Skip to main content

Your health and wellbeing

Our Proud to be Portsmouth pledge to you

As social workers, we always want the best for the families we support. While this is always our priority, we sometimes forget about ourselves and the need for selfcare.

Whether you are at home, in the office or in the community, Portsmouth City Council's enhanced health and wellbeing package ensures you can access the help you need while you are practicing.

Our Proud to be Portsmouth pledge means you are never far away from bespoke support. We take your needs seriously now and into the future. Social workers in children's social care have told us what they want. In response, we have developed a unique offer for those who work for the service.  

Supporting you in your everyday practice

We know the demands on social workers have increased in recent years - so we have adapted what we offer at a service level to provide a more bespoke package of support.

Supporting your health and wellbeing is part of everyday practice in children's social care. Service managers and team leaders are switched on and ready to help colleagues when they need it most.

Hear from Clare Poyner, principal social worker at Portsmouth City Council who explains more about these recent changes and how they will support you.

Third party support services

Employee assistance programme

ViVup is Portsmouth's City Council's new employee assistance programme. It is a free and confidential support service designed to give you access to information, advice and emotional support to help you prepare for all of life's challenges.

Your Care

Within the employee assistance programme, is Your Care. This feature provides evidence-based interventions and support tools that have been designed to help you build mental resilience and strengthen wellbeing.

GP helpline

This service provides access to a remote GP (8am - 10pm, seven days a week). You can book a consultation with an experienced GP at a time that suits you. This service can also be accessed by dependants too.

Employee support helpline

If you require emotional and financial support and bereavement, the employee support helpline provides free and impartial advice and information 24/7, 365 days a year.

Occupational health

Occupational health (OH) is a specialist area of medicine concerned with preventing ill health at work, and supporting those with health conditions in work. Employees can access occupational health services by speaking with their line manager.

Internal support networks

Wellbeing champions

Portsmouth City Council introduced wellbeing champions as way to improve staff wellbeing by promoting activities and helping employees access relevant health and wellbeing support services.

These champions are embedded within each service as they are best placed to know what works best in that environment and can pick out resources that fit individual's needs.

Children's social care has several champions who signpost training, activities and information.

Global Ethnic Majority Forum

Children's social care has a vibrant and diverse community of practitioners who meet monthly at the newly formed Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) Forum.

The group offers a safe space for celebrating ethnicity, sharing experiences, discussing concerns, and building a network for practitioners across the directorate. Time to attend meetings is protected and the group is practitioner led.

The group want to feel a shared sense of belonging, not just in their teams but across Portsmouth City Council. The GEM forum will help shape initiatives and actively engage with those new to the service when they join.

Rewards and benefits

When you work hard, you want to know you'll be rewarded. The time you spend outside of work is equally valuable. In Portsmouth, we have a range of rewards and benefits you can use that will help you achieve that perfect work life/balance.

Annual leave

Portsmouth City Council's annual leave entitlement is 27 days pro-rata, increasing to 31 days pro-rata after 5 years' service.

If you work on a part-time basis, your leave entitlement will be pro rata. If your employment starts or finishes part way through the annual leave year, your annual leave entitlement during that year shall be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Having time away from work is important. We actively encourage everyone to take their full year's entitlement.

Buy additional annual leave

Every November, staff can buy a maximum of 10 days (pro-rata) of additional annual leave. This applies if the staff member is a permanent employee or employed on a fixed term contract that is in excess of a full leave year.

Once a request has been made, this is reviewed by your line manager to ensure the needs of the service are met.

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

The LGPS is one of the largest public sector pension schemes. It is open to most employees in local government and in other organisations.  Portsmouth City Council is enrolled into the Hampshire Pension Scheme.

Employee contribution rates vary from 5.80% to 12.50%. Portsmouth City Council makes an employer contribution of 17.8% (the current rate is effective from 1/4/24).

You can also make additional contributions towards your pension, making it a cost-effective way to increase your retirement benefits, as contributions qualify for immediate tax relief through your employer's PAYE system.

Flexible working

Portsmouth City Council has a flexible working policy that allows people to work in a hybrid way. There is a requirement for staff to be in their place of work at least two days a week.

Cycle to work scheme

The cycle to work scheme is a government initiative that encourages alternative travel and reduces our environmental impact. 

The council pays for the full cost of the bike and any safety equipment you need. This is then paid back by way of a salary sacrifice arrangement under a hire agreement between you and your employer.

Exclusive discounts

You can purchase gift cards at discounted rates from well-known retailers including John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Currys and more. This is completed through the staff benefits portal, Vivup.

You also have the option to purchase home and electronics through select retailers with the cost being deducted over 12 monthly deductions from your salary.

Learning and development

Social workers can take advantage of an extensive professional learning and development offer. We give you the time and space to learn and develop your skills as practitioners, through a range of opportunities and pathways. We will work with you to fulfil your aspirations and help you achieve more.

Induction

All employees at Portsmouth City Council complete mandatory training as part of their induction. This helpful training provides insight into data protection, equality and diversity, health and safety and more.

There are also optional training modules you can take to further enhance your subject knowledge.

Learning resources

Children's social care provide a range of learning resources that can help you develop and achieve your goals. This includes:

Research in Practice

When you join, you will be able to access Research in Practice for free. This is fantastic for learning resources and training to support evidence-informed practice with children, young people and families/adults and carers. 

4LSCB Procedures

A central storage area for all policies and procedures relating to practice that has been developed by the 4LSCB group, made up of Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight and Hampshire.

Who Cares Trust

National organisation that champions the voice of children and young people living in care.

PSCP

Here you will find a number of one-minute guides on a wide range of topics plus multi-agency learning from practice and a number of other resources.

To help social workers take advantage of these learning resources, we allocate each team member two hours of protected professional development per month.

Development pathways

If you are looking to progress in children's social care, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and grow.

We provide a pathway for individuals to progress from ASYE, main grade to higher grade depending on experience.

Learning opportunities are mapped against the professional capabilities framework and the knowledge and skills statement. This will assist you in terms of noting gaps in your ongoing development.

Stronger Futures Academy

All newly qualified social workers who join Portsmouth City Council will be linked to the ASYE programme, which is delivered through our Stronger Futures Academy.

The Academy is well connected to University of Portsmouth, University of Winchester, Solent University and University of Chichester. Through this link, there are opportunities to attend various seminars throughout the year.

In addition to this, there are specialist training courses that can be found on the learning management system. The Academy will also support you (where needed) beyond your ASYE year as well.

Apprenticeships

Becoming an apprentice is a great way to gain a professional qualification up to level 7 (master’s degree). 

You will develop the skills, knowledge and experience you need to become an expert in your field and progress in your career. Apprenticeships are suitable for all ages and levels of experience.

Join the team who are #ProudToBePortsmouth
Our health and wellbeing package is just one reason to join children's social care at Portsmouth City Council.