Any NHS employees who've changed trusts during mat leave?

[kayjayel]

Has anyone changed jobs during mat leave from one trust to another? My questions is - what are the rules about who pays mat pay? I think there's some rule that it depends when you shift jobs, but can't find anything definitive. On general I get 3 wrong answers for every question I ask our HR, so I'm trying to find out for myself!
Can anyone help?
TIA

[JiminyCricket]

I know someone who did - she had to get a new permanent contract or would have had to pay back her mat leave pay - I think she was out of the half pay period and just on stat mat pay when she got the job though. i don't know the ins and outs.

[kayjayel]

thanks. I hate fiddly hR questions. Anyone else?

[flowerybeanbag]

I've no idea, but can I be nosey and ask why it matters which trust pays it? Isn't that HR/payroll's problem to sort out? Assuming you get continuity of service and are entitled to it even though you change jobs/trusts.

Excuse my ignorance, I've never worked for the NHS, I'm just curious as to what difference it makes to you and why you are expected to know iyswim?

Feel free to ignore, I'm just curious as I said!

[StealthPolarBANG]

Agree with flowerybeanbag -it's up to payroll! (unless you are payrll, in which case, why am I still on PT pay when I've been FT since September?? )
I would expect that each pays the relevant amount for when they emply you, and so surely if you switch you'll hand in your notice to the first one to end as your ML ends?

[kayjayel]

Not nosey!

I think it makes a difference as my maternity pay would have to come out of one specific trust's budget, and they might not be keen to pay me my salary, plus my previous maternity pay. I think there's a time specification as to who pays for it - e.g. if I change jobs before X weeks of leave then my new job has to pay all the mat pay. So they pay me for not working for them. And while the NHS gives you continuous service they have very different budgets available across trusts.

Its not feasible to keep it private that I'm on mat leave - I know lots of people in the trust I'd want to move to, and they obviously know I'm on mat leave. Plus at the moment I'm looking at possibilities, not an advertised job, yet anyway.

I should probably just forget it and focus on baby, but I'm hating the news of changes in my old job, and am a bit reluctant to go back, then look for a new job - feels like it would be an extra change from mat leave to old job to new leave, rather than mat leave to new job.

[kayjayel]

This is the problem with rumours! I 'heard' that its a date thing - change jobs before a specific date and mat pay comes from Job B, after that it comes from Job A. But it is hearsay, so I'm trying to find out more!

And its not payroll! Maybe I'd understand things more if it was...

[StealthPolarBANG]

I know exactly how you feel
If they advertise the job though and you go for it then they can't turn you down because of that - I think it would be discrimination

[flowerybeanbag]

Oh I see.

In that case I have no helpful advice as I have no idea!

[kayjayel]

Yes, I think you're right about that. The main prob is knowing people I'd be working for - I'd feel guilty to suddenly reveal I had extra costs. Although its a big trust, its still people you know and like, and the money is supposed to help people. Plus I know if my previous trust suddenly didn't have to pay my mat leave it would get swallowed up by some random overspend and wouldn't result in any services to help people. Which is annoying.

[kayjayel]

Thanks for letting me moan anyway! Maybe I'll risk a call to a few NHS HR departments tomorrow. I'll count how many different answers I get...

[StealthPolarBANG]

yeah true, I thought it would be something like that, knowing your rights is one thing, but knowing the difficulties they're facing is another...

[sorkycake]

I'm not entirely sure it matters tbh because the NHS despite separated into different trusts is one service.
When you leave one trust (non-mat related) your length of services travels with you, I've a feeling the rules only change if there is a transfer from NHS to private or vice versa.

[llareggub]

Surely you won't be changing jobs during your maternity leave? I don't work for the NHS but I work for a similarly publicly funded organisation, but the way that I would see it working is this:

On maternity leave between 1 April 2008-31 March 2009. During maternity leave, job with neighbouring trust is advertised, you apply.

Happily, you get the job and you discuss a start date. You say, "I'm on maternity leave, I'll start on 1 April 2009 if it's all the same to you."

