Disabled child needs treatment - what are my rights?

AlwaysHappy

Evening - my son who is 13 needs dental treatment at the hospital - this is likely to be over 3 visits. My husband has been lucky enough in the past to be able to have the time off for his medical appointments, but as my husband is already taking 3 lots of time off in November for our son I need to step in to help out. Work however has said that they can't spare me any time this year. Somebody has said to me that this should be covered under the dda (even if its unpaid which would be fine) but I can't find anything on the internet about this. My son has aspergers and learning difficulties (functioning approximately at age 5/6 level) and will be in extreme distress about the forthcoming interventions. Sorry for the long post but if anyone has any advice it would be appreciated. I work for a large financial organisation so its not a one man band situation. Thanks.

superflygal

Hiya,

Try phoning ACAS. 08702 42 90 90 (I think this is number I just googled ACAS). They know the law by heart and have advised me many times, resulting in success with a work problem.

TIP: If the person you get is unhelpful, phone back and speak to another advisor. I have had mostly good ones, one rubbish one (a bloke) then a great lady one after the rubbish one. Very helpful advice.

I'm sure you will be entitled to unpaid leave.

Best of luck.

SFG x

Richie-from-the-Boro

The O/P has not stated that s/he is disabled, and so does not come within the scope of the DDA, so the 'reasonable adjustments' rule will not apply. Whether or not the employer will grant time off / with / without pay to the O/P to care for a family member will largely depend on personal ' absence rates ' over the last periods of time, and the generosity [ social; accounting ] of the employer.

Tigsteroonie

It's not under the DDA. If your son is disabled, then you are entitled to Parental Leave for him until the age of 18 (normally unpaid). [Presuming you have been with said employer for a year]

However, it is still up to your employer to decide whether to grant the leave on the day(s) you request, they could have operational reasons why this isn't possible. Start by requesting the right kind of leave, see how they react, and negotiate from there.

Brassedoff

Take Richies advice or if a large company go to the highest HR person in the organisation, if small, go to the boss. If you explain I am sure they will let you have time off, albeit unpaid. If you worked for me and started waiving the DDA at me, you would not be with me for much longer, sounds heartless I know, but businesses need to survive. I do not know your attendance nor performance record so cannot comment on what they would say based on that.

MrsManda

You should be able to take statutory parental leave. This is unpaid though some organisations may pay for some parental leave.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Parentalleaveandflexibleworking/DG_10029416

If your organisation doesn't pay for parental leave you could take the time as annual leave.

Richie-from-the-Boro

In #3 I specifically mentioned personal ' absence rates '. I am aware that the 13yr old child has aspergers, dyspraxia and learning difficulties and is in receipt of MRC and the difficulties that can bring to a family unit. However if the O/P is herself ill and has a flaky attendance record this may have led to the less than helpful response from the line manager / and / or above.

To the O/P in #1 you said ""that they can't spare me any time this year"" .. .. .. did you mean to write ""that they can't spare me any more time this year"" ?

AlwaysHappy

Many thanks for the responses. My attendance record is good - I have had 2 days off ill in 7 years at this office so that shouldn't be a cause for concern. I also understand what the poster has said about using the DDA and upsetting my employer - and I totally agree with that - my son is 13 and as yet I have not waved this card and luckily he has never been ill so I have (as yet) never needed any time off to look after him. I will phone acas (just for advice) as someone suggested and then will likely ask again for some parental leave.

morledge142

i don;t have any work advice to offer but i wanted to wish you well.

my son who is nearly 9 had to go into hospital to have baby teeth out as he could not tolerate going to a normal dentist.

he is asd and they were very good and let him keep his normal clothes on including his fleece jacket that he never takes off.

they were also very understanding of him especiallly when he came round from the anaesthetic and his first words were " what are you looking at baldy" to a male nurse. i felt so bad.

it was only a day case and we were glad to get him home but he will proably have to go in again for other teeth.


i hope yu get something sorted as my oh always has to have lots of time off to take us to hospital appts so it is bad on the carers.
tracey

AlwaysHappy

morledge142 wrote: »

i don;t have any work advice to offer but i wanted to wish you well.

my son who is nearly 9 had to go into hospital to have baby teeth out as he could not tolerate going to a normal dentist.

he is asd and they were very good and let him keep his normal clothes on including his fleece jacket that he never takes off.

they were also very understanding of him especiallly when he came round from the anaesthetic and his first words were " what are you looking at baldy" to a male nurse. i felt so bad.

it was only a day case and we were glad to get him home but he will proably have to go in again for other teeth.


i hope yu get something sorted as my oh always has to have lots of time off to take us to hospital appts so it is bad on the carers.
tracey

Thanks - it made me laugh about "baldy" - my son says it as it is too. Hopefully he will get sorted out - he needs extensive dental treatment and has no idea what that will "feel like" - so far hasn't even had to have a filling!! Onwards and upwards!!