St Gemma’s Hospice
Working at St Gemma’s Hospice
Thank you for your interest in working at St Gemma’s Hospice. This is an exciting time in the charity’s history as we develop and deliver new strategies for our clinical services, income generation, estates and workforce.
The mission of the Hospice remains as relevant today as when St Gemma’s was founded in 1978:
to provide compassionate and skilled specialist palliative care of the highest quality, both in the Hospice and in the community and to recognise each person’s need for respect, dignity and independence as we care for adult patients, from all backgrounds, with active, progressive, advanced illnesses, and to provide continuing support for their families and carers
The Hospice is at the heart of our community and provides the best possible care and quality of life for local people with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.
Working for the Hospice, both on the main site and in our many charity shops is rewarding and challenging. St Gemma’s is a good employer and offers a number of benefits for staff including flexibility, training and support.
The areas below highlight some of the main benefits of working for St Gemma’s Hospice. In some areas such as maternity statutory and occupational benefits are too complex to explain in full here but a sense of the approach is included.
Hospice Funding
The majority of our running costs have to be raised through donations, legacies, fundraising initiatives and our chain of charity shops. The balance of funds comes directly from NHS commissioners. Recently the national and local economic climate has been challenging but the Hospice’s income has remained stable. St Gemma’s is not at risk but has gone through a period of re-structuring in order to secure the Hospice’s future. The Hospice holds sufficient reserves to cover six months’ running costs. For further information you may wish to read our statutory accounts which are available on our own website as well as the Charity Commission’s.
Learning & Teaching
All employees are encouraged to continuously develop their skills and update their knowledge in order to make the best possible contribution to the Hospice. Line managers are responsible for discussing performance with their employees and identifying where further support and training may be needed. Everyone is encouraged to have a development plan which links with Hospice objectives. St Gemma’s provides a comprehensive programme of in-service training for clinical and non-clinical staff and funding is also available for attendance on external training courses and conferences where appropriate.
Annual Leave
The Hospice annual leave year runs from 1st April to 31st March. Contractual paid holiday entitlement is calculated according to the number of years’ service completed as at the beginning of the holiday year.
Entitlement for full-time employees (pro-rata for part-time):
On commencement:27 days
After 5 years’ service:30 days
After 10 years’ service:33 days
(You will also be entitled to eight public/statutory holidays in each annual leave year - pro rata for part-time staff).
Clinical staff who come to work with us directly from the NHS retain their continuous service entitlement with regard to annual leave.
Sick Pay
The Hospice operates an occupational sick pay scheme based on length of service. Payment for periods of absence due to sickness is made in accordance with this scheme and with the statutory regulations concerning Statutory Sick Pay in force at the time.
Applicants who come to work for us directly from the NHS retain their continuous service entitlement with regard to sick pay.
Pension
If you are currently a member of the NHS Pension Scheme or have contributed within the last twelve months you are eligible to continue contributing to this scheme.
If you are not in the NHS Pension Scheme you are eligible to join the Hospice’s Group Personal Pension Plan. The minimum contribution for employees is 3% monthly, however, the majority of employees contribute 5%. The Hospice contributes 5% monthly.
Death in Service Benefit
The Hospice provides death in service benefit cover for employees not in the NHS Pension Scheme. The benefit provides a two times basic salary pay-out in the event of your death whilst you are employed by St Gemma’s.
Those in the NHS Pension scheme are covered by its own provisions.
Maternity/Paternity Benefits
All pregnant employees, regardless of their length of service with the Hospice are entitled to paid time off to receive ante-natal care. This includes medical examinations, parent-craft and relaxation classes.
In addition to statutory entitlements, employees become entitled to eitherSt Gemma’s Occupational Maternity or Paternity Pay Schemes after 12 months continuous employment with the Hospice.
Childcare Vouchers
Childcare vouchers are an employee benefit aimed at helping working parents pay for their childcare bills. Employees exchange a portion of their salary for vouchers which can be used to ‘purchase’ childcare from registered providers. The amount employees receive in vouchers is exempt from tax and NI.
Employee Care Services
As one of the providers of healthcare across Leeds, Hospice employees can access this NHS run service to get free advice and support. They can help with:
-detailed childcare searches, checking availability & costs of childcare providers including child minders, nurseries, out-of-school clubs & school holiday play schemes
-advice on how to make savings when paying for childcare
-advice on the benefits available egcarer’s allowance, tax credits and maternity grants.
Gym Membership
As an employee of a registered charity, you are entitled to a 20% discount on the cost of membership at Leeds City Council’s leisure centres cross the city. Further information on the discount can be found on the leisure and culture pages of the Leeds City Council website.
You can also join the gyms at the LGI and St James’s hospitals or participate in exercise classes.
Staff Support
The Hospice is committed to providing support for employees and recognises that:
-Staff are the Hospice’s most valued and valuable resource
-Additional pressures are generated by the stressful nature of the service provided
-Ever changing needs constantly challenge us
-Staff who are cared for provide the best quality of care to the patient
-A range of integrated services, together with a general ethos of care, is essential
Staff Representative Forum
This Forum provides a means of communication and consultation between management and employees on all matters of mutual interest leading to enhanced relationships throughout the Hospice.
Car Parking
The Hospice has free on site car parking for visitors, volunteers and staff. Occasionally it is necessary to park in the surrounding streets but parking here is free, unrestricted and in a relatively safe, residential area.
Refreshments
St Gemma’s has an attractive Bistro area offering a wide variety of snacks and meals for staff and visitors. Staffenjoy discounted prices and are also eligible to join the beverage scheme which provides unlimited hot drinks and filtered water for £10 per month (pro rata for part-time staff).
Further Information
If you have any queries or require further information please do not hesitate to contact the Hospice’s HR Department on