The College provides many services and facilities for members of staff. This leaflet gives an introduction to these services and how you can use them to make your time at the College more productive and enjoyable.

Refectory and Catering Operations

There is a wide range of convenient places to get tasty, healthy food available across the College.

In addition, a full vending service is available at all centres, and a spring water service is provided throughout the College Office areas for staff.

Car Parking

Although the College provides car parking at most centres they are restricted at College Green and Ashley Down. All members of staff are requested to obtain a parking permit which can be obtained form the FM Helpdesk.

The entrance at College Green is barrier controlled and each Faculty or Department is allocated a small number of spaces. Spaces are allocated according to need. On all sites some spaces are available to staff with restricted mobility subject to them having a 'blue' badge issued by their local council.

Spaces cannot be guaranteed.

Complimentary Therapies, Hairdressing

Hairdressing, Beauty and Holistic Therapies services are available at Ashley Down, Bedminster, College Green, Lawrence Weston and Soundwell, offering a range of treatments including hairdressing, aromatherapy, massages, manicures and reflexology.

Counselling Services

The College is committed to the health, welfare and well-being of its staff and as part of this an independent counsellor is available. The first three sessions are free and you can book an appointment direct by ringing 01291-627722. It is entirely confidential.

Medical Services

There are first aiders all our centres. We provide pre-employment screening on fitness for work, special examinations and medical advise for drivers and catering staff, and financial support for eye tests/VDU spectacles for those staff deemed as VDU users.

Prayer Rooms

There are designated Prayer rooms at all College Centres

Chaplaincy

The College is in the process of setting up a chaplaincy to support staff and students on general personal and spiritual matters irrespective of faith or culture.

Learning Resource Centres (LRCs)

Staff are entitled to use the LRC drop-in PCs and to borrow books, DVDs, videos and other resources - just bring your College ID card for both these services. Microsoft Office and anti-virus software is available from the LRCs for installation on home PCs for College work use. We can also help locate electronic and paper-based resources to support your teaching.

Workforce Development

The College is committed to supporting the training and development of its staff in accordance with our Strategic aims. A range of activities is advertised regularly, mainly in-house.

The College also allows every member of staff to take, each year, a subsidised part-time course (no enrolment fee to pay) on a subject not necessarily related to the job e.g. plumbing or drawing..

Continuous Professional Development is encouraged, as well as use of the Learning Centres. Resources in the Centres include a large book stock, CD's and PC facilities, free internet access, periodicals, daily newspapers etc.

Pension Scheme

Whatever scheme you join the main benefit is a final salary at retirement. The College contributes significantly to your pension on a monthly basis. The scheme provides for:

• A guaranteed pension for life ...
• Which increases in line with inflation once you retire
• It's based on your earnings and your time as a member - so reflect your standard of living at the time you retire
• A tax-free lump sum three times your yearly pension
• Pensions for your husband/wife and children too
• If you become ill; and have to stop work permanently, you can retire early with a pension in most cases
• Life Assurance from day you join the scheme

In a day when many employers are suspending their private pension schemes for their employees, the College is committed to maintaining this benefit in its present form.

To find out more about the College's policy on the Local Government Pension Scheme discretions, download our information sheet.

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Repayment of Teachers' Loans (RTL)

This applies to all new FE Lecturers entering the profession from July 2002 who undertook delivery of the current FE shortages - English, Drama, Maths, Science, Design and Technology, ICT, Modern Languages, Welsh, Construction and Engineering.

The RTL initiative came into effect on 1 September 2002. The scheme repays the outstanding student loans of newly qualified teachers of the specifically identified shortage subjects listed above.

There are certain criteria that must be satisfied before access to the scheme is confirmed.

Golden Hellos

This scheme applies to new FE lecturers who teach a shortage subject. These are: Construction, Design and Technology, Engineering, English (inc. Drama), ICLT, Maths, Modern Languages, Science, Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL. New Lecturers who complete their first year can receive up to £4,000 as a one-off payment. There are certain criteria that must be satisfied before access to the scheme is confirmed.

Childcare Voucher Scheme

The College participates in a Childcare Voucher Scheme, with Busy Bees, to allow members of staff who pay for registered childcare to benefit from Tax and National Insurance.

For further details about this scheme, please see these pages.

Travel Agency

A Travel Agency exists at the Soundwell Centre and provides services to staff and students with regard to travel and holidays.

Immunisations

The College provides a free on site flu inoculation for certain groups of staff.

Business Expenses

Expenses at 40p per mile can be claimed for journeys undertaken for legitimate business reasons (20p for cycles)

Staff who are allocated a base or centre (and meet the criteria to be allocated a base) and are relocated at some later date can claim relocation expenses in the form of excess bus fares for 3 years or a one-off lump sum payment as compensation. The lump sum payment is based on a sliding scale linked to additional miles travelled.

Compassionate Leave

In the event of the death of close relative the following will apply at the discretion of the line manager:

(i) A death which occurs locally or where travelling is necessary to and from the funeral on the same day. One day.

(ii) A death which occurs some distance away and an overnight stay is necessary. Up to three days.

iii) A death which involves considerable additional responsibilities on the employee (ie organisation of the funeral, arranging care for children or the elderly, a complicated financial or business affair to sort out and attendance at the funeral). Up to five days.

Serious Illness

In the event of a serious illness of a close relative or dependent for whom the employee has a particular responsibility, the following will apply:

(i) Where a member of staff needs time-off to care for a seriously ill close relative or dependent where it is not possible to provide other caring arrangements. Up to five days - some or all may be paid.

Time off to Care for a Dependent

Paid leave can be granted where an emergency or unforeseen event or crisis occurs involving a dependent.

Give as You Earn

The College runs an approved "giving" scheme. You can make regular payments to charities by having your gifts deducted from your gross pay. Your gifts get immediate tax relief at the highest rate and the Inland Revenue adds 10% to the gifts.

Flexible Working

The College takes seriously the need for staff to balance childcare responsibilities and work. Members of staff can request changes to their work pattern, hours of work or other adjustments and these will be considered by the College.

Interest Free Loans

The College has schemes for:

• Interest-free loans for the purchase of bus and/or train season tickets or "park and ride" vouchers
• Interest-free loans for the purchase of bicycles and bicycle accessories.