Job vacancy: Pension Support Officer, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Preston

Job summary

Main area: Payroll and Pension Officer
Grade: Band 3
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Part time - 30 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
Job ref: 435-1LSC-LT-044-25

Employer: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Preston Business Centre
Town: Preston
Salary: £24,937 - £26,598 per annum, pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 27/07/2025 23:59
Interview date: 07/08/2025

Pension Support Officer

Band 3

One LSC is a new collaborative partnership shared service formed by the five NHS Trusts serving the Lancashire and South Cumbria population of 1.8 million people. We are a shared service run by the NHS, for the NHS and are hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust on behalf of the partner Trusts of the Lancashire and South Cumbria system.

One LSC stands for ‘One Lancashire and South Cumbria’ and reflects the Lancashire and South Cumbria System ambition to have one team serving Lancashire and South Cumbria in a joined-up way. It is jointly run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership.

The Trusts that make up One LSC are:

· Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

· East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

· Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

· Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

· University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

One LSC brings together the Digital, Data and Technology, Estates and Facilities, Finance, People Services and Procurement and Logistics services from each of the provider Trusts to create one central community of professionals. Under one leadership team, they will provide services for and on behalf of all Trusts.

The aim is to bring services more closely together so that we can deliver the best service possible to each of our partner organisations. At the core of One LSC delivery is eliminating duplication, removing unwarranted variation, realisation of the benefits of sharing common systems and processes and ensuring we deliver value for money for our partners, our system and, ultimately, for the communities we serve.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Ensure that the administration of pension data is correctly and accurately recorded for each employee achieving the required deadline dates. Deal with all aspects of the NHS Pension Scheme e.g. joiners, leavers, refunds, transfers and pension related queries.
• Provide manually calculated, accurate pensions information in conjunction with the information systems available (i.e. Pensions On line and ESR.), including calculations of a complex or sensitive nature ensuring information remains confidential for both employees and managers. Utilise these calculations to provide estimates of benefits, information for transfers, legal proceedings, age retirements, and the preservation of benefits.
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• Assist with the administration to purchase any additional pension, ensuring all relevant application forms are completed and upon receipt deductions are entered correctly in ESR payroll system. Calculate arrears manually where necessary. Accurately maintain associated manual records
• Ensure the correct and timely input of data in ESR of new members pension scheme deductions from salary
• Assist the Pensions Team Manager in liaising with bereaved family members in regards to eligibility of pension benefits
• Ensure that Pensions Online (POL) is updated with accurate information for all types of pension awards
• Have a good knowledge of the NHS Pension Scheme rules and regulations, understand how these may affect employees and ensure the correct application of these regulations
• Adhere to Auto-Enrolment (AE) regulations and keep up to date with new legislation and that the Trust remain compliant with the Pensions Regulator Act
• Assist the Pensions Manager with the daily provision of concise and accurate information and /or clarification of Pension Regulations and procedures on enquiry. Additionally, providing details of the effects of any changes to Agenda for Change and M&D Terms and Conditions on pension membership (Maternity leave, flexible working, sickness, career breaks, salary sacrifice schemes)on request. Where personal or more specific pension details are required, following up such enquires promptly and effectively.
• Assists with the correction and updating of pension records which are in error
• Furnishing scheme members with benefit claim forms and ill-health retirement application forms on request
• Ensure all awards which are processed are checked and any amendments notified to NHS Pensions in a timely manner.
• Estimating the Abatement rule when required
• Estimating manual redundancy calculations
• Prepare, process and update NHS pension scheme records via the internet using the NHS Pensions online facility
• Ensure the correct set up and deduction for any local schemes including NEST and local Government Pension

Person specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

Working in a busy administrative office dealing with confidential information
Comprehensive knowledge of NHS conditions and pay procedures including the appropriate application of relevant statutory legislation.

Desirable criteria

Previous experience and ability to use ESR payroll system.
Experience and knowledge of NHS Pension rules and regulations.
Extensive knowledge of pay procedures and statutory legislation and experience of working in a payroll department

Qualifications and Education

Essential criteria

Minimum of 2 GSCE passes at grade C including Maths and English Language or Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Mathematics or equivalent experience

Dear Potential Applicant,

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.

Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS)

If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained.

The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed.

The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.

This cost is not applicable for a Volunteer post

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The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.

We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.

We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible. By telephone 01254 732075 or email [email protected] or write to Employment Services, Parkview Offices, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH

Thanks for taking the time to view this advert; we look forward to receiving your application.

Please be aware that this vacancy may close earlier than the published date if sufficient applications are received. It is, therefore, recommended that you apply as soon as you can.

We will contact you by e-mail to update you on the progress of your application, so please check the e-mail account that you applied from regularly (including spam/junk).

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, is committed to improving the working lives of its colleagues and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy on aggression, violence, bullying and harassment.

As a recruitment service, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service in recruiting people into positions of trust.

It is important to us that we employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone - irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.

We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that as an employer we are under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process. Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable you to apply for this post.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information.

AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and could negatively impact on your chances of success in the application process.

We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Supporting Information

The supporting information section is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person specification.

Recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. They will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, please provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you have navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.

Consider structuring your supporting information section with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

Young People

Please note: a young person must be in part-time education or training until they’re 18. If you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you’ve applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40, Standard DBS check £26.40, Enhanced DBS check £54.40 and Enhanced DBS check with Barred List(s) £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working.

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We look forward to hearing from you soon!