Adoption Leave and returning to work

[ADOPTINGMUM]

Hi all,

Firstly thank you for taking the time to read and comment. We are all very busy and time is precious so I'm grateful for yours. We are confused, and under emotional and financial pressures and could do with some advice...

We were placed with two brothers (3 years and 18mnths) about 3 months ago. Everything has gone really well despite the challenges. They are both really settled and are happy caring little boys.
When we were informed about the boys, we were also told that birth mum was pregnant and that it was possible this baby would be removed. We decided to park this for another day as we wanted to concentrate on the boys.... that day has come.
She has given birth and the baby was immediately removed and placed in foster care as the birth parents have not improved their situation. Social services are in the process of going through the courts and expect a placement order in 4 - 5 months. Our SW has asked for our thoughts... we are keen to keep the siblings together (they are full siblings) and believe that that boys would adjust fairly quickly. We also believe that we would be able to give a happy forever home to all three children.
However, I'm concerned about my work and money.

My question is about my rights at work. I'm waiting for HR to get back to me... but not sure its going to be a quick turnaround! So wanted to see if anyone else has been in this situation.

I'm due to return to work in 8/9 weeks. I'm not sure if I would be entitled to adoption leave (paid) by the time the courts have concluded the order with the baby. How long do I need to be back in work before I can go off again with full paid rights??

Thank you for your help :-)

[jellycatspyjamas]

I think it depends on your contract, my workplace has enhanced adoption leave which matches their maternity leave policy. I could have ended one set of adoption leave and immediately started a second if a subsequent child was placed with us. Adoption leave is triggered by the matching certificate so depending on when that’s produced, you could almost have back to back leave in my job role.

I’m not sure what the position is from a purely statutory point of view because my terms and conditions far exceed statutory leave and payments.

[Thepinklady77]

From my understanding you would be entitled to take statutory adoption leave again at any point. You may not get any enhanced payments (such as full or half pay in addition to statutory) as that is usually dependent on earnings in the time leading up to the leave but you most definitely will be entitled to statutory.

[Lois75]

As pp said you'd be entitled to statutory maternity pay at least. Anything more depends on your employer. If your sure about the baby and they're are unlikely to return you could suggest foster to adopt. This would mean little one could move in with your family whilst a waiting the court order. You would also be paid as a foster carer.

[Strugglingmum73]

Coming on to suggest foster to adopt too.

[Gertruude]

We have just been through an almost identical situation with our three ACs and AS3 was placed under foster to adopt for the first three months (although it took 7 months for them to get the order and move him to us so don't be surprised if your time frame ends up being similar). Pretty much all LAs will give adoption support allowance once you take three too - ours refuted its existence before. I'm not sure of the maternity leave situation as we are both self employed but once we had three everything got a lot more full on and we struggle to work as much so the additional financial support is vital. PM me if you have any questions.

[SaveOurSausages]

Why does it have to be you who takes the adoption leave? Couldn't your partner? It can be brilliantly bonding, doesn't matter whether it's the adoptive father or mother.

[Thepinklady77]

I would second saveoursaugages thoughts on perhaps your partner taking the adoption leave this time. This will of course depend on earnings and working hours. My husband took adoption leave the second time around as it was quite quick after mine and I felt that I did not want to abandon work again so soon. We do however earn exactly the same and had exactly the same rights to enhanced payments so it was a no brainer for us. My husband loved being at home and now we both work part time at opposite ends of the week so one or other of us is at home for the kids. We parent 50:50 and the kids benefit so much from this.

I note you intend to return to work within about 6 months of first two being placed, is this full time or part time. I am surprised you feel you can manage this so soon but I totally understand everyone and every child is different. I think you may want to consider the effects of having a third child in relation to the ability to have both of you working. We find it impossible with two (3&4) been with us 1&2 years respectively to contemplate both of working anywhere near full time. To be honest at the moment one of us is always at home and can’t see how we are they would manage anytime soon with this changing too dramatically and that’s without adding a third into the mix.

Just throwing out food for thought that may or may not effect you.

[Gertruude]

Our set up is very similar to Thepinklady77 we now split work and parenting between us and I too definitely recommend considering it. Although because we both work from home we can both do a little more than part time hours would be.

Some companies also let a couple split the maternity leave so your husband could take the first half and you the second (or vice versa).

But definitely find out what support social services will give you