Partner / Paternity Leave and Pay

Partner/Paternity leave is available to all:

• Fathers

• Co-adopters

• The mother or adopter’s spouse or partner (whether opposite or same sex)

• Intended parent who isn't the designated primary carer (if having a baby through surrogacy)

2 weeks of leave following the birth of the baby

• You can choose to take either 1 or 2 weeks of leave

• If you take 2 weeks, they can be taken consecutively or separately (but odd days cannot be taken)

• You must take all your leave within 52 weeks of the date of birth of the child (or due date if the child is early)

During your leave:

• You accrue annual leave

• You continue to pay pension contributions

Who do you need to tell when?

• You must apply for new parent support leave no later than the 15th week before expected week of childbirth

  • Click here to see a timeline of other important antenatal dates

You can choose to start your leave on any of:

• The day the baby is born (including if you're a surrogate parent)

• A date chosen after the baby’s birth

• A predetermined date later than the 1st day of the expected week of childbirth

If you change your mind, you must give your manager 28 days notice of a change of chosen dates (unless this is not reasonably practical)

If you are adopting, your partner leave can start any time from:

• The date of placement

• The date the child arrives in the UK if you’re adopting from overseas

NB You can’t start your leave before the date the baby is born

• This means it’s not possible to start paternity leave when your partner is in labour / being induced for example

• Talk to your rota team / manager - most teams are very supportive and will agree leave eg special leave or agreement within your team to cover this time before the baby is born

Use the table below to see if you are entitled to:

• Full pay under the NHS scheme or

• Government statutory partner pay

If you are the partner of mother giving birth, your qualifying week is the:

• 15th week before the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) 

If you are the partner of the primary surrogate parent, your qualifying week is the:

• 15th week before the baby is due

To work out when the 15th week before the EWC is:

1. Find the Sunday before the baby is due (or the due date if it is a Sunday)

2. Count back 15 Sundays from there

3. That Sunday is the start of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth ie your qualifying week

• The week runs Sunday - Saturday

Or click here to use this calculator to generate your important dates

If you are the partner of the primary adopting parent and

Adopting from the UK, your qualifying week is:

• The week you're matched with the child

Adopting from overseas, your qualifying week is:

• The week the child enter the UK or

• The week you want your pay or leave to start