Maternity leave - might not be able to return to work after maternity leave / repaying OMP

[Bundee]

Hi All,
I won't be able to go back to my NHS employment after my maternity leave (I won't go into details why) - and I am really worried about needing to repay my OMP. I know the policy states that you need to 'return to NHS paid employment' for three calendar months after maternity leave - I will have about 8ish weeks of annual leave which I know will count towards those three months. I wondered about whether paid parental leave would also count towards this three calendar month period? As I am entitled to 4 weeks of paid parental leave, so if this were allowed, I would more or less be able to cover the 3 month period. Does anyone know, has anyone done this?

I only have the statutory parental leave but I have only been able to access for a particular reason.
I got it for an extended period when her nursery closed but didn't use much of it as I could use annual leave which was paid and my parental leave wasn't.
I have had it when she was sick to but I have to check in each day like if I was sick rather than like booking a week off as leave.

What is your notice period in employment? Is going back for the 3 months completely unavailable as an option?

Do you definitely get paid parental leave as its usually unpaid?

It depends on the trust,some pursue it some don't. I imagine due to the dire financial climate in the NHS theyllbemore keen to pursue.
Can you not return for a little while part time if your manager will agree?

thanks for your responses - yes @dementedpixie parental is paid (the first x4 weeks per child) then it goes to unpaid!

going back is tricky (this would seem like the obvious option as i know it'd only be a few weeks) - things are uncertain but we might have to leave the UK semi-permanently due to an unwell inlaw overseas - so that would mean even going back for 4 weeks would be really tricky so not sure I can make it work with my family. so trying to suss out any other possible options and it seems a pity to be so close to the 3 months with my annual leave (about 8 ish weeks I think i will have) and so needing to pay it all back for the sake of not being able to work the 4/5ish weeks....

I’ve posted this before. If you ask to go part time e.g. 3 days a week you can then use your AL.

Assuming you are full time before mat leave you earn your leave on mat leave at full time rate. You have 8 weeks so 8 x 5 = 40 days. You need to work 13 weeks (3 months) x 5 days = 65 days. If you ask to work 3 days then it’s 13 x 3 = 39 days.

This is the NHS, contact HR and advise them of your personal circumstances and propose that you go to 3 days and use your accrued leave to cover the 13 weeks. Also propose the alternative to take 4 weeks paid parental leave. If they have any sense they will take the PT option.

thanks @Propertylover ! Have you done this successfully before? I'd read about this option on some other threads, but I saw somewhere it mentioned that you need to use all your AL before any contract change. I am currently a .6 (so x3 days a week) but I could definitely try and negotiate moving to a .4 or a .2 if they allowed me and this would make my AL stretch for longer. thanks for the suggestion! If you happen to have a link to your initial thread please send and I can take a look as well xx

I changed my hours to .8 3 months after I returned. I returned on a sick/fit note so didn't use any of my maternity annual leave until I had reduced my hours as I was using sick days instead

thanks! that's good to know

@Bundee I was HR in the CS and would approve this. I always advised my expectant Mums to carry over as much Annual Leave as possible so they could cover the 4 weeks we required for occupational.