Before you start
Health and wellbeing
The health and wellbeing of our staff is extremely important to us. We need to look after you, so you can look after our patients.
We have a range of support services available to all our staff, and a dedicated Wellbeing team on hand to help you access the support that you need.
Developing you
The development of our workforce is of the utmost importance. It's not only central for individuals personal career aspirations, but it's also crucial in delivering safe, high-quality services to our patients.
We offer a range of different leadership and management courses to our staff, depending on the level required. Courses are available that are perfect for new supervisors and junior colleagues looking to advance their leadership skills, as well as courses that are suited to our current and aspiring senior leaders and managers.
Online courses
We have over 300 online courses available for staff to develop their skills and knowledge.
Coaching and mentoring
We have a network of trained coaches available to help staff of all disciplines achieve their development goals. Mentoring opportunities are also available within the trust and externally across the East of England.
All our newly registered band 5 practitioners are placed on the Preceptorship programme. The programme is multi-disciplinary with nurses, midwives, therapists, biomedical scientists and more. It supports newly registered staff to incorporate both management and leadership knowledge and skills into their practice.
It also allows new registrants to build a network of support and knowledge both across the trust and across disciplines, giving you the tools needed to progress your career.
We're committed to offering learning and development opportunities for all employees. We can fund development via our apprenticeship or continuing professional development (CPD) routes. Further details will be provided as part of our new starter support programme in month 7. These sessions will be delivered by our Talent and Learning & Development teams.
Apprenticeships
Our staff apprenticeship programme offers individuals the chance to upgrade their skills and gain qualifications, whilst still working in post.You'll have access to apprenticeships from level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grades A*) right through to level 7 (equivalent to a full bachelor’s or master’s degree).
We also offer our staff the opportunity to complete numeracy and literacy courses, to support their career aspirations.
Continuing professional development
Personal development is important to us. Our appraisal process and yearly training needs collation helps to ensure that our workforce are supported to achieve their goals and development plans.
We have a state-of-the-art simulation suite in our medical education centre at Watford General.
Two fully equipped bays with high fidelity simulation manikins allow us to recreate a wide range of medical conditions and trauma scenarios. This allows staff to practise with hands-on learning while experiencing situations in a safe environment.
The control room includes an audio-visual recording system to facilitate both real-time observation of simulations as well as a video-aided debrief.
Libraries on each of our hospital sites provide access to the latest industry publications and reference books. Our libraries are also an ideal study environment, with staff on hand to support you with advice and guidance on finding information, evidence, and publications.
Staff benefits
You’ll be paid on the 26th of every month. If the 26th falls on a weekend or a public holiday, then you will be paid on the Friday immediately before.
Our Payroll service is hosted by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. If you have any questions or issues about your pay, email whht.
You can find full information on your pay in the terms and conditions section of your contract.
Payslips are accessed online by logging into our Electronic Staff Record. Please note, you will not be sent a paper copy. To set up your ESR account, please contact our Workforce team on westherts.
Subsidised meals for staff in our on-site restaurant at Watford.
Staff can get discounted childcare at our on-site Busy Bees nurseries at Watford General and St Albans City hospitals. Open 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday. Both nurseries are rated as 'Outstanding providers' by Ofsted.
Once you start with us, you’ll automatically be enrolled into the NHS Pension Scheme. This is linked to pay and length of membership and gives you life assurance from your first day. More information can be found on the NHS Pensions website.
You’re entitled to 27 days of annual leave every year (not including bank holidays) and we encourage you to make use of the full amount. Your allowance refreshes on April 6 each year.
When you have five years of NHS service, your allowance increases to 29 days a year and after 10 years' service, it increases to 33 days a year.
If you already have NHS service, then let us know and we’ll honour your annual leave entitlement.
We’re committed to improving the working lives of our employees by actively encouraging flexible working and hope to give all colleagues greater choice over their working patterns, where possible.
Examples of flexible working include remote working, part-time hours, term-time working, annualised hours, job sharing, compressed hours, staggered working hours and flexi-time. It can also include set working pattern arrangements (when colleagues have fixed hours and days to give certainty to working arrangements so that other commitments such as caring arrangements can be fitted around work).
Our outpatient physiotherapy team offers free physiotherapy treatment to members of staff who are referred via Occupational Health. We want to help you get back to work quicker, fitter and stronger.
The physiotherapy clinic is based in the outpatients department at St Albans City Hospital on Monday mornings only. There is also the option for phone-based treatment.
If you feel you are suitable for this service, please discuss with your line manager. You will then be assessed by our Occupational Health advisors for suitability. If you have any questions, please email westherts.
Local and national discounts
Free fitness classes
Our charity and our wellbeing team have partnered with Watford FC’s Community and Sports Education Trust to offer free fitness classes for staff and volunteers.
- Monday evening HIIT (5pm-6pm)
- Thursday evening Body Tone (5pm-6pm)
Click here to book your place. Please note, booking is essential and you must book 24 hours prior to the class.
15% off beauty treatments
NHS staff can get a 15% discount at local Natural Beauty salon, located on Queens Road, Watford (five minutes walk from the town centre. There are four therapists who all have over 10 years’ experience and offer a wide range of treatments from nails, pedicures, basic to luxury facials, massage and many more. The discount is valid on all treatments between Tuesday and Thursday.
Sign up for a Blue Light Card for discounts!
Blue Light Card is a discount service for the emergency services, NHS and social care sector, providing members with amazing discounts online and on the high street.
They offer a range of official discounts from large national retailers to local businesses in a wide range of categories including holidays, cars, and days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more.
You can find many more discounts for NHS staff on the following websites:
Recognition
We love recognising and celebrating our brilliant staff!
- Our monthly Stars of Herts awards are an opportunity to shine a light on an individual and a team who does an incredible job and goes above and beyond the call of duty. Winning teams receive a £50 John Lewis voucher and winning individual will receive a £25 voucher!
- Every quarter, we also have Divisional Stars of Herts awards where one person from each of our seven divisions gets recognised for their effort and achievements.
- Our annual Long Service awards celebrate workforce milestones at West Herts and in the NHS. Staff with over 15 years of service in the NHS are invited to an awards ceremony.
- All Stars Week is a week-long celebration of our whole workforce with events held across all our sites. Food and entertainment from many vibrant cultures celebrate our diverse staff base.
- The Stars of Herts annual awards night is the highlight of the year for many staff! With a wide-ranging list of categories up for grabs, finalists are invited to a glitzy and glamourous Hollywood style awards ceremony!
Our staff networks
We have a number of staff networks which any member of staff is free to join. They are regularly in contact with senior members of our executive team where they can provide feedback and help us ensure we’re creating a positive and inclusive work environment.
- Armed Forces Network
- Connect Multicultural Staff Network
- Diversability
- End Sexism in Medicine
- Interfaith and Belief Network
- LGBTQ+ Network
- Solo Parents Network
- Vegan Network
- Women as Medical Leaders
- Women's Network
- Working Carers Network
