How we support you

Supportive policies and procedures

All Council policies are available on our policy register on our gov.uk website. They are also available once you start on our intranet, the Orb.

For clarity on the qualifying conditions and entitlements you can refer to the relevant entitlements guide once you start.

Special leave policy

  • Balancing family life and work: We understand that balancing family life and work arrangements can be challenging and therefore this part of the special leave policy is there to support you.
  • Balancing wellbeing and work: We can only be our best at work if we look after ourselves and each other. By looking after our wellbeing, we can benefit from fewer health challenges, that is why we want to give you support when you might need it most. This includes leave to attend medical appointments, but also time off to participate in sporting events or volunteering to support local communities.
  • Other commitments outside of work: There are occasions where you may have other commitments outside of work that you need to attend or undertake public duties. We understand that these commitments aren’t always your choice, and we want to be able to support you with special leave to allow you to attend. This could include jury service, attending Court as a witness, or leave for reservists.

View our special leave policy

Family leave policy

Becoming a parent is a very special time in your life and we believe that all parents should have the opportunity to spend time with their new child.

The Family leave policy goes beyond our minimum legal obligations to support you at this very important time of your life. This policy demonstrates our commitment to being a family friendly employer by providing enhanced leave and pay provisions and supporting new parents in choosing the pattern of leave that best suits them and their individual circumstances.

View our family leave policy

Flexible working policy

We’re committed to supporting the wellbeing of our colleagues, this includes promoting a culture where the value of work life balance is fully recognised. We want colleagues to feel empowered to deliver their role by giving them more choice around their working arrangements, wherever possible.

All colleagues have a crucial role in bringing Our Behaviours to life in our policies. For our flexible working policy this includes

  • Respect: Lead with fairness and consistency and be considerate of people’s lives outside of work.
  • Integrity: Promote a wellbeing-focused environment, valuing honesty and openness through regular conversations.
  • Flexibility: Demonstrate and encourage a flexible mindset, and a willingness to try different ways of working. Work with colleagues to support a positive work life balance.

View our flexible working policy

Other examples of policies that support our colleagues

All policies and supporting guidance are available on our intranet, the Orb, alongside supporting guidance.