Join us and we'll look after you
Prioritising the wellbeing of our staff is part of our commitment to create the best staff experience in the NHS, in a compassionate and collective culture.
We believe our outstanding benefits set us apart.
The support this hospital provides is like nowhere else I've worked. There is always something going on to support staff.
Luke Bage
Head of Resourcing
What you'll get from us
We believe we offer some of the best benefits in the NHS. And we're always adding to this list, too.
Enhanced annual leave
35 days as standard per year (including bank holidays, based on full-time hours).
Two extra days (37 days) after five years of continuous service. Four further extra days (41 days total) after 10 years.
One of the best pensions around
The NHS pension allows you to plan for the future, with a 23.7% contribution from us.
40% off meals in our restaurant
As part of our £1 million annual staff benefits fund, you will get 40% off meals in our restaurant, meaning a delicious, hot meal for as little as £2.20.
Enjoy your discounted meals from our restaurant beside our duck pond (in the company of actual ducks), surrounded by colourful wild flowers and green spaces.
Free bus travel
Free bus travel to our hospital from Cambridge Railway station, Trumpington Park and Ride and Babraham Road Park and Ride.
This is also part of our £1 million staff benefits fund.
Free tea, coffee and milk
No one wants to be wasting vital time devising milk rotas or realising the tea bags have run out. We provide free tea (and decaf), coffee (and decaf), milks (and vegan alternatives) and squashes.
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
Enhanced pay with eight weeks full pay and 26 weeks half pay, plus additional support if complications arise.
Free music, comedy, theatre and sport tickets
Come and work at Royal Papworth and treat your friends and family (and yourself) to free or discounted tickets to see your favourite bands, artists, comedians, shows and sports with Tickets for Good, Blue Light Tickets, Concerts for Carers and Tickets for Medics.
You can get some tickets worth up to £100 for just the price of a booking fee.
Hardship Fund
Emergency financial aid for staff who find themselves in unexpected crises.
Other benefits, discounts and rewards
- National discount schemes – such as a free Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
- On-site gym at Frank Lee Centre Leisure & Fitness.
- 5% childcare discount at The Old Station Nursery.
- Staff recognition and reward vouchers.
- Staff accommodation at Waterbeach.
- Annual Staff Awards event held every December at Homerton College in Cambridge.
- Annual Long Service Awards.
- Salary sacrifice ‘Cycle to Work’ and ‘Car’ scheme.
- Enhanced pay progression for Band 5 nurses.
- Career progression opportunities.
- Comprehensive training and education, including discounts to international courses.
- Flexible working.
Wellbeing
We know that we need to look after our people in order for them to be able to look after our patients.
Our health and wellbeing team deliver a year-round calendar of events. Whether it’s our step challenge every May which brings the whole hospital together or cycling for a smoothie, there is always a bit of friendly fun.
We have trained our own mental health first aiders, mental health facilitators and have a qualified health and wellbeing practitioner on site.
Laudit
Recognising individual and team excellence is a key part of our culture.
Laudit is an innovative online platform developed here at Royal Papworth Hospital which celebrates the everyday extraordinary. In 2023, it won a leading healthcare workforce award.
It takes just a few minutes, but the impact of sending and receiving a 'Laudit' goes far beyond that.
The 'Laudits' are sent to the individual but also the recipient's line manager to ensure great work is seen and rewarded.
Recruitment awards and accreditation
We were the first NHS hospital in England to receive a joint Investors in People and NHS Health & Wellbeing Award.
We also have a NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award for international nurse recruitment.
We were also part of the pilot for Pastoral Care for Support Workers, achieving a silver award.
Veteran aware
We are a Veteran Aware trust in recognition of our support for ex-service personnel.
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. We have a silver award in recognition of our support to defence and the armed forces community.
Through Step into Health, members of the Armed Forces community can connect to NHS organisations to set up training opportunities, clinical and general work placements, insight days and receive application support. The programme provides a dedicated pathway into a career in the NHS.
The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) is a group of NHS providers that have agreed to be exemplars of the best care for, and support to, the armed forces’ community.
We do this through our Veteran Aware accreditation model, which encourages providers to identify those patients with an armed forces background.
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