Returning to work after maternity leave

[NJsenior]

I have had a year off after having my son. I hadn't planned on having so much time off but the return to work process has been longer than I expected. I reached out to my employer in (5 months after the birth) to state my intentions of returning to work as I needed to give 8 weeks notice. I asked them that I would like them to consider making my role part time due to child care issues and me now part time caring for my elderly dad who has dementia. We went through the formal process of applying which took a few months and they came back to say the role change would not work for the business and offered the chance of a much lower paid role in a completely separate part of the business where I have no training or experience and would be a lesser role.
They have asked several times what my decision is which has caused me a lot of stress. They have told me that my full time job is still here and have been hounding me for an answer.
I spoke to acas and they just advised what I have already done.
I feel I don't have any other choice but to hand my notice in as there isn't another option.
Is there anything else I can do?

I think they're allowed to offer you an alternate job if the current one cannot be done part time. However I don't think they can pay you less for it (per hour I mean).

I'm not sure where you should go from here, but hopefully someone else might have advice...

What result are you looking for OP?

Your previous job is open for you, but it wouldn’t work part-time.

They have found a part-time role for you, but you don’t think it’s suitable.

What would you like to happen next, in an ideal
world?

HR person here.

If OP has had less than 6 months off, she is entitled to her job back on the same terms as pre-maternity.

If OP has had more than 6 months off, she is entitled to a comparable role in terms of grade and pay and responsibility on the same terms as pre-maternity.

OP wants to change the terms by moving to part time. The business can’t accommodate that, so have offered what is legally available or, if being part time is more important to OP, an alternative role. If that carries less responsibility then the OP will not be entitled to higher pay, because it’s her choice to take that role.