Our values are the base of every job role within Croydon – our values are fundamental in everything we do as a Local Authority. You are required to demonstrate a commitment to our corporate values and this will be assessed using the criteria below:
One Team
To cross boundaries to work together towards shared goals with colleagues, partners and communities.
You are strategically innovative in your approach to building and maintaining partnerships and you and your teams act in a joint enterprise with them. You use your contacts and colleagues to bring teams together.
Proud to Serve
We strive to always do our best for the community, getting the most from limited resources and using taxpayers’ money wisely.
You are proud to be part of the wider Croydon and the contribution you and your teams make to it. You make a difference to people’s lives through engagement, and you strive to get the best possible value for money for customers.
Honest and Open
We work hard to build trust by treating everyone with honesty and integrity.
You think through who needs to understand what during communication; and take care to communicate detail clearly. You take people’s views into account continuously. You trust people, colleagues and staff, to do their best and deal with any issues positively.
Taking Responsibility
We encourage and support each other to take responsibility and show what we can do, learning together and recognizing each other’s contributions.
You are clear where formal accountability lies and where we can all take responsibility for results. You praise your colleagues for their efforts and ideas and thank them for their contributions.
Valuing Diversity
We make the most of the many perspectives that make Croydon distinctive.
You treat all staff and customers with equal value and respect. In everything you do, you make good use of the wide variety of background, skills and perspective your teams, the Council and the community demonstrate.
Inclusive Culture
Culture, equalities and inclusion
Here at Croydon, our vision of the culture of the council is to “create a collaborative, inclusive and creative environment which allows talent to flourish"
We nurture and develop our culture through:
our core set of values - the foundation of our council
running six staff network groups, offering members support and giving staff a voice when it comes to making the big decisions at Croydon
driving our Culture Plan overseen by the Culture Board
a group of engaged and passionate Culture Ambassadors
Culture Board
We have a culture board in place to help achieve our vision through the culture plan.
It recognises the contribution of the staff network groups who sit on the board and supports their work.
The board brings together all that the council does to make sure that we have the right people, with right skills doing the right jobs - so that we can deliver better outcomes for local people.
The board meets bimonthly for two hours, members include:
Executive leadership team
The chairs and sponsors of our six staff networks
Representation from HR, organisation development and communications
Our Values
We are committed to excellence in all we do. Our values reflect the attitude and approach we take to working together to deliver services to our borough.
One team - Crossing boundaries to work together towards shared goals with colleagues, partners and communities.
Proud to serve - Striving to always do our best for the community, getting the most from limited resources and using taxpayers’ money wisely.
Honest and open - Working hard to build trust by treating everyone with honesty and integrity.
Taking responsibility - Encouraging and supporting each other to take responsibility and show what we can do, learning together and recognising all of our contributions.
Valuing diversity - We make the most of the many perspectives that make Croydon distinctive.
Staff Network Groups
Our six staff networks are an integral part of Croydon Council's cultural landscape. They provide their members with personal and career support, run awareness-raising events, sit on the Culture Board and help shape the big decisions which affect everyone at Croydon. All our staff networks are sponsored by a member of our leadership team to ensure they’re represented at the highest level.
Race Equality staff network
Disability staff network
LGBT+ allies staff network
Mental health and wellbeing staff network
Women’s staff network
Working carers’ staff network
Making an impact
From policy change and guidance to adjustments to building facilities and staff equipment, our staff network groups have a real impact and effect positive change throughout the organisation. The staff network groups annual report highlights several of the areas where staff networks are making a significant impact, and below are a couple of recent examples.
The work of the disability staff network, working together with our ICT partners and facilities management helped ensure accessibility was at the top of the agenda for starters and employees who have a disability and led to the introduction of Radar Key in accessible toilets, better room signage, lift lighting, door entry systems and pillar strips.
The LGBT+ allies staff network's campaigning and assistance in getting Croydon Council to participate in the Stonewall Workplace Equality survey 2018 resulted in Croydon Council jumping 95 places and being ranked just outside its top 100 employers to work for. A great achievement.
The Womens Network alongside the Mental Health and Wellbeing Network and Human Resources launched Menopause Guidance to support women in the workforce in 2017 (one of the first local authorities to provide this guidance). This was recognised by the council winning the REBA (Reward and Employee Benefits Asociation) award for Innovation in 2019. https://reba.global/content/reba-award-winner-croydon-council-innovation
Join in the fun, socialise and help raise awareness
The staff networks are also a great way to get to know other staff members. Individually and collectively, the staff networks put on a wide-range of informative and fun events.
From 2019 Don't Dis-Ability, a celebration event at Boxpark Croydon featuring live music, comedy and djs, to social meet-ups, support sessions, charity bike rides, discussions, film screenings and staff training, there are a number of events and activities to get involved in.
The Race Equality network holds regular awareness-raising events, some reoccurring annual events have included;
Windrush activities
Black History Month events
External Speakers
Marking celebrations for all cultures, including Eid and Diwali
The Womens network also celebrated International Womens Day 2021 with a range of special events and speakers.
