Flexible working request advice

[NewYearFestiveCheer]

I've been on MAT leave for 9 months now and decided to take the full year. I got in touch with my boss last month and before I even said what I was thinking of putting in my FWA she said my role has to be 24/7 available and a flexible working request would probably be turned down. I work 4 shifts a week and want to drop to 3 with which days I work on a rolling rota so I am still available at all days/times just not 7 days a week every week.
I looked on the direct gov website for advice but can't find a scenario that exactly matches mine.
I want to submit a very detailed watertight (sort of) flexible working application - is there a limit of how many pages people will read? Any advice will be very appreciated.
Also, someone suggested to me that as I'm still bf my GP may issue me a sick note to say I'm unfit for night shifts which my employer would have to honour. Does this sound right?

I believe you have the right to request flexible working but your employer does not have to agree to any of it. I thought I had put together a very tight application but to no avail, I say this out of slight bitterness as my own request wasn't hugely successful, and my employer quibbled over 15mins a day! I am not sure a doctors note will help, you were employed as fit and healthy to do your role, so if you are now saying you can't do the job at all it it's original form this may pose further problems, you may be giving them basis to rethink your employment though they can't constructively dismiss you, they can make life harder? My understanding is your employer has to look at your request but not agree to any or part of it. I am personally dreading my return. If there is an HR team where you work it might be worth asking them some questions to get a steer before submitting an application?

I would just forget the sick note personally and suggest that the night shifts are omitted from your working rota in your flexible working application, but you will need to give reasons. Hope that helps.

Check if your work has a policy around breastfeeding mothers, mine does (might be part of the maternity policy?). It might give you some support it getting appropriate flexibility in your shifts to breastfeed. Discuss the issue separately in your flexible working request and make clear it is a tempory issue (unless you plan to breastfeed for an extended period). I believe employers are obliged to allow you time and appropriate private space to express milk if you wish (and provide storage). Your employer might prefer to keep you off nights for a few months rather than arrange this.