WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB
WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB
WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB
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SECTION 5.27<br />
27. Can I take paid paternity leave if I adopt a child?<br />
If your partner is adopting a child(or you are adopting jointly)you may be entitled to paternity leave<br />
and paternity pay for adopters.If you are adopting jointly one of you can take adoption leave(see 25<br />
Can I Take Paid Adoption Leave?)and the other can take paternity leave for adopters.Paternity leave<br />
for adopters is only available where a child has been newly matched for adoption by an adoption agency<br />
(a step-parent adopting a partner’s child would not qualify for adoption leave).<br />
To qualify for paternity leave for adopters you must be:<br />
• An employee i.e.someone with a contract of employment.So some agency,casual or temporary<br />
workers may not qualify,and<br />
• Married to the child’s adopter,or<br />
• The partner of the child’s adopter(this is defined as a person,whether of a different sex or the<br />
same sex,who lives with the adopter in an enduring family relationship but is not a blood relative),<br />
or<br />
• One of a couple adopting jointly.<br />
You must also:<br />
• Have been continuously employed for 26 weeks ending with the week in which the child’s adopter is<br />
notified of being matched with the child,and<br />
• Have or expect to have the main responsibility(apart from the adopter)for the upbringing of the<br />
child.<br />
• Be taking the time off to support the child’s adopter or to care for the child.<br />
If you qualify you will be entitled to take either one or two week’s paternity leave for adopters.You can<br />
choose whether to take one week or two but if you take two week they must be consecutive.You cannot<br />
take the leave at separate times.Leave must be taken within 56 days of the placement.<br />
You cannot start your leave before the child has been placed.You can choose to start the leave from:<br />
• The actual date of the child’s placement/next working day,or<br />
• Any day falling within a specified number of days after the placement,or<br />
• A pre agreed date after the expected date of placement.<br />
You must give a written notice to your employers within seven days of being matched for adoption.You<br />
must state in the notice:<br />
• The date when you expect the child to be placed,and<br />
• Whether you want to take one or two weeks leave,and<br />
• The start date of the leave.You can vary this date by giving 28 days notice.<br />
Your employer can ask for evidence of your entitlement to paternity leave and pay for adopters<br />
including details of the adoption agency,the date of placement etc.The Inland Revenue produce a<br />
model self-certificate SC4 which you can use as a self declaration of entitlement and to give notice for<br />
leave and pay(web link: http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/forms/sc4.<strong>pdf</strong>).