Adoption leave and pay policy

It’s for all colleagues directly employed by the charity. It’s also for line managers who need to support colleagues going through the adoption process..

If you adopt a child, you have the right to:

• take time off pre-adoption for interviews and appointments
• take up to 52 weeks of adoption leave (providing you’re eligible)
• receive adoption pay (providing you’re eligible)
• return to work at the end of your adoption leave.
• To qualify for adoption leave and pay, you must complete an adoption leave application form and return this to your line manager. This should be within seven days of being notified by the adoption agency of a match with a child for adoption or early permanency under a Fostering for Adoption or Placed for Adoption arrangement.
• Only one period of leave is available even if you’re adopting more than one child.
• If the child's placement ends during the adoption leave period, you can continue your adoption leave for up to 8 weeks.
• Your eligibility for adoption pay varies depending on how long you’ve worked for Barnardo’s (see section 2.9 of the policy for details).
• You can work for up to 10 days during your adoption leave without ending or extending your adoption leave. This won’t affect your adoption pay.  
• If you want to return to work before the end of your adoption leave, you need to give 8 weeks’ notice in writing and state the date you plan to return. 
• You have the right to end your adoption leave early and request any remaining leave (and pay) be shared with your partner (as long as they meet the eligibility criteria). 

• As a colleague, you’re responsible for reading, understanding and following this policy. This means complying with the required notification periods and returning required documentation.
• As a line manager, you’re responsible for talking to your direct reports about adoption leave and agreeing it with them. 
• People teams should help colleagues and line managers to understand and implement this policy. They should also confirm in writing any agreed adoption pay and periods of leave.