Introduction
PCI Pal provides an Enhanced Adoption Leave Scheme to eligible employees. Employees who are not eligible for the enhanced scheme may qualify for the statutory adoption leave or or statutory adoption pay. This policy sets out the entitlements and associated processes that apply to the available adoption leave and links to the pay schemes.
Eligibility
The provisions of this policy apply to eligible employees. Any questions or concerns regarding eligibility should be directed to the People team.
To be eligible for adoption leave you must:
· Be legally classed as an employee
· Tell the People team/your line manager and provide the correct notice
· Provide proof of the adoption
Adoption leave and pay entitlement
PCI Pal offers an Enhanced Adoption Leave Scheme to eligible employees, which exceeds the statutory provision by providing Enhanced Adoption Pay (EAP)
Statutory Adoption Leave (not pay!) is 52 weeks:
· 26 weeks of Ordinary Adoption Leave
· 26 weeks of Additional Adoption Leave
· Only 1 person in a couple can take adoption leave. The other partner may be entitled to use paternity leave instead.
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This is not pro-rated for part-time workers and it does not require a minimum length of service - however it is subject to satisfying the notification requirements below.
If you get adoption leave, you can also get paid time off work to attend 5 adoption appointments after you’ve been matched with a child.
For UK adoptions, and placements where you foster a child permanently to become their legal parent (‘fostering to adopt’), you can start adoption leave either:
· when you’ve been matched with a child
· up to 14 days before the date the child starts living with you (UK adoptions)
· when the child arrives in the UK or within 28 days of this date (overseas adoptions)
· the day the child’s born or the day after (if you’ve used a surrogate to have a child)
You must tell your employer within 28 days if the date of placement (or UK arrival date for overseas adoptions) changes. You must give your employer at least 8 weeks’ notice if you want to change your return to work date. An employee’s length of service determines the scheme to which they are entitled during their adoption leave.
Adoption Pay
The different entitlements to adoption pay (under each scheme) are as shown for maternity – See Maternity Leave Policy.
Exceptions
You do not qualify for Statutory Adoption Leave or Pay if you:
· arrange a private adoption
· become a special guardian or kinship carer
· adopt a stepchild
· adopt a family member
Note that these exceptions may be dealt with on a case by case basis under the provisions given by PCI Pal (outside of the UK Government statutory leave/pay).
