Introduction

The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was established on 1st December 2007. The Trust serves a population of approximately 330,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre and the 12 million holidaymakers who visit the area every year.

The Trust comprises - Blackpool Victoria Hospital which is a large busy acute hospital, two smaller community hospitals -Clifton Hospital and Fleetwood Hospital- three elderly rehabilitation hospitals -Wesham Hospital Rehabilitation Unit, Rossall Hospital Rehabilitation Unit and Bispham Hospital (which is a Nurse Led Therapy Unit) - the National Artificial Eye Service and Blenheim House Child Development Centre.

We employ approximately 4,000 staff and our budget is in excess of £200m per year. We have around 830 beds across all sites and see more than 56,000 day-case and inpatients, 250,000 outpatients and over 91,000 A & E patients every year.

We are also one of four tertiary cardiac centres in the North West, providing specialist cardiac services to heart patients from Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Working culture

If we had to describe our working culture in just one word? Friendly. Here at Blackpool, you'll find yourself amongst colleagues who are considerate, respectful, positive, and welcoming. Above all you'll really feel like one of the team.

Doing it The Blackpool Way

So what makes us different? We believe that it's the way we aim to do things around here. The Blackpool Way, in fact.

Developed by our staff, The Blackpool Way defines how every individual in our organisation is expected to behave. It sums up what it is that makes our culture unique.

By encouraging open and honest two-way communication, we're working to achieve a more consultative, approachable management style. Managers are expected to listen, share and consult widely on issues that affect their team. And everyone enjoys greater influence and autonomy in contributing to the success of the Trust.

It's about respect and recognising achievement. It's about engagement and empowerment. It's about a more inspiring working environment - and a more enjoyable one too.

Flexibility and support

We believe in providing our staff with all the support, opportunities and help they need to lead happy, fulfilling lives both in work and outside of it. As part of this we've developed a range of family and employee-friendly policies that should help you work more flexibly.

Flexitime

Gives you the option of varying your start and finish times for each working day (within agreed core times). Many of our staff are able to benefit from this system.

Self-rostering

This scheme is available on a number of wards. It provides nurses and other staff who provide a 24-hour service the chance to determine their own working patterns.

Job sharing

Opportunities are offered in varying capacities across the Trust.

Compressed hours

Allows staff to work the same number of hours (and so earn the same level of pay) but to do them over fewer days.

Term-time working

If you have children of school age, you can choose to work only during term time giving you school holidays with the family. We actively support this option and offer it to both full-time and part-time employees.

Career break

Staff with two or more years' service can apply to have an unpaid break from employment to pursue other interests. The break can last between three months and two years. At the end of it you will be able to come back to the same job or to a similar one.

Flexible retirement

Provides members of the NHS Pension Scheme with a number of options when they are approaching retirement age.