Neonatal Care Leave Policy (PS 446)

Aims and objectives

Nottinghamshire Police and the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) recognise that having a baby in neonatal care is an extremely stressful and challenging time. We are committed to supporting our police officers and staff, doing what we can so that they are able to be by their baby’s side while looking after their own health and wellbeing. This policy complies with police regulations and current employment legislation.

The aim of the policy is to provide the framework for the neonatal leave provisions available to police officers, police staff and OPCC staff.

The policy applies to all police officers and staff working for Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC. For the purposes of this policy, staff refers to those individuals employed by Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC.

Policy statement

Key principles of the policy

To provide the appropriate information to all police officers and staff with regard to neonatal care leave. Whilst fulfilling Nottinghamshire Police’s priorities of developing a workforce fit for the future.

To ensure officers and staff with a parental or other personal relationship with a baby feel supported and able to care for their baby should they need specialist care in a neonatal care unit.

Terminology

The policy makes reference to a number of specialist terms. Below is a list of abbreviations that may be found throughout this.

• Continuous service - To determine what neonatal care leave and pay individuals are eligible for, individuals need to know the date they commenced employment for police staff and the date they joined the police force for police officers.

• NCL - Neonatal Care Leave

• SNCP - Statutory Neonatal Care Pay

• Full week - 37 hours for police staff and 40 hours for police officers

• SMP - Statutory Maternity Pay

• SPP - Statutory Paternity Pay

• SAP - Statutory Adoption Pay

Neonatal care leave and pay

In this policy, neonatal care means:

• Medical care that the baby receives in hospital.

• Medical care that the baby receives in any other place providing:

  • The baby was previously admitted to hospital as an in-patient and needs continuing care after leaving the hospital.

  • The care is under the direction of a consultant.

  • The care involved ongoing monitoring and visits from healthcare professionals arranged by the hospital where the baby was an in-patient.

• Palliative or end of life care.

Eligibility for neonatal care leave and pay

Neonatal care leave is available if:

• You are the baby’s parent, intended parent in a surrogacy, or partner of the baby’s mother at the date of birth; or

• You are the baby’s adopter, prospective adopter, or partner of either at the date of placement.

The following relationships are not eligible:

• Grandchild, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew, even if they reside at the same address.

Additionally, the following conditions must be satisfied:

• The baby was born on or after 6 April 2025.

• The baby started receiving neonatal care within the first 28 days of birth (counted from the day after the baby is born).

• The neonatal care lasts for 7 or more consecutive days (counted from the day after the neonatal care started).

• You are taking the leave to care for your baby.

• You have provided the required notice and declaration requirements.

Leave must be taken within 68 weeks of the baby’s birth or date of placement.

Who is entitled	Qualifying period	Pay entitlement	Leave type
Police officers and staff	Less than 26 weeks continuous service from the end of the 'relevant week'*	None	1 week of NCL for each uninterrupted week that the baby received neonatal care, up to a maximum of 12 weeks NCL
Police officers and staff	26 weeks or more continuous service from the end of the 'relevant week'*	Up to 12 weeks statutory neonatal care pay Current rates of statutory pay are available on the GOV website	1 week of NCL for each uninterrupted week that the baby receives neonatal care, up to a maximum of 12 weeks NCL

*The 'relevant week' is as follows:

• If the police officer or staff is entitled to SMP or SPP, the relevant week is the 15^th week before expected week of childbirth.

• If the police officer or staff is entitled to SAP or SPP, the relevant week is the week in which they are notified of being matched with a child for adoption.

• Otherwise, the relevant week is the week immediately before the week in which the neonatal care leave begins.

Tiers

NCL is split into tier 1 and tier 2 periods.

Tier 1 is the period that lasts from the start of the baby receiving neonatal care until 7 days after the neonatal care ends. During this period, an employee may take non-consecutive blocks of 1 week’s NCL.

Tier 2 is any period thereafter, up to 68 weeks after the baby’s birth. Any remaining NCL not taken in tier 1 must be taken in one continuous block in the tier 2 period.

Example of tier 1 leave - A staff member’s baby is born early and is in neonatal care for 4 weeks in total from birth. The staff member takes 2 weeks paternity leave straight after the birth. They then take a further 2 consecutive weeks of neonatal care leave when their paternity leave ends. They have 2 more weeks neonatal care leave accrued to take at a later time.

Example of tier 2 leave - The staff member’s baby is now at home after 4 weeks in total in neonatal care. They give notice to take the remaining 2 weeks of neonatal care leave in 1 months’ time.

Example of tier 2 leave - A staff member has commenced maternity leave and 1 week after their baby is born, they are admitted to neonatal care for 4 weeks. The staff member accrues 4 weeks neonatal care leave and takes this in one continuous block at the end of their maternity leave.

Sickness

Normal sickness entitlements apply for individuals taking NCL. Individuals may experience sickness relating to post-natal depression and mental health issues so line managers should be supportive and follow the attendance management guidance.

Contact during neonatal care leave

There will be agreement between the individual on leave and their line manager on arrangements for contact during the period of leave.

Annual leave

Annual leave and public holidays continue to accrue during periods of neonatal leave.

Arrangements for booking and any carry-over of annual leave can be found in the Leave Policy.

Pension

Pension contributions will continue to be made during any period when the individual is receiving pay for NCL, but not during a period of unpaid leave.

The individual contributions will be based on actual pay, while the force contributions will be based on the salary the person would have been receiving had they not been taking leave.

Individuals will have the option of paying contributions on any unpaid period to keep pension service unbroken within one month returning to work or from the date of the letter (whichever is the latest date). Payroll will supply the cost/amount as soon as an officer/police staff or staff of the OPCC return.

Wellbeing support

Individuals can contact the Wellbeing Support Team or the People Services Advisor who will provide advice and support to the individual concerned.

Help and support is also available through our employee assistance programme (EAP). Individuals can use the EAP to speak to an independent adviser on a confidential basis for emotional support or any issue that is troubling them.

Statement of legislative compliance

This document has been drafted to comply with the general and specific duties in the Equality Act 2010; Data Protection Act 2018; Freedom of Information Act; European Convention of Human Rights; Employment Act 2002; Employment Relations Act 1999, The Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024, The Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014; The Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations 2014; The Maternity and Adoption Leave (Curtailment of Statutory Rights to Leave); 2014 Children and Families Act 2014; Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023.

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PS 446:
Neonatal Care Leave

Type of Document:
Policy

Version:
1.0

Registered Owner:
Claire Salter - Head of People Services

Author/Reviewer:
Harriet Shepherd

Effective Date:
July 2025

Review Date:
July 2030

Linked Documents:

• PD 822 Neonatal Care Leave Procedure

• PS 179 Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental and Adoption Leave Policy

• PG 039 Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental and Adoption Leave Guide

• PD 640 Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental and Adoption Leave Procedure

• PS 154 Parental Leave Policy

• PD 649 Shared Parental Leave Procedure Shared Parental Leave FAQ’s and Examples

• PS 165 Leave Policy