They say, "jolly good, that's marvellous, we'll see you then."

All you have to do is give appropriate notice to your current trust that you won't actually be returning to work at the end of your maternity leave as you are starting at neighbouring trust. You then tell pensions to get all of your details transferred over.

Job done. Does that help? I hope it does....

[llareggub]

Oh, and I know lots of good people working in HR in the NHS. Maybe you just haven't got hold of them!

[monkeymonkeymonkey]

I know someone who got a new job before she went on mat leave. The old trust paid her, and she returned from mat leave to the new job.

I'm not sure that it will make much difference to you getting a job or not though? The panel are going to want the best candidate, rather than caring too much about the finer points of the budget.

[eemie]

I went on mat. leave from one trust, took a full year plus all the annual leave that accrued during it, and started new job in different trust at the end of it.

Was assured that there'd be no risk of having to pay back maternity pay - in fact new trust told me that if old trust wanted it paid back they'd pay it - but it didn't arise.

Didn't research the rules myself, just was very upfront with everyone and let HR sort it out.

HTH

[flowerybeanbag]

Oh yes, what llareggub said, wouldn't you just start a new job on your first day back after mat leave anyway?

And I also know a very lovely and extremely competent HR person who until recently worked for the NHS.

[kayjayel]

I'm glad people have good HR - I have definitely not met them, resulting in not getting right mat pay, being told I don't have continuity of service etc. Its been a bit difficult.

Changing jobs - my job is changing without me! So by the time I get back there will be new staff, new management structure, new policies etc. so it will still be a big change. A new job would still be broadly same stuff I do, so not too intimidating to change to. I like changing jobs as well .

I think if its an advertised job I would feel less bothered, but I'm approaching people to see if they have money in their budget for me - its not like making a job, just letting them know that if they were to advertise a part time post there would be at least one applicant . Will try to make phone calls today, kids allowing.

[kayjayel]

So far one dept doesn't know has passed me on and will call back. The other was confused and said 'I'm sure its all fine, no problem'. I'm not convinced!

[Kagey]

Hi Kayjayel,

Sorry to butt in, but I work in HR for the NHS. We have lots of people who move Trusts during maternity leave, and if you start work again either for a new employer or return to your existing employer, then your maternity leave (and pay) would end. This does not apply if you are just using keeping in touch days though with your existing employer.

I would exhaust your current maternity benefits at your Trust before starting your new job (making sure that all your leave has been paid to you). Continuous service would be applicable anyway.

HTH, and all the best for your new job!

[StealthPolarBANG]

that's not true surely! I was under the impression that if I left the NHS my maternity pay and rights would be compromised but within the NHS they would be protected!

[StealthPolarBANG]

Ah sorry

[StealthPolarBANG]

You mean start working (actively)
I presumed the OP meant "be employed by..."

[flowerybeanbag]

Yes SPB you are right I don't think the OP was hoping for maternity benefits as well as salary, it was a question of being employed by rather than returning to work for.

[teasleepfood]

Hi there,
I have had 3 jobs spanning 2 trusts before mat leave. Decided to cut hours and now have dropped one trust. However, if you give your notice in make sure it ties in with the end of mat leave. Working for another trust ensures that you don;t have to pay back mat pay. The previous trust also have to pay you for any accruesd annual leave whilst on mat leave (although I know some trusts try to wiggle out of this one).
in summary:

Agree to start any new post at the end of your mat leave, allowing continuous service.

Make sure you get paid a lump sum for the annual leave accrued while on mat leave from your previous trust.

If you start work for any employer (including NHS) your mat benefits stop.

You are allowed 10 'keeping in touch' days where you can come to work for training/ work shadowing and get pad at your normal rate in addition to your mat pay. These days can be of any amount of hours and do not have to match your previous working day i.e: if you previously worked 4 hours a day you could still do 6 hours in a KIT day and get paid for it. You are however only allowed 10 of them. I have done my mandatory training and got paid (whooo hoo!)such as resus etc.

Get all you can girl!