Fostering and adopting a few questions

[Stammerking]

My wife and I are looking into the idea of adopting or fostering a young child,we are @ the very early stages of the process and we have a meeting with a social worker in 2 weeks time.After a conversation on the phone I was asked about our working hours and the possibility of spending time with a possible new child in the early stages of the relationship. Now my wife has a very high profile job in the NHS and it would be me wanting possible shorter hours/break from work.
Would I be able to have paternity leave paid or be able to have say a 3 day week?

Any advice appreciated

[trythat]

I found this on the CWU site, so might be worth having a trawl throught it, but it's pretty hard going. It might be worth getting touch with Mr Ellis. Hope all goes well.

No. 227/2013
Ref: PTC/RE/srh/013
Date: 8 April 2013

TO ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

RE: PARENTAL LEAVE

Branches will be aware that parental leave is a form of statutory unpaid leave available to eligible employees for the purpose of caring for a child.

From 8 March 2013, the total amount of unpaid leave that can be taken increased from 13 to 18 weeks for each child. Eligibility for taking parental leave and when, why and how it can be taken remains unchanged. To be eligible, an individual must be an employee of Royal Mail Group with at least one year's service, and must be a birth or adoptive parent, or have or expect to have parental responsibilities for a child. An eligible employee can take the leave at any time up until the child's 5th birthday, or in relation to an adopted child to the 5th anniversary of their adoption (or 18th birthday if sooner) and in relation to a disabled child, to their 18th birthday. The purpose of the leave is for caring for the child - this is fairly wide in scope and can include, for example, simply spending more time with family, settling into childcare and looking at schools.

Royal Mail Group has amended their parental leave policy to reflect this change in legislation and the revised policy and guide is available on both the Policy and Information sites and through the PSP system.

Branches should be reminded that parental leave is separate to the other time off guide policy which would enable people to receive either paid or unpaid special leave for issues such as urgent domestic distress.

Any enquiries should be addressed to Ray Ellis's department, quoting reference PTC/RE/srh/013. Email address: rellis@cwu.org

[UnhappyGremlin]

This is from RM's Special Leave doc.

ADOPTION LEAVE   

Four weeks leave fully paid for the Primary Carer and one week for the Secondary Carer along with a period of unpaid leave. Subject to 12 months service prior to matching. Pre-visits, court appointments and compulsory training should be taken as annual leave or unpaid leave. See Adoption Leave policy for further details.

[tasam]

I think that you'd be entitled to a period of 'paternity leave' when placement is imminent.
Union rep or hr should be able to give more definite information.

[Stammerking]

Many thanks guys just the info I need :-)