Nhs HR

[Ducky1900]

Maybe the wrong place but thought I may get some answers here.
Does anyone work in NHS HR or know the rules around mat leave and then leaving the Trust for another Trust when you due to go back from mat leave.

I work for nhs, due to go on mat leave in December.
We have always planned to move next year and relocate, so this would fall on my mat leave year.
Can I just put my notice in 3 months before my mat leave is due up, then look for another job where we relocate to go into after mat leave?
Or do I have to do it all through HR and internal transfers?

I notice in my mat leave application form, it's got a bit that says 'if you don't intend to reuter to the trust...please state the date of last service'

Just wondered where i would stand with these plans.
I don't want to get to the end of my mat leave and it not go the way I thought.
Thanks in advance for any replies!

You would still be asked to repay any occupational maternity leave you had received, regardless of if you loved to another NHS trust. Keep that in mind if you aren't planning on returning for the required amount of time, most Trust's is three months.

I'm Pretty sure as long as you stay in NHS you don't have to pay it back.
I work for the NHS, not the specific trust that I'm working for.

As long as no break in service (think it's no more than two weeks but annual leave does not count) it's fine. I have done it move trust whilst on mat leave. Also went in mat leave with six weeks of moving to a new role and trust -i did tell them I'd be going off

"Employees must return to work in the NHS in a permanent post for a minimum of 3 months
Employees will be required to repay the difference between OMP and SMP if this condition is not met.
Employees returning to work in another NHS employer, must send proof within 15 months of the start of maternity leave start date otherwise the repayment condition will apply"

What I found on the policy...
I'm taking that as I can return to any NHS trust after mat leave.

Certainly the mat leave policy in my trust is that you can move between trusts on your maternity leave & not need to pay back any money.

As long as you work in the nhs for 3 months you will not have to pay it back. Many many rotating doctors move trusts during maternity leave. I did and had no problems with maternity pay. You have to chase your annual leave pay at the end of Mat leave though... that is paid by your old trust.

Yep as long as you are moving to a new trust and do not have a break in service then you won’t need to repay your omp. You will have to show proof of your employment in another trust though

I work in the NHS in Wales and moved jobs whilst on mat leave from one health board to another, all was fine as I didn't have a big gap between the mat leave ending and starting my new job. Not sure if it will be the same in England (but assume it would be as my service in the NHS in England transferred over when I moved to Wales in terms of continuous service).

I returned to work after Mat Leave with a different Trust. Didn't do anything through HR, just told my old manager.

Oh perfect. Thanks for the replies.. Can't wait to relocate and start again where we want to bring our children up.

It is my understanding that you can return to any NHS trust so long as it's a permanent role that you stay in for 3 months.

Each mat leave policy is slightly different so check some of the small print.
But others are right - the general rule is as long as you start working for the NHS again within three months of your expected return to work date (or maximum maternity leave allowance of 52 weeks) and stay working for that trust for 3 months then you don't have to pay anything back. You will have to give at least 3 months notice though. If you give your notice in at any point in your mat leave the departing trust is still liable for the whole mat leave allowance.

Good luck and congratulations. X

You have to be really careful about break in service. If you give in your notice then it will be stressful - I applied for an NHS job at beginning of April, interviewed and got offered the job on 5th June but checks have taken until 21st July for formal offer. I'm not on maternity so only gave notice last week so it's fine but I know someone who nearly fell foul of this timescale issue when relocating.

My mat leave will be from Jan 2021 to Jan 22.
Planning to make the move in July / August next, so I'll definately do the looking for and securing a job well into the August, so should have plenty of time for checks etc before I have to return in Jan 22.
Hopefully it'll work out!

My mat leave will be from Jan 2021 to Jan 22.
Planning to make the move in July / August next, so I'll definately do the looking for and securing a job well into the August, so should have plenty of time for checks etc before I have to return in Jan 22.
Hopefully it'll work out!