Working for Freebridge Community Housing

Freebridge Community Housing employs approximately 200 people in a wide variety of jobs – from providing frontline services for tenants to central services support which is essential for the running of any organisation.

The frontline staff are supported by specialist teams such as finance, ICT and facilities and human resources.

Training and Development
Freebridge Community Housing is committed to ‘investors in people’ and supports the training and development of all of its staff.  Our staff review and development scheme aims to ensure continuous supportive management to enable all staff to deliver quality services for our customers.

Equality and Diversity
Freebridge Community Housing is committed to equality of opportunity and encouraging diversity in employment and service provision. We will actively monitor our performance in these areas.

Pay
Salaries are paid on the 25th of each month in accordance with FCH pay scales and job evaluation.  A cost of living increase may be paid to all staff at the beginning of April each year.

Performance Related Pay
Freebridge Community Housing currently gives staff the opportunity to earn bonus payments based on performance.

Hours of work
Your working week will be agreed as appropriate, start and finish times may vary according to the position. The main office is open to the public between 8.45 am and 5.15 pm Mondays to Thursdays; 8.45 am and 4.45 pm on Fridays, different times may apply at different locations.  We offer a range of flexible working practices which are discussed in detail with individual employees according to circumstances.  Part-time posts receive pay and benefits in direct proportion to the full-time equivalent.

Annual Leave
Annual leave entitlement is 25 days, increased by an extra day for each year of service, up to the maximum of five extra days after five years continuous service.   In addition there are 8 statutory holidays.

Pension Scheme
We offer membership of a company stakeholder pension to which we will make a contribution.

Emergency Leave
Freebridge grants emergency leave to staff in times of family difficulty such as sudden illness.  This may be paid or unpaid depending on the circumstances.  We may also give compassionate leave.
Maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave

Freebridge operates a range of family friendly policies, details of which are contained within the staff handbook and which will be discussed with individuals, depending on their own personal circumstances.

Staff Relations
Freebridge recognises the unions, UNISON, GMB, UCATT and Amicus (section of UNITE) and staff may join any of these if they choose.  Staff representatives meet with management regularly to discuss issues affecting all staff.

Personal Protective Clothing and Risk Assessment
Staff may be required to visit construction sites, properties where maintenance or refurbishment work is being carried out or perform activities where they could come to harm if not wearing suitable protective clothing.  Freebridge will provide protective clothing to these staff as necessary.

Risk assessments are carried out on all areas of work and are reviewed regularly.  New staff will be told about any risks associated with their job and any practices designed to reduce them as part of the induction process.

Car Parking
Employees are able to purchase an annual King’s Lynn parking permit and pay monthly through a salary deduction.

Business mileage
An essential user car allowance is paid to approved users.  Staff who occasionally use their own car for Freebridge business are reimbursed for these miles.  Staff are required to provide evidence of their vehicle registration document, current driving licence and appropriate insurance (business-use cover).

Mobile Phones
Freebridge may provide a mobile phone where it is essential that the employee is contactable when working away from their office base.  We also contract with an out of hours emergency telephone helpline provider to support any staff on-call as a personal safety measure.

Occupational Health
Freebridge uses an occupational health doctor to advise us on any medical issues affecting staff employment (to ensure we do everything we can to make sure a person’s health is not affecting or being affected by their job).  We also provide free eye sight testing for VDU users and where appropriate reimburse glasses for VDU use.  We also provide a 24-hour confidential employee assistance telephone helpline for all staff to access advice and guidance on medical, legal and other issues.  This includes telephone counselling for a variety of personal issues. This service is free to staff and family living at the same address.