Benefits

We’ve developed what we hope is a package that resonates with you:

  • Salary
  • Flexible working and working hours/arrangements
  • Travel planning incl. discounts & season ticket loans
  • Annual leave
  • Local Government Pension Scheme
  • Learning and development, coaching and mentoring
  • Family friendly policies
  • Premature baby leave and pay
  • Employee health and wellbeing
  • Apprenticeships
  • Career planning
  • HSF health plan and eye-care scheme
  • Modern offices
  • Financial wellbeing support

Salary

We support the principles of equal pay and offer competitive salaries. You may also receive an annual increment until you reach the maximum point of the grade.

Flexible working

As part of the Council’s ongoing digital strategy, we are currently investing in our IT infrastructure. What this translates to is up-to-date equipment that will allow you to work flexibly from home or on-site. This working ethos is creating an agile workforce who can fit their work around their lifestyles. Other flexible work options can include annualised hours, compressed hours, flexitime, home working, job-sharing and flexi break scheme.

Our jobs are based upon a 36-hour week, and most are open to "job-sharing".

Modern offices

We’re working to make Southwark a cleaner, greener and safer place to live and work. As part of our modernisation programme, you will be located at one of our new buildings, Tooley Street, near to London Bridge.

Travel planning

With a passion for environmentally friendly forms of transport – not forgetting the benefit to your health – we want to help you get from A to B with minimal fuss. That’s why we offer a cycle to work and cycle loan scheme, plus an interest-free season ticket loan. Some roles also attract essential car user status.

Annual leave

Starting at a generous 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays) and rising to 37 days depending on what grade your career is at and how long you’ve been with us, your holiday entitlement will go up and up.

Local Government Defined Benefit Pension Scheme

We want to ensure that our staff are taken care of in retirement, which is why Southwark offers membership in a number of pension schemes which all provide security and benefits to members and their loved ones. 

The Southwark Pension Fund is the largest pension fund in London with assets of £1.53 billion, and is part of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Learning and career development

We’re keen for you to reach your full potential, so we’ll support your individual needs with training and development programmes, uniquely tailored to your interests. It’s for this very reason that we’ve been named as one of the top 100 companies in the UK and the best London Council for the past five years for apprenticeships, so whether you need managerial, technical or professional support, we can provide the education opportunities you’d like to experience.

Coaching and mentoring

We’re committed to supporting your continuing professional development from the outset of your career. Supporting you with your learning journey is a top priority. You can access all of the training you need right here, from anywhere and at any time, so training is never too far away from your daily work. You have access to the Career Development Portal, the Coaching and Mentoring Programme, the Digital Skills Portal and Specialist CPD for roles in for example social care/work, and the Southwark Manager Learning Programme.

Premature Baby Leave and Pay

In September 2018 Southwark Council has taken the proactive step to support employees who are parents of babies born prematurely by signing up to the Employer with a Heart charter from charity The Smallest Things.

Working with the Unite, Unison and GMB unions to develop this progressive policy, it means parents of babies born at or before 37 weeks will be entitled to receive an extra week’s Premature Baby Leave and Premature Baby Pay for every week their premature baby spends in hospital before their due date.

HSF health plan and eyecare scheme

Need to see a doctor or optician urgently? No problem, because with HSF (a not for profit organisation), you can have a medical cash plan and seek help as soon as you need it, and without waiting for an NHS appointment.

Employee health and wellbeing

We are committed to providing employees with a healthy and safe environment in which they can effectively perform their duties and are empowered to achieve your potential.

Financial wellbeing

Money worries can affect employees at different stages of their lives and we want to share with you some financial tools and assistance which are available to you. We have:

  • Employee loans & Salary sacrifice schemes
  • Financial related employee benefits
  • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
  • Credit Union
  • Budget planner
  • Couch to Financial Fitness

Plus many more