Croydon was named overall winner (public sector) in July 2018 at the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion Awards.
Benefits
Staff Benefits and personal development
We want Croydon Council to be a place where our staff enjoy their jobs and are proud to be here. We reward talent and excellence with our flagship benefits scheme, Croydon Options, allowing you to enjoy a healthy work life balance.
Generous paid Annual Leave of up to 31 days (eligibility criteria applies)
Provision to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave per year (eligibility criteria applies)
Paid sick pay allowance of up to 6 months’ full pay and 6 months’ half pay (eligibility criteria applies)
Flexible and Agile working
Generous maternity leave and family leave provisions
Unbeatable benefits of being in the Local Government Pension Scheme; which includes employer contributions of 20% (average); “life assurance” (3 years’ salary) and benefit provisions for dependants
Cycle purchase scheme saving up to 42% (interest free)
Discounted season tickets for parking in local car parks or an option to cap the daily cost to less than £6
Interest free travel loans for season tickets
Interest free loans for discounted annual gym memberships with NI savings of up to 12%
Discounted nursery with special rates for Croydon council employees
Benenden’s affordable healthcare at very low monthly payments
Confidential and free employee assistance programme and access to staff network groups - BAME, Working Carers, LGBT+, Women’s and Mental Health & Wellbeing
Further details of popular benefits
Holidayplus scheme
The holidayplus scheme is an opportunity for you to purchase additional annual leave on top of your usual holiday entitlement, subject to your Line Manager's approval. If you need more time off than normal for any reason, this scheme gives flexibility and choice in the benefits you receive as part of your employment package*
Moreover, the cost of the holidays is taken as a monthly deduction from your gross salary. Hence you save on Tax and National Insurance that you would have otherwise paid on that amount.
*eligibility criteria apply
Save money with GymFlex - annual gym and leisure club membership scheme!
As part of your Croydon Options employee benefits, we bring you GymFlex, which allows you to take up an annual gym or leisure club membership using salary sacrifice. The offer applies to over 2500 gyms.
Not only do you get a corporate discount rate and national insurance saving of up to 12% (depending on your NI rate), the council will pay the upfront cost of your annual membership and deduct it from your monthly salary over the period of one year.
Cycle Plus and Cycle to Work
Cycling to work is a healthy and sustainable way of travelling - so we want to make it easy for you to get out on the road. We'll pay the upfront cost of a bike and any safety equipment you need. The money is taken from your gross salary each month before tax and NI, meaning you can make big savings of up to 42%* of the value. You can choose your bike from a high range of top brands - either from Halfords or your local independent retailer.
Season ticket loans
We provide an annual season ticket loan for travel by public transport. The ticket cost is then repaid interest free by monthly salary deductions.
Fantastic retail discounts
You can buy vouchers or reloadable cards for a range of high street retailers at a discounted price. You can also get great offers on travel and leisure.
Affordable healthcare schemes
Benenden Healthcare
You and your family and friends can get extensive health cover from Benenden Healthcare for just £10.25 per month. All members pay the same regardless of age, plus there's no medical required and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
Benenden Healthcare includes:
a specialist 24 hour GP helpline
up to £1,500 of outpatient cover including prompt local consultation diagnosis and treatment
treatment and surgical procedures for many conditions
full cover for costs of treatment at a Benenden Hospital and
a cancer and TB support service.
Simply Healthcare
With a Simply Cash Plan, a simple monthly payment means you can get cash back on the cost of your healthcare for dental, optical, chiropody treatment and many other alternative therapies
Affordable loans available via Salary Finance*
We understand that sometimes unexpected expenses or financial emergencies crop up – which can result in the use of high interest loans or expensive credit cards.
With Salary Finance you can access:
Affordable loans repaid through salary: employee loans at affordable rates with higher acceptance than banks. A lower-rate loan could help to pay off your debts, avoid payday loans and credit cards, or cover an unexpected expense.
Financial education: a range of tips, videos and tools to help you better understand your personal finances, as well as tools for budgeting and saving.
*eligibility criteria apply
Discounted parking with NCP, Q-Park and Council Car Parks for Council Employees
The Council has negotiated various corporate rates with NCP and Q-Park. Employees can also avail a negotiated daily parking rate of £5 per day with these car parks
Employee Assistance Programme
With ever increasing pressures at work and at home, there are times when we all need some extra support, this is why we have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in place to support your total well-being.
Benefits of the EAP
Free of charge, confidential
Available24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Accessible by phone, email, our website and via instant messaging
Information on a range of work, family and personal issues
Up to 6 face to face counselling sessions per issue. Topics need not be work related
Independent from your employer and completely unprejudiced
Your development
At Croydon we believe that a skilled and committed workforce is crucial to our future success. To deliver council outcomes successfully we need to equip our people with the knowledge and skills they need to operate in a fast paced, ever evolving environment.
We provide a range of learning activities including inductions for new colleagues, management skills development and personal effectiveness training. We continue to develop different options for you to access the learning you need, whether through face-to-face workshops, e-learning or online content.
