Your Support
Member Benefits
Health and Wellbeing
LBBD offers access to a range of free, professional advice and support for Members and your family such as the Occupational Health Service. as well as various other services. to find out more, click on the following link: Health and Wellbeing
Eye Tests and Glasses
Members can claim a contribution to the cost of their eye tests and glasses in the same way LBBD employees do. Costs need to be claimed back via Oracle.
The process is outlined below. This includes the link to the form that needs to be printed and taken to the optician when your eye test is carried out.
Full eyesight tests will be provided to all users of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) who use such equipment as a significant part of their work, including Members.
The fee is in respect of DSE eyesight tests:
- At user's request
- At regular intervals thereafter
- Where users experience visual difficulties considered to be caused by work on display screen equipment.
Employees and Members requesting a DSE eye examination should make an appointment with an optometrist of their choice, taking with them a LBBD eye test form – see the bottom of this page.
Please take proof of identity when attending optometrist appointments. There are no restrictions as to the optometrist that may be used.
After completing the eye test, the form should be signed by the optometrist ensuring that all appropriate sections of the form have been completed.
Expenses
To gain reimbursement, costs should be claimed via the Council’s I-Expenses system (Oracle). To claim your expenses, please complete the I-Expenses form on Oracle. This will then be forwarded to Alan.Dawson@lbbd.gov.uk for approval. Ensure the completed (Eye Test) form and your optician receipt are attached to your claim on Oracle.
Once approved, the amount claimed will be transferred directly into your bank account. Expenses will be paid if corrective eye wear is required for working with DSE as defined by the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/eyetests.htm. You are permitted to choose corrective vision appliances of your choice and in accordance with the Regulations the Council will contribute a portion of the costs for spectacles* only where these are needed for display screen work, as follows:
- £22 towards the cost of an eye test
- £53 towards the cost of single vision lenses (for spectacles only*)
- £78 towards the cost of bi-focal lenses (for spectacles only*)
* The Council only has to pay for glasses for DSE work if the test shows you need special glasses prescribed for the distance the screen is viewed at. If an ordinary prescription is suitable, employers do not have to pay for glasses. The Regulations apply to glasses only and not contact lenses.
Anti-glare screens and ‘VDU spectacles' and other devices that purport to protect against radiation are not special corrective appliances.
eye test form
The Wider Wallet Scheme
Members have access to the Wider Wallet Scheme. Wider Wallet is a is a private discount and benefits package which brings together a wide range of national and local offers, along with clear information on other Employee Benefits.
To sign up to the Wider Wallet Scheme, please visit the Wider Wallet Scheme Under the New Member Registration section, you will need to enter the access code. The access code is S373535E.
Once you have entered your details, you should receive a welcome email from Wider Wallet.
Body MOT's (Health Checks)
A free health check could help keep you healthy and even save your life! The council’s body MOTs are available for Members and Officers. Your MOT will include lifestyle and cardiovascular checks and a measurement of cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, height & weight (used to calculate your Body Mass Index). You can also find out about stop smoking services, Weight Watchers and much more.
To help with your future fitness, you will be given a free month’s trial for Abbey Leisure Centre and Becontree Heath Leisure Centre when you complete a full Body MOT. Checks are held at: Occupational Health Department, The Hope Wing, Porters Avenue Health Centre, 234 Porters Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 2EQ. To make an appointment please phone Occupational Health on 020 8227 3509.
Information, Advice and Counselling Helpline - Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Members and Staff have free access to this confidential service. It offers extra support to manage life’s everyday challenges; both work and personal. It is available by telephone, email, instant messaging and online. Their staff are specialists in fields such as wellbeing, family matters, relationship issues, debt management, consumer rights, and much more.
You are able to contact the service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For monitoring, if asked, please give your department/section as 'Chief Executives'.
You can phone the EAP on 0800 243 458. They can provide you with:
- Telephone support
- Fact sheets and packs
- Resource information on support services in your local area
- Short-term face to face or telephone counselling
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is delivered by Workplace Options, an independent provider of employee support services.Their comprehensive website offers extensive resources including articles, interactive tools and regular online seminars. The website can be accessed: www.workplaceoptions.co.uk
Please click on ‘Member Login’ then enter: User name: lbbd Password: employee