NHS guru's help please !!

[biggirlssdontcry]

I was wondering if someone like Flowery could give me a bit of help, I am a regular but have name changed as combine this with my other current thread and I'm outed!

Basically my current NHS job is literally killing me but I have seen another project job 12 month fixed term NHS contract which really excites me.

My questions are-

1. if I get pregnant towards the end of a fixed term contract would I get any maternity leave ie SMP or MA, I guess I wouldn't get any NHS benefits as my contract would be up, is this correct?

1. Will I cause my job share to loose her job if I leave, she has been told in the past our job can't be done part time, if they can't get anyone to replace me have I dropped her in it (They would be abe to offer her other part time work but not at our current grade.)

Hope someone out there can shed some light, thanks in advance

My advice would be in this financial climate not to consider going for a fixed term contract.

I only opened this out of idle curiosity, very much not being any kind of NHS guru!

1. You will get SMP if you meet the criteria of having been employed long enough and earning enough, regardless of when your contract ends. I imagine you wouldn't get any enhanced NHS arrangement but you'll have to check your mat policy to be sure.

1. Do you have a job share agreement of any kind? Most job share contracts or agreements would have something in about what happens if one job share partner leaves, usually something about making all reasonable attempts to fill the post, if unable to do so offering it to the remaining partner full time, if not attempting to redeploy remaining partner.

I used to work in HR in the NHS.

1. if I get pregnant towards the end of a fixed term contract would I get any maternity leave ie SMP or MA, I guess I wouldn't get any NHS benefits as my contract would be up, is this correct?

Providing you have been employed for 26 weeks at the 15th week before your baby is due, you will still be entitled to SMP. If you aren't working at this point, then you will have to claim MA.

It sounds like you have enought service for occupational mate;rnity pay, however, many Trusts have a policy whereby you have to return to the NHS for 3 months after your leave. So, if there fixed term contract comes to and end and there isn't any work for you, you may loose your right to occupational maternity pay.

1. Will I cause my job share to loose her job if I leave, she has been told in the past our job can't be done part time, if they can't get anyone to replace me have I dropped her in it (They would be abe to offer her other part time work but not at our current grade.)

As Flowery says, many job share agreements have clauses whereby they will maker reasonable attempts to fill the post and it not, they will have to redeploy the other person. THe problem with job share is whilst it works, it can be great.... HOwever, if a too-good-to-refuse-offer came by the way of your job share partner, I'm sure she wouldn't refuse.

Thank you flowery and chanie44 you certainly are NHS gurus in my mind!

lal123 you have a good point but I have a game plan

good luck with the game plan - but don't forget that you won't be the only one with one! (What is it by the way - nosy emoticon)

If you are NHS substantive and the new job is an NHS contract, I think you want a secondment for the 12 month fixed term contract. Are you acute or PCT? If PCT, they are desperate to cut staff costs so may well be amenable. Either ways, there are no guarantees your job would still be there after 12 months I'm afraid.