Adoption process - leave for training?

[RoseSays]

Hi everyone

I'm in Stage 1 training and I was wondering because I thought I had read somewhere that you were allowed paid leave from work for the training?

I was hoping to keep my adoption application private from my work and colleagues until further in the process as I understand it can go on years before you are matched, but the absolute first thing my agency have done is ask my work for references.

I took the training days off as holiday, as I wanted to keep it private, but now my boss knows, there's no point, so can I ask for paid leave? (I will only get this if it's legislated for).
I imagine I will leave this job if I do adopt as it's a very family unfriendly place to work and I'd be happier somewhere else, so I'm not worried about keeping them sweet and not asking for my rights.

Thanks!

I started the process 5 years ago. I told my manager we were starting as they needed to know for reference request and also as I needed time off but I asked them to keep it confidential from other staff as I didn't want people constantly asking how it was going knowing I might change my mind or not get approved. I took unpaid leave for initial training (worked in education so couldn't ask for holiday!)
At the time, 3 or 5 days of paid leave (can't remember which) we're available once you had been matched. My matching fell during school holiday so I didn't get these as paid. My husband works in private industry. He took training as holiday. He was given maximum parental leave when we were matched and took extra as holiday. His boss has always been extremely supportive of time off for training during the process and training since. I took statutory adoption leave and then didn't return to work as work place wasn't particularly family friendly and I wanted to be at home with my child as long as possible.
Unless it's changed, I should imagine you will only get paid leave once matched.

We went through the process last year and as pp has mentioned the paid leave is once you’ve been matched, we had to use holiday for training days.

It depends on your company policy.

We were approved in July and had matching panel in November.

I told our company HR in February when I needed a reference and told my manager when we got onto phase 2.

My company policy is we could have up to 5 appointments paid before matching for sw visits etc. I took our 3 days training as holiday. My partners company was similar but got 3 appointments (as 2nd adopter).

We saved up our holiday for matching / introductions and our children were placed just before Christmas (not planned, they were due to move in tomorrow) so we had the week they were placed off, my company shut between Christmas and NY, my partner took holiday. My adoption leave starts tomorrow and my partners paternity leave starts next Monday, he has holiday booked this week.

I told my direct team after we were approved and started telling people at work outside of my team after matching panel and once we had an idea of dates

To add we are sharing the leave. I am doing the first 6 months and my partner is then doing 3 months. Due to the ages of our children we aren't taking a full year as they will both be at school / nursery during the last 3 months so we decided it wasn't worth my partner doing the last 3 months unpaid to sit at home on his own whilst waiting for them to finish school (he finishes work at 3 anyway so would be home for school pickup)

I think theres a webinar on all the rights on Adoption uk? I think we had 5 days you can take before matching? im not sure, we saved up all holiday too!

I'd have a good read of your company's adoption policy as their approach should be written in there. It should broadly mirror the maternity policy - the "training" days are roughly equivalent to antenatal appointments

According to ACAS:

If you’re eligible for adoption leave, you have the right to paid time off work for 5 adoption appointments after you’ve been matched with a child. If your employer asks for it, you’ll need to show them an appointment card or other proof.

HR policies may vary, but this is the minimum they have to grant.

Thanks everyone, there is no adoption policy at my workplace, but I will be able to get the legal/statutory minimum as I qualify for maternity leave/pay.

@RoseSays

if there is no adoption policy at your workplace you should really challenge that, particularly if they have an enhanced maternity package. You should be treated no differently to women on maternity leave, an adoption policy in place would give you some protection

Hi @Ted27 it's a very small company and no enhanced anything for anyone, so I wouldn't be missing out, as there's only statutory available.
They won't know about the paid days off for matching, but I'm so early in the process and I've been warned it may take years so I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.