Annual Leave

We offer a generous annual leave allowance, starting from 26 days rising to a maximum of 31 days. The specific entitlement will be determined by length service and the grade of the job. This is in addition to the eight national bank holidays.

Hours of work

The basic working week is 37 hours. A range of flexible working options are available in some roles through the Personalised Working Pattern plus scheme, with a flexitime scheme also available where appropriate.

Salary Scales and increments

Normally starting salary is determined according to qualifications and experience. Progression through the pay scale is by means of annual increments, subject to satisfactory service. If you start between 1 April and 30 September, you will receive your first incremental increase on the next 1 April. If you start between 1 October and 31 March you will receive your first increment after 6 months. Salary scales are reviewed nationally each April.

Payment of salary

Salaries are paid monthly by bank credit transfer. The transfer takes place on the last working day of each month.

Pension scheme

We offer membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme for these positions.

Annual Performance and Development Review

All employees receive a Performance and Development Review annually, plus a six month mid year review.

Induction

All new employees receive induction training. The purpose of this is to welcome you to the council, introduce you to your colleagues, enable you to find your way around your new environment and help you to understand your new role.

Appraisals

Everyone has the opportunity through a yearly ‘Personal Development Review’ meeting to review their achievements and agree targets for the year ahead. This is also a forum to discuss any further development needed to carry out your role effectively. The opportunities available are wide ranging. These might range from ‘Return to Learn’ and help with study skills through to specific specialist skills such as quantity surveying or child protection procedures.

Investors in people

We have a tradition of commitment to the development and education of our employees and elected Members. The organisation as a whole has recently been successfully re-assessed against the Investors in People standards as a further mark of this commitment.

Work related training

Learning and development events take place throughout Dorset. We employ our own specialist team to work with staff across the council in identifying learning and development needs and the best solutions to meet them. We use a mix of our own in house provision and external learning providers to meet these needs.