Neonatal care leave policy frequently asked questions
1. What is Neonatal Care Leave?
Neonatal Care Leave is additional leave provided to eligible employees whose baby has been admitted to neonatal care for more than one week before they reach 28 days of life.
2. Who is eligible for Neonatal Care Leave?
Eligibility includes the birthing or non-birthing parent (including same-sex partners), the child's adopter, or the intended parent (in the case of surrogacy).
3. How long can I take Neonatal Care Leave?
The length of leave is based on how long the baby receives neonatal care, up to a maximum of 12 weeks.
4. When does my entitlement to leave begin?
Neonatal Care Leave is available from your first day of employment at the University.
5. How does neonatal leave work with taking maternity/adoption leave immediately after the birth?
Employees can take neonatal leave immediately after maternity/adoption leave or at any time within 68 weeks after the child’s birth.
6. Can I split my leave into different periods?
Yes, the government divides neonatal leave into two tiers:
Tier 1 (during neonatal care) can be taken in non-continuous blocks of at least one week with 15 days’ notice.
Tier 2 (after neonatal care ends) must be taken in one continuous block with 28 days’ notice.
7. What happens if my baby is admitted, discharged, and then readmitted to neonatal care?
If both admissions last at least seven consecutive days and occur before 28 days of life, they will be counted toward your neonatal care leave.
8. Am I entitled to Neonatal Care Pay?
Employees will receive Statutory Neonatal Care Pay if they have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks and earn an average of at least £125 per week.
9. How long will I receive neonatal pay?
If you qualify, you are entitled to Statutory Neonatal Care Pay for up to 12 weeks.
10. Does Neonatal Care Pay replace my maternity/adoption pay?
No, Neonatal Care Pay is provided in addition to Statutory Maternity Leave (SML) or Statutory Adoption Leave (SAL).
11. Do I get extra leave if I have twins or multiple births?
Leave is granted per child. If both babies require neonatal care, their leave entitlements will be combined but capped at 12 weeks.
12. What if my request for leave is declined due to operational demands?
In the unlikely event that it is not possible to take Neonatal Care Leave immediately due to operational demands, the line manager must ensure you can take leave as soon as possible.
13. What happens when my Neonatal Care Leave ends?
Employees are entitled to return to their previous job with the same terms and conditions, unless a redundancy situation arises.
14. What support is available upon returning to work?
Employees can seek Occupational Health advice via referral if there are concerns about returning to normal working hours. They can also speak to their line manager who can seek advice from HR.
15. What if my baby passes away during neonatal care?
In the tragic event of neonatal loss, employees can still take their accrued Neonatal Care Leave and Pay within 68 weeks of the child’s birth.