Adoption

You have rights to leave for adoption or ante natal appointments prior to birth and adoption leave postnatally (leave for surrogate parents is also counted as adoption leave). Parental leave is also available for adoptive parents and LTFT can help achieve a balance between work and your new family.

The adoption process can be long and time intensive and you will need time away from work during the assessment phase. Once approved and a child/or children has been found for you then family life is will change dramatically. Adoptive children need routine, stability and time with their new family and balancing this with work can be challenging. An understanding, supportive and flexible support network is vital. Both at work and with family and friends. There may be times of challenging behaviour and you will need to plan for plan contingencies.

Resources

There are a range of useful resources available to help you understand the process of adoption, and your employment rights.