Changing jobs during maternity leave NHS

[Ahleea]

Hi
I currently work for the NHS continuous service for 4 years.
I’ve been offered a new job in the same Trust just as I go off on maternity leave. I’ve signed a new contract and arranged my start date for next September after my maternity leave since I’m only a couple of weeks away from starting my maternity leave.
The interviewers were aware of my pregnancy and maternity at the time of interview as I told them and they said they couldn’t discriminate against me due to this.
anyway my question is could my job fall through if they change their mind and decide they want to employ someone sooner even though I’ve signed my contract?
I feel really anxious now that I can lose my new job since it’s a whole year away that I can start. I have signed a contract and already told my current manager I won’t be returning to them after maternity leave as I have a new job within the trust.
Did I do the right thing by arranging my start date for a years time?

many thanks

You should be fine, if they've offered you the job on the basis you'll start in a year after your maternity leave they'd be on pretty dicey grounds trying to withdraw the offer now on that basis. I would have thought they will need someone to cover the work for the interim period though (it would be an unusual job where the work can just wait a year to start), so likely they will get a maternity cover in, same as for anyone else's maternity leave?

Yeah I’m hoping that is the case. And I do believe they’re recruiting a 12-month fixed term cover. I don’t know if that will effect me starting earlier if I choose to lessen my time on my maternity leave and return to work sooner? Might just be me overthinking everything

If you choose to come back from maternity leave earlier, you will need to give notice - it should say in your maternity letter (the confirmation of entitlement to maternity leave thingie) or in your trust's maternity policy - it will be at least a month's notice you need to give and perhaps more - they will then need to give notice to the maternity cover person that their contract will be ending earlier than planned, so for that reason while you're perfectly entitled to say you are taking the full year now and then change your mind later, I would try and plan as best you can for when you realistically do think you'll be back and then stick to that if possible or give lots of notice if not, that way they can be upfront with the cover person. Basically you don't really want to piss that person off or make it so it's impossible for them to get good cover, as you don't want to come back and get handover from an angry person that's been put out of work 3 months sooner than they were expecting or worse have them disappear for a better job 1 month in and then you come back to a huge mess because there's been no cover at all...

Bear in mind also you have your annual leave to use up and also do use your KIT days if you are able to (these should be paid)...

Thank you for your detailed advice. That all makes very good sense. I appreciate that