Training Dates

For the majority, training sessions for matters related to pensions and retirement should be booked via ESR. For a list of scheduled dates by course, as well as direct links to book, please visit the Reward & Recognition page on StaffZone.

The notable exception to this is our Retirement Café sessions, which are available on a drop-in basis and take place quarterly. Again, dates for these sessions can be found on the intranet, and you will see these promoted ahead of any scheduled session in places such as Gateshead Health weekly.

For more information about the support and courses available, read on below.

Training: Understanding Your Pension

Colleagues seeking to better understand their pension may wish to consider registering for regularly-held sessions designed to support you in getting to grips with NHS Pension Schemes. Included amongst these are:

Quarterly Retirement Café sessions: 
Held on-site in the Listening Space at the QE Hospital, these popular sessions are available to attend on a drop-in basis and are for any employee at any point in their career journey. Those who drop by will be given a chance to chat with a payroll/pension representative, explore and better understand your retirement options and discuss them with an advisor. Those attending should bring a copy of their pension forecast, accessible through ESR. To find out when the next session is scheduled, email [email protected].

Your Pension and the Public Service Remedy: 
A targeted online session for those impacted by the Public Sector Age Discrimination Remedy (also known as the McCloud Remedy), to better understand the options available to you and to select the right one for you. You’re eligible to register for one of these quarterly sessions if you joined the NHS Pension Scheme on or before 31^st March 2012 and were either a member on or after 1^st April 2015 or left service after 31^st March 2012, but returned within 5 years. Dates for this session can be found and places booked via the My Learning area of ESR. For help, email [email protected].

NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) Webinars: 
Also available are regular and free-to-attend webinars from the NHS BSA. Available sessions include those on understanding the NHS Pension Scheme and its benefits, partial retirement, an introduction to the 2015 scheme and its benefits, understanding your Annual Benefit Statement, your retirement options and more. To view dates and book a webinar, visit the NHS BSA website.

Training: Retirement Planning

Colleagues approaching retirement (planning to retire within the next decade) are welcome to join quarterly sessions hosted by our partners at Affinity Connect. Sessions available include:

Planning for Retirement:
A 6-hour workshop held quarterly on-site at the QE Hospital which aims to help you better understand your options, the steps you might need to take to organise your retirement and provide you with a chance to discuss and reflect on how you might cope with change and adapt to your retirement. Dates for this session can be found and places booked via the My Learning area of ESR.

Understanding Your Options for Partial Retirement:
A two-hour online session aimed at members of the 1995 section of the NHS Pension Scheme, hosted via Teams which takes place quarterly. This session aims to help you understand changes to pension draw down options available, how they should be considered when planning retirement and other options to be aware of. Dates for this session can be found and places booked via the My Learning area of ESR.