Any NHS people around? Need some advice re Mat Leave

[mogwai]

I'm due to have a baby on June 14th.

I started work for the NHS in August 1998 and worked continually for 9.5 years until Jan 07.

In Jan 07 I went to work abroad for 12 months. I was refused a career break for this period and had to resign instead.

When I returned it took me a few months to find a job. I started my current job on June 18th 2008.

My annual leave and sickness entitlements remain unchanged by the break in my service. I am treated as though I never had the break.

I am unsure about maternity leave. I have to fill in form for HR and tick an option. I am definitely returning to work after I have the baby. The sentence I want to tick is "I have been continually employed by the NHS for 52 weeks by the 11th week before EDD"

I have, technically, 9.5 years continuous service under my belt plus about 9 months additional continual service.

But I'm not sure if they count the break?

I don't think they do count the break to be honest, as far as I am aware under the agenda for change you keep your anual leave entitlement but you lose everything else, including sick leave so not sure you do have this. I have similar circumstances came back after break in service and I know if you have more than a 12 month break you lose everything except as I mentioned your annual leave. why not ask to see the agenda for change and maternity policy to clarify

I don't work for the NHS but to me a break is a break. If you haven't been employed continously for 52 weeks by the 11th week before then you haven't been.

What does your new contract say? If you've had a break in service but they are treating it as continuous service, the contract will specify that. If they are not, but are allowing you certain benefits given to those with longer service, such as annual leave, it will say that, and if enhanced maternity leave was one of them I would expect it to say so.

As far as I know, the maximum you can have between NHS contracts and still be counted for maternity leave is 3 months. A friend of mine is a consultant and this was what happened to her. Worth checking though.

Congrats on the pregnancy, am I right in thinking you already have a Junie (2005)?

Thanks for answers and yes Tribpot I was on the June 05 thread like you. Seems like yesterday!

I'll look into all of this. It's odd that they protect your annual leave but not mat leave. My annual leave is definitely worth protecting.

I also had it in my mind that the max break was 3 months but not sure where or when I read that and when it came to ticking these boxes I was confused by the wording