NHS Trust Maternity Leave Help

RedSoleShoes

It is normal for people to add on annual leave to maternity leave. She will still accrue all due annual leave during her ML period. As long as she gives them notice, it should be fine. Lots of places actually prefer this as they generally have a temp or FTC cover anyway so the work can just be extended.

clairec79

most tend to go back when the money runs out but take leave, at one or both ends of the leave

I took leave at the start of my maternity leave so all my paid leave was after the birth and then go back in a new leave year so have a full years leave to take, and I may add a week or so onto the end of it to keep the money side of things going

bigsaver2010

Hi, Can anyone advise me whether "continuous service" means total NHS service, or within the particular NHS trust? I have worked for the NHS for 10 years, in the current PCT for 7 years, but am about to start a 2nd job in another PCT. Their policy just says "12 months continuous service with one or more NHS employers" - I am confused! I am not pregnant, but potentially thinking about trying in the future. The wording is unclear.

Cara79

clairec79 wrote: »

You get full pay for 8 weeks, then half pay plus SMP for 18 weeks then SMP only for 13 weeks then nothing - assuming she wants the full year and plans on returning

Yes this is the same as my NHS Trust....

Cara79

bigsaver2010 wrote: »

Hi, Can anyone advise me whether "continuous service" means total NHS service, or within the particular NHS trust? I have worked for the NHS for 10 years, in the current PCT for 7 years, but am about to start a 2nd job in another PCT. Their policy just says "12 months continuous service with one or more NHS employers" - I am confused! I am not pregnant, but potentially thinking about trying in the future. The wording is unclear.

Hi, continuous service is for any NHS Trust providing no break is over 6 months I believe. So continuous service will start from the 1st day you joined an NHS Trust; i.e. you have got 10 years continuous service. Make sure it says this in your contract for the new job.

Cara79

Hi

I have a quick query – hypothetical at the mo as not yet preggers; but I was just wondering……this is an NHS Trust too.....

Ok my situation for example:

v Start maternity leave on 31st October 2011
v Return on 1st November 2012
v Holiday year is April – March

I know that I may carry holiday over etc; however, I would then also be entitled to my new holiday year entitlement for April – October 2012.

My question is this…………………if I were to return to work on 1st November 2012, and then take my annual leave that I am entitled to……if I wish to leave employment, I know that I have to be at work for 3 months after my maternity leave. Does this include the period of annual leave? E.g. maternity leave ends 31st October, but have 2 weeks annual leave……does my 3 months start from the date of the end of my maternity or the date I actually come back to work (mid-November).

Also then if I wish to leave, that would make it 31st January 2013………..i have to give 6 weeks notice ………… can I give this so my last day is the 31st January or do I need to have returned for 3 months BEFORE I resign…?

All I’m thinking is:

v 31st October 2011 – start maternity leave
v 30 October 2012 – maternity leave end
v 1 – 16 November 2012 – annual leave entitlement from 2011/12
v 19 Nov – 14 Dec – annual leave entitlement from 2012/13
v Resign giving 6 weeks notice – 21 December 2012
v Leave 1 February 2013

I hope that makes sense!

Also I’m presuming that if I returned part time, it would still be “3 months” even though I’m working less hours per week?

Actually that’s raised another thing………say if it was agreed to do 2 days per week on my return, I guess this would be from end of maternity leave (or they may prefer after the previous years leave entitlement), anyway could I then use my 2012/13 leave entitlement to take off those 2 days per week…..?

Sorry I’m not trying to be sneaky etc etc and obviously I’m not preggers at the moment, and I don’t know how I would feel about wanting to return to work or not……but I was just trying to work out what I would need to do to ensure I keep the occupational maternity pay………

picasso2

bigsaver2010 wrote: »

Hi, Can anyone advise me whether "continuous service" means total NHS service, or within the particular NHS trust? I have worked for the NHS for 10 years, in the current PCT for 7 years, but am about to start a 2nd job in another PCT. Their policy just says "12 months continuous service with one or more NHS employers" - I am confused! I am not pregnant, but potentially thinking about trying in the future. The wording is unclear.

I don't know if this helps but I got a letter recently as my records were being updated for ESR. I'm an old style nurse so have continuous service since I started my training. I have worked in a number of NHS trusts in Yorkshire and have no break in service. From what I could make out as long as you stay in the NHS it all counts . So I have 23 years :eek: continuous service even though I have worked for 5 different trusts over those years.

Hope that makes sense

Cara79

Just bumping this up if anyone can help...

Cara79 wrote: »

Hi

I have a quick query – hypothetical at the mo as not yet preggers; but I was just wondering……this is an NHS Trust too.....

Ok my situation for example:

v Start maternity leave on 31st October 2011
v Return on 1st November 2012
v Holiday year is April – March

I know that I may carry holiday over etc; however, I would then also be entitled to my new holiday year entitlement for April – October 2012.

My question is this…………………if I were to return to work on 1st November 2012, and then take my annual leave that I am entitled to……if I wish to leave employment, I know that I have to be at work for 3 months after my maternity leave. Does this include the period of annual leave? E.g. maternity leave ends 31st October, but have 2 weeks annual leave……does my 3 months start from the date of the end of my maternity or the date I actually come back to work (mid-November).

Also then if I wish to leave, that would make it 31st January 2013………..i have to give 6 weeks notice ………… can I give this so my last day is the 31st January or do I need to have returned for 3 months BEFORE I resign…?

All I’m thinking is:

v 31st October 2011 – start maternity leave
v 30 October 2012 – maternity leave end
v 1 – 16 November 2012 – annual leave entitlement from 2011/12
v 19 Nov – 14 Dec – annual leave entitlement from 2012/13
v Resign giving 6 weeks notice – 21 December 2012
v Leave 1 February 2013

I hope that makes sense!

Also I’m presuming that if I returned part time, it would still be “3 months” even though I’m working less hours per week?

Actually that’s raised another thing………say if it was agreed to do 2 days per week on my return, I guess this would be from end of maternity leave (or they may prefer after the previous years leave entitlement), anyway could I then use my 2012/13 leave entitlement to take off those 2 days per week…..?

Sorry I’m not trying to be sneaky etc etc and obviously I’m not preggers at the moment, and I don’t know how I would feel about wanting to return to work or not……but I was just trying to work out what I would need to do to ensure I keep the occupational maternity pay………

clairec79

The annual leave can be taken in your notice period.

However with dropping your hours to avoid paying back, I think it is 3 months of work at the rate you were on prior to mat leave (so if you were 37hours a week (5 days) and drop to 7.5 hours (1 day) you need to give the equilivant of 3months of 5 days (ie15 months) - could be wrong on that though

With the annual leave I was advised to take my 2010/2011 leave before I started maternity leave, they don't have to let you carry over more than 5 days unless there is a valid reason (ie if you had booked to take it off but then gave birth at 29 weeks they'd let you then. In reality all this tends to mean is you officially start maternity leave later than you planned - my maternity leave was booked to start the day before my due date and used leave before, rather than at the end

bigsaver2010

Cara79 wrote: »

Hi, continuous service is for any NHS Trust providing no break is over 6 months I believe. So continuous service will start from the 1st day you joined an NHS Trust; i.e. you have got 10 years continuous service. Make sure it says this in your contract for the new job.

This is exactly why I'm confused!! I am about to start work for a new PCT - so do I have to work for them for a year first?? Or because I am still working for another PCT as well, with 7 years service, would I still get full occuptional maternity leave for both jobs??