Social work – Children and young people

​Newham Council provides up to 52 weeks of maternity leave for a new mother. The first 6 weeks is paid at 90% of pay, then the next 12 weeks is paid at 50% of pay followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay, with the last 9 weeks being unpaid leave. However, some of this period of leave maybe shared with the father or partner under the shared parental provisions – see below 

​​Paternity leave allows up to 10 days paid leave for new fathers who are caring for a new-born child (or children) or supporting the mother who is caring for a child or children newly placed for adoption or for supporting the adopter. 

​Parental leave is a right to take time off work to look after a child. Parents can use it to spend more time with children and strike a better balance between their work and family commitments. Up to 18 weeks per child, in short or long breaks, can be taken but this leave is unpaid. 

​Shared Parental Leave enables eligible parents to choose how to share the care of their child during the first year of birth or adoption. Its purpose is to give parents more flexibility in considering how to best care for, and bond with their child. All eligible employees have a statutory right to take Shared Parental Leave. 

​Adoption leave mirrors maternity pay and allows up to 52 weeks of leave, with the same provisions as maternity pay. In addition the leave can be shared under the shared parental leave provisions and the partner of the adopter may also qualify for parental leave.