What staff think

Janna:
My name is Janna Maxfield and I am the Head of Workforce Development at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

Oxleas is located in south east London across the boroughs of Greenwich, Bromley and Bexley. As well as enjoying the amenities of London, we are conveniently located for the Kent countryside and the south coast. Transport links are good and include the nearby Eurostar terminal at Ebbsfleet.

We provide a wide range of health and social care services and specialise in caring for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities. Our workforce numbers around 2,000 people who enjoy a variety of careers and includes many highly skilled professionals.

The trust offers many benefits to its staff and in the annual staff survey for 2008 we had the best score among mental health and learning disability trusts for staff who would recommend Oxleas as a good place to work. Other areas in which we received the best national score include staff feeling that:

• their job makes a difference to patients
• they are valued by colleagues
• they are involved in decision making and
• that they receive job relevant training, learning and development.

Oxleas has an excellent reputation for its learning and development opportunities, many of which are available via e-learning; and all staff benefit from personal development reviews and regular supervision. A wealth of training opportunities is also available both within and outside the trust.

Oxleas actively supports people with mental and physical disabilities into work and is accredited by the Jobcentre Plus disability two ticks scheme for employers who take positive action to employ people with disabilities. We have also signed up to the MINDFUL EMPLOYER initiative which aims to increase awareness of mental health at work and provide support for businesses in recruiting and retaining staff.

The trust is keen to support the health and wellbeing of staff who have access to discounted gym membership across our three boroughs and counselling services when they need them.

Our staff tell us that they are happy with their work/life balance. Reasons for this include:

• our excellent childcare support, with access to childcare vouchers; nursery provision; and advice from our childcare coordinator;
• a special leave policy which supports staff during times of crisis; and
• a positive approach to flexible working which many of our staff have taken up.

The excellent package we offer staff also includes:

• annual season ticket loans;
• a lease car scheme; and
• a generous NHS pension with good life assurance that contributes 14% of pensionable pay.

All our vacancies including paid and volunteering opportunities are advertised on the NHS Jobs website which can be accessed through the Oxleas website.

So if you’re looking for flexibility where and how you work, excellent career development and a first class employment package, you’ll find Oxleas a great place to work.

Rhiannon:
My Name is Rhiannon Adams and I am PA based in Bexley.

As a working mum I have been very glad to take advantage of Oxleas’ excellent childcare arrangements. My twins attends the Acorns Early Years Centre near Pinewood House, the trust’s headquarters. It’s a fantastic nursery. Both of my children love it.

One of the things that has been really helpful is Oxleas having a childcare coordinator. She is an invaluable source of useful information about maternity leave, local nurseries, childcare vouchers and holiday play schemes.

I have found Oxleas to be very accommodating of my needs around having young children. Being able to work flexible hours has meant I can take care of my family whilst continuing my career.