SCHEDULE 20 - SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE (ADOPTION) POLICY
1.
ABOUT THIS POLICY
1.1
This policy outlines the arrangements for shared parental leave and pay in relation to the adoption of a child. If you or your partner are pregnant or have given birth please see the Shared Parental Leave (Birth) Policy instead.
1.2
This policy applies to employees. It does not apply to agency workers or self- employed contractors.
1.3
This policy does not form part of any employee's contract of employment and we may amend it at any time.
2.
FREQUENTLY USED TERMS
2.1
The definitions in this paragraph apply in this policy.
Partner : your spouse, civil partner or someone living with you in an enduring family relationship at the time the child is placed for adoption, but not your sibling, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew.
Qualifying Week : the week the adoption agency notifies you that you have been matched with a child for adoption.
3.
WHAT IS SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE?
3.1
Shared parental leave (SPL) is a form of leave that may be available where a child is placed with you and/or your partner for adoption on or after 5 April 2015.
3.2
It gives you and your partner more flexibility in how to share the care of your child in the first year after your child is placed with you for adoption than simply taking maternity and paternity leave. Assuming you are both eligible, you will be able to choose how to split the available leave between you, and can decide to be off work at the same time or at different times. You may be able to take leave in more than one block.
4.
ENTITLEMENT
4.1
You may be entitled to SPL if an adoption agency has placed a child with you and/or your partner for adoption, or where a child is placed with you and/or your partner as foster parents under a "fostering for adoption" or "concurrent planning" scheme. You must intend to share the main responsibility for the care of the child with your partner.
4.2
The following conditions must be fulfilled:
(a) you must have at least 26 weeks continuous employment with us by the end of the Qualifying Week, and still be employed by us in the week before the leave is to be taken; (b) your partner must have worked (in an employed or self-employed capacity) in at least 26 of the 66 weeks before the Qualifying Week and had average weekly earnings of at least £30 during 13 of those weeks; and (c) you and your partner must give the necessary statutory notices and declarations as summarised below, including notice to end adoption leave or statutory adoption pay (SAP).
4.3
Either you or your partner must qualify for statutory adoption leave and/or SAP and must take at least two weeks of adoption leave and/or pay.
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