Surrey Probation Area

Staff Benefits:

Surrey Probation Area offers an attractive and comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, an outline of which is given below.  Further details are available on request from our HR team at Head Office.  Please note that the benefits package is currently under review with the aim of improving it.

Staff Development - Surrey Probation Area rates staff development as a high priority. This is reflected by our continuing status as an Investor in People. Staff have an annual appraisal which identifies their training and development needs and suggests how those needs might be met. The Staff Development Unit aims to help you work as effectively as possible, and assist you in identifying and developing your potential to take on further responsibilities or other roles.

When you first join us information will be available to you which helps you settle in and feel confident in your job.  Within the first nine months you should be invited to visit Head Office for a day, with other staff, to be introduced to the Head Office team and learn more about what Surrey Probation Area offers to both staff and offenders.

Development of your job skills - Throughout your career, we operate in a changing environment and we make sure that you are prepared to meet any new challenges which arise on the job.

Internal/external courses - We run a number of ‘in-house' and external courses which staff are encouraged or may be required to attend to develop skills relevant to their job.  An extensive programme of courses develops practical skills in management and supervision, communication, presentation, interviewing and use of IT.  In addition, professional practice/specialism courses are available.

Relocation Assistance - This may be available in approved cases to new staff moving into the area to assist them to commence employment with Surrey Probation Area.  It is important for you to establish at an early stage with the HR Department at Head Office whether the scheme is available to you.  Surrey Probation Area also has its own temporary, affordable shared housing.  For further information please contact the HR team at Head Office. 

Key Worker Housing Scheme - We want to give you the help you need to buy or rent a home when you move to Surrey and to keep you in the job you have been trained for.  If you are a key worker employed in an operational role you could get help to buy your first home, to move to a family home or to rent affordable accommodation.  All jobs advertised will indicate if they are a 'key worker' post. 

Thames Valley Housing are the 'zone agents' for Surrey and have access to the different local authorities and housing associations responsible for the provision of key worker housing in Surrey.  For further information please visit their website http://www.kwliving.co.uk/

Pay:

Salary scales - Nationally agreed scales are laid down for each category of staff whom we employ.  Your starting point is normally the first point of the scale, but experience in the Criminal Justice System will be taken into account.  Increments are paid annually until the maximum for the grade is reached.  In addition, there is a geographical supplement.  Current rates for the geographical supplement will be contained in the advert.

Environmental Allowances - This is a special allowance paid to all staff working in prisons.

Sick pay - During illness you will be paid your full pay for at least one month or longer according to length of service (up to a maximum of six months full pay and six months half pay after five years' service).

Maternity benefit - As an employee of Surrey Probation Area you will be eligible for maternity benefit from the Service in addition to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), regardless of length of service.

Pension - Employees are automatically admitted to the Local Government Pension Scheme on appointment unless they indicate a wish to the contrary. Members of the scheme contribute approximately 6% of their salary.

If you become a member you will be entitled to a pension if you retire voluntarily at or after reaching the age of 60.  The normal retirement age is 65.  If you choose to leave before 60 your accumulated benefits will be frozen at least until you reach age 60.  Immediate benefits will normally be payable if you leave because of permanent ill health or if you are retired early by the Probation Service. If you have any previous pension rights it may be possible to transfer them to the Local Government Scheme, and similar arrangements may be possible if you leave us and join another pension scheme. 

Hours of Work - These differ slightly for the various categories of staff. For the majority of full time staff the hours are 37 hours a week and in the case of probation officers 150 hours per four week period.  Certain posts will require you to work at times outside the ‘normal office hours', ie in the evening or at weekends.

Flexi-time - A system of flexible working hours (FWH) is in operation for a large number of staff.  Under the FWH system staff may carry forward a certain number of credit or debit hours to the next month and credit hours may be taken as ‘flexi leave'.

Travelling - If you have to travel away from your normal place of employment on business, travelling expenses will be paid.

Car allowances - If it is necessary for you to provide a car for official business you will be paid an allowance to meet the cost. 

Car lease scheme - Surrey Probation Area operates a subsidised car lease scheme with cars hired for a four year period. Employees on management grade or who are ‘essential' car users and whose business mileage exceeds 3,000 miles per annum may be eligible, at the Chief Officer's discretion, for a leased vehicle at a monthly contribution.  Business mileage is reimbursed at a set mileage rate intended to cover fuel costs.

Car loan scheme - Individuals who are deemed essential car users may, subject to certain conditions, be granted a car loan. The loan will be at a favourable rate of interest and we will arrange for this to be repaid over a period of up to five years from your monthly salary.

Car Parking - Most work places have limited car parking facilities available for their employees.

Equal Opportunities Policy - Surrey Probation Area is committed to the provision of equal opportunity in employment and it is the intention that the Board, as a responsible employer, will conduct its affairs in a manner which will not cause disadvantages to any employee or job applicant on the following grounds: race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origins, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or religion.

Staff Welfare Services - Surrey Probation Area offers a smoke-free working environment.  Surrey Probation Area has a range of policies and procedures concerning staff welfare, including the provision of advice and guidance on general queries about ill health, accidents at work, prolonged sick leave, general workplace problems which could affect work performance.  Home visits to employees are carried out if necessary.

Free Health Screening - All staff are offered free annual health screening which is carried out by a fully qualified nurse. The results are confidential to staff and not divulged to the Service.

Low Cost Independent Health Care - Surrey Probation Area offers membership of the Simply Health Scheme to all staff.

Holidays - The holiday entitlement is 25 days rising to a maximum of 33.  All staff are entitled to the usual eight public holidays.

Employee Assistance Scheme - This is provided by a company called PPC, a leading provider of professional advice and counselling to employees.  The EAS is available any time day or night, any day of the year for free, impartial advice across a whole range of areas from personnel counselling to financial and legal advice.

Childcare Vouchers - Surrey Probation Area provides a child care voucher scheme through Accor Services.  This is a salary sacrifice scheme which entitles you to tax relief on your payments made through the payroll.