Adoption leave

[Italiangreyhound]

Adoption leave!

How involved were you in accessing the person who took over from you for adoption leave, in training them, in passing on work etc or was it totally outside your experience?

Did you just down tools and depart?

How do you live on a reduced income just as a new little one comes into the home!

I've done it once and this seems even harder and scarier!

My maternity leave was planned meticulously (by me) over a long period of time and this all seems much more instant, scary and fast!

Also last time I did not go back to my job (it was full time and I wanted part time and we could not find a way ahead so I left which felt like their choice but did sort of suit me) and this time there is the job for me part-time already. So I want to go back into order and not muddle!

I wonder if any one has any stories to share, knowledge or wisdom to impart or anything else to say, please?

Please do pm me if you want your comments to be confidential.

Thank you.

[Thepoodoctor]

Hello, hope you have had some pms.

Adoption leave is very sudden as you won't know it's definite until you go to matching panel and the chances are you will meet your LO later the same day or the next, and be straight into introductions. So opportunities for planning cover are much reduced and you just have to roll with that. You will have other things on your mind

I don't know what job you do, of course, but the best option is to start putting together an 'as if' plan in the month or two you are likely to have between getting a link approved and going to panel. Both times I had the conversation with work about 'I can't say 100% that this will happen on x date, but it's very likely and if it is I will be leaving on the day of matching panel!' work were very sympathetic both times.

Work on basis that matching panel is 99% likely to go through. If you are in a job where cover is crucial then you may just have to arrange cover and have a week or two off if the unexpected happens.

Two things:

Do NOT attempt to do anything after matching panel or during intros. You won't be able to! End of.

Related to the above - work are supposed to receive a matching certificate to prove your entitlement to adoption leave (like a matB form?) however you won't get this till many days/weeks after matching panel. Square this with work beforehand!

Happy to answer any other queries and good luck!!

[TrinnyandSatsuma]

Once we had a date for matching panel, I worked on the basis that we would get a yes. It was hard to do that, because it meant getting hopes up etc, but I just couldn't leave it until matching panel to start planning.

Everyone knew we were at panel on a set date. I planned to begin my leave two days later. If we'd got a no, obviously I'd have gone back to work.

I completely agree with PP re not doing anything after MP or during introductions. We intentionally finished work before introductions started, giving us three weeks to fill freezer with food, get house sorted and just enjoy our last lie ins for the next 10 years!

X

[Thepoodoctor]

Gosh Trinny did you have three weeks between MP and introductions?

I think we met both of our DCs briefly on the day of panel, and intros started properly the day after.

Two of the more emotionally exhausting days of my life

[Italiangreyhound]

Thanks Triny and Dr, have pmed you.

[TrinnyandSatsuma]

Poodoctor, Yes, in our local authority, we need to wait for the decision maker to ratify panels decision. We also timed it to coincide with school terms for our son etc.

[Moomoomie]

I worked for the NHS before children. I was on a 3 month rolling finish day. I forget how it worked but as long as every three months I told them I would be taking adoption leave I was able to just stop working, if that makes sense.

This was back in 2001 so things have changed a lot.

I missed out on a fair chunk of money if I remember correctly. I didn't go back to my contract though, I went onto a pool contract and after the girls had been home about four months, I started working for 5 hours on a Tuesday evening. It worked well as my husband was able to finish work early and do the whole tea, bath and bed routine. I then increased my hours as the years went on.

I left work totally when dd3 came home, six years ago.
We just struggled along with just one wage, as we do now, but DH always earns a lot more than me.

[Italiangreyhound]

Thanks Moomoomie. Glad it worked out.

[Happiestinwellybobs]

I was totally upfront with work from the start. When we got the phone call about DD I told them when we had decided to go ahead and from that point I did a detailed handover folder - in my case I was the only person doing that job.

My organisation are fab. We advertised my role once I said I was going ahead with the match with DD. I interviewed all candidates and we offered on the proviso that we were approved at matching panel. I then had a one week handover with my cover.

As for finances I was entitled to a slightly enhanced package of 3 months half pay after the initial 6 weeks at 90%. I managed by using a lot of leave up, so in effect was only on adoption leave for just over 7 months.

I used my kit days to ensure I was up to date with new systems and kept in touch with my team. I actually took DD in a few times too :)

[Kewcumber]

I worked in a very small company and was the finance director so very difficult to replace me.

First 6-8 weeks when I was away (not technically on AL but using holiday/unpaid leave) I worked partly from Kaz with my financial controller emailing me stuff.

Then I had a month where they managed without me completely (a bit like a long holiday) then I worked from home just giving advice and chekcing stuff.

The guy who worked for me did a lot more work and I recommended they pay him a bonus based on teh money they'd saved on me.

Ummm, save as much as you can spend less. Take a mortgage holiday if you need to or reduce to interest only. Thats pretty much what I did.

I had absolutely no income at all except statutory adoption pay at one point.