to lead a happy and healthy life.

     

    Key features of our benefits package are based around managing your money, health and wellbeing, travel, and learning and career development.

     

    Read our 'More than just a job' brochure for more information about our employee benefits offering.

     

    Annual leave

    We offer a generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days, increasing to 31 days after two years continuous service with a pro rata entitlement for part time workers. This excludes Youth and Community Workers, whose terms and conditions are determined by the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC).   

     

    Bank holiday

    Bank/Public Holidays are additional to the above entitlements (there are normally eight such days in a year). Part time employees or anyone with compressed working patterns will have an adjustment made to their annual leave, to account for where bank holidays fall in their working pattern. 

     

    Annual leave carry over

    This is a limited amount and subject to manager approval. Colleagues can carry forward a maximum of five days annual leave in the following year.

     

    Buying and selling annual leave

    You can also buy and sell holiday through our popular scheme.

     

    Flexible working

    It's important to us that our employees can have a healthy work-life balance. We can offer options such as:

    • part-time work
    • job-sharing opportunities
    • term-time working patterns
    • annualised hours
    • agile working
    • compressed work weeks

     

    Family support policies

     We offer various support options for employees who need to care for someone else, including:

    • maternity
    • paternity
    • parental leave
    • carer's leave
    • adoption leave

     

    Additional types of leave

    You may also be entitled to other types of leave depending on your situation. These include:

    • career breaks
    • compassionate leave
    • disability leave
    • election duties
    • jury service
    • some medical appointments, depending on our policies
    • public duties and volunteering
    • reservists
    • study leave
    • unpaid leave
    • adverse weather conditions

     

    Pension scheme 

    You can join the BCP Council pension scheme, which is part of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) under Dorset Council. This scheme offers tax-approved, defined benefit occupational pensions based on your membership length and salary.  

     

    Entry to the LGPS is automatic for employees under the age 75 and with a contract of more than three months. Employees with a contract of less than three months can elect to join the scheme.

     

     We will continue your membership of the scheme unless you:

    • personally choose to opt out
    • are no longer eligible for membership
    • stop making contributions. 

    We must have to make sure the scheme continues to meet government standards. 

     

    Relocation support

     If you're planning to relocate for a job with us, you may be able to get up to £8,000 in relocation costs. This is available for certain roles that are hard to recruit to. If this support is available, it will be mentioned in the job advert. All relocation allowances are subject to Director approval. 

     

    Managing your money

    Our benefits package can help you make the most of your salary through:

    • discounts for major stores, food outlets, and leisure offers through Our Benefits scheme
    • a salary advance scheme (to be introduced in 2026)
    • an opportunity to boost your pension with additional voluntary contributions

     

    Health and wellbeing

    We also have a range of health and wellbeing support options in our benefits package, including:

    • our Employee Assistance Programme
    • a 24 hour GP Helpline service
    • a workplace nursery salary sacrifice scheme (to be introduced in 2026)
    • flu vaccines
    • eye test vouchers
    • healthcare cash plans

     

    Travel

    We can help you travel to work more easily and more sustainably, through:

    • a car leasing salary sacrifice scheme
    • a cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme (up to £5,000)
    • discounts on bus travel
    • secure bike cages, lockers, and shower facilities at the BCP Civic Centre.

     

    Learning and career development

    You can continue to grow your professional education while working with us. Our benefits include:

    • access to more that 1,000 online training courses on SkillGate
    • recognition scheme