Adoption

Congratulations!

Expecting a child is an exciting experience, but it can also be stressful and filled with many unknowns. It can be difficult to know who to tell and hard to find out what you need to do.

We have put together a timeline of important dates and recommended steps to take during the antenatal period below
You can also use the links below to navigate to other relevant areas of the site

Here are some nominated contacts at each trust who you can approach discreetly and should help provide advice and support
There is also a whatsap community you can join here

This Page

Antenatal Timeline

Time Off for Appointments

Disruption of a Planned Adoption

Quick Links

Parental Leave

For information on adoption, partner/paternity and shared parental leave

Returning to work

For information on returning to work and keeping in touch, relevant if you are planning to be off work for more than 3 months

Working with a child

Antenatal Timeline

Click to download a 1 page PDF checklist

As soon as you feel comfortable

Inform the department and rota coordinator

Inform your educational supervisor

ASAP

Find your trust's parental leave policies from your manager or HR.
Policies for SE London trusts can be found here

If you come across any other useful trust policies for any trust, please send them to us and we will publicise them here too

ASAP

Inform your TPD and HEE of your planned adoption leave

Email your TPD – find out who your TPD is here

Fill out this form to inform HEE of your planned adoption leave

ASAP after registration that adoption has been accepted

Submit your adoption leave application to your employer, and submit your:

Matching certificate
Expected date of placement for adoption
Expected dates of adoption leave

Trusts should be aware that you may have very little advance warning of placement, therefore timelines for informing trusts of dates and leave do not apply. Ensure you inform your trust as early as possible

ASAP after registration that adoption has been accepted

Apply for SPL application if you intend to split SPL with your partner
If your partner is planning to take SPL immediately following your 2 weeks of compulsory adoption leave:
- Submit notice of curtailment of adoption leave (you need to end your adoption leave before you can start SPL)

Min of 8 week’s notice is needed where possible however Trusts should recognise this is often not possible and adoptive parents may have little warning

Qualifying week

For adoptions in the UK the qualifying week = the week you’re matched with the child

For overseas adoptions the qualifying week = either:

the week the child enters the UK
the week you want your pay or leave to start

Parental pay is worked out based on your average weekly earnings on the 2 payslips before this
You need to have been employed by your trust for 26 weeks prior to this to qualify for SPP, unless you have moved trusts due to a training (more info here)
You need to have 12 months continuous service with the NHS by this point to receive occupational maternity pay

After infroming payroll / HR

You should receive a breakdown of your anticipated parental leave pay a month before your leave is due to start

There is some guidance here to help you check your pay is correct
You may also want to clarify how much you will be paid for any KiT/SPLiT days you chose to take
If you haven't received this you may want to contact HR / payroll

Before you go

If you are planning to be off for a period of more than 3 months:

Meet with ES to complete pre-absence form here so you can access the SuppoRTT fund
Meet with ES / manager to plan and find out process of booking KiT/SPLiT days at your trust

SuppoRRT is an HEE initiative to help give individualised support to trainees returning to work after a period of time out
To access this you need to complete a pre-absence form before going on leave
Click here to find out more and how to apply in your local HEE region

Before you go

Inform your professional bodies of your upcoming leave to access membership discounts - click here for more info

Before you go

Contact IT to ensure your hospital log ins are not deleted
Contact NHS Email to ensure your email address is not deleted
Place an out of office on your emails with a return date

Other Things to Think About

Consider booking an antenatal class – these become very booked up from early in pregnancy

- Can be a great way to meet local parents-to-be expecting at a similar time

Sign up to childcare waiting lists – childcare options can have waiting lists 1-2 years long therefore you need to join well before baby arrives depending on if and when you’re planning childcare for your baby!

Time Off for Appointments

Below are your statutory rights.

However, it is worth checking your trust’s policy and discuss with your team as you may be entitled to more paid time off or be able make local agreements with your team

Adoption

The partner who is taking adoption leave: Paid time off for 5 adoption appointments after you've been matched with a child

The partner who is not taking adoption leave: Unpaid time off for 2 adoption appointments

If you require more time off for appointments discuss this with your employer

Disruption of a Planned Adoption

NHS employers Handbook Section: 15.42:

"Should the adoption break down (“Be disrupted”) the employee will be entitled to continue their adoption leave and receive the appropriate payment for that time."

Please check with your local trust policy for further information and guidance.

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