Time off for disabled child

[Nurse1980]

Hi, I work for the NHS. I start a new job in a new NHS Trust in two weeks.

My daughter is disabled, has DLA and an EHCP. She is transferring to a new school in January (we have found out today).

Unfortunately it means she will be doing a transition of part time school hours in January. Starting with an hour a day.

I have asked my new job if I can take a day of unpaid leave a week in January so I have some time to transition my daughter with the half days etc.

They have flat out said no.

Do I have any employment rights with regards to this? She is classed as disabled.

I may have to stay in my current role if my new job can’t accommodate this.

Thank you.

It’s just a one off while she transitions to a new school.

are you in a union? speak to them if so. Also look into discrimination by association and start mentioning it as much as you can. Get the fear into them.

its a perfectly reasonable adjustment to allow you to take unpaid/parental leave one day a week for 4 weeks. As the parent of a disabled child her disability protection extends to your employment - as PP said it is discrimination by association

Call working families
workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/flexible-working-for-parents-and-carers-of-disabled-children/

And Ask social services for additional funding for care for the transition time to employ a carer

How old is she?

I work in the public sector. Please write to your HR director outlining everything you have said here including what everyone else is doing and what you have considered (eg childminder). Emphasise that this is a one-off, and that you understand that your manager and matron may not be able to authorise this but wondered if an exception could be made given your daughter’s disabled status.

Reasonable adjustments for disability are only extended to the employee with a disability , not because they have a disabled dependent.

That's true, but they do have a duty not to treat the individual unfavourably for having a disabled child.

She’s 10. It’s not about the additional funding. It’s her disability (ASD amongst other things, plus needing an EHCP to function at school) that means she needs a trusted known adult with her before and after school. A stranger wouldn’t work.

This is the problem, it isn’t me that has the disability.

I could try this but it would depend on the speed I get a reply. As I’m due to start in a week.

www.acas.org.uk/parental-leave
if you child has a disability you are allowed to take single days, pls read link above

I don't know if this is any use to you, OP workingfamilies.org.uk/article-categories/caring-for-adults-and-disabled-children/

The biggest issue here is that you are new, they are short staffed hence why you have been hired and now you want to have a day off per week - you can understand their concerns as you knew the hours when you applied.

It's really hard, I've lost several jobs due to my dd have sn (asd and complex mental health issues) and only can work now because my employer is very sympathetic, flexible and I was up front from the start

I agree.
Unfortunately I only going out that she had a place at this other school this week.
I may just have to ask if I can retract my resignation in my current job.

Thanks

Thank you