Parents and carers

The University understands that caring responsibilities can occur at different times in all of our working lives, this could be as a parent, or caring for an elderly relative, or perhaps a sick partner.  A number of policies are in place to offer support that is flexible enough to help you undertake these responsibilities in combination with your job and career.  Some offer financial assistance such as childcare vouchers, some provide networking opportunities such as the University Family Life Group, and others facilitate a more flexible approach to working hours.

Take a look at how these policies may help you.  If you are unclear please talk to your line manager or Personnel Manager for further advice.

Maternity Policy

The Maternity Policy details pay, duration, time off for antenatal care. Of particular interest to grant funded and/or staff on fixed term contracts are the following sections:

'Women whose contracts of employment expire during the maternity leave period or prior to the completion of 3 months return to work should talk to their department and the Faculty Personnel Manager at the earliest opportunity to investigate the possibility of an extension of their contract. Where no extension is possible, Occupational Maternity Pay can be claimed if the contract would have run beyond the paid maternity period, and the University will not seek to recover this money. If the contract expires before the maternity pay commences or during the maternity pay period, Statutory Maternity Pay only is payable.'

'Those staff who are grant funded should discuss with the grant holders and the Faculty Personnel Manager at the earliest possible opportunity, the arrangements which may be available under the grant terms for the payment of salary during maternity leave. Some funding bodies do have a policy to extend grants to cover maternity periods.'

'If it is necessary to provide a temporary replacement for staff on Maternity Leave, funding is available to meet the equivalent additional costs which will fall on the department. Consideration must be given to the extent of cover required and the nature of the duties to be undertaken and agreed by Personnel Services & Staff Development who will provide financial support for maternity cover.'

Paternity Policy

The Paternity Policy entitles eligible employees two weeks paid leave.

Adoption Leave Policy

The Adoption Leave Policy enables benefits equivalent to Maternity benefits (subject to certain restrictions).

Compassionate & Dependants Leave Policy (inc Domestic emergency)

The Compassionate and Dependants Leave Policy details time off (paid/unpaid) for death or illness of a close relative (child / elderly parent) together with time off for a domestic emergency (burglary / flood etc)

Parental Leave

Parental Leave details entitlement to thirteen weeks unpaid leave for each child aged less than five years old. Leave may be taken in blocks of one week upwards; up to a maximum period of four weeks in any year.

Employees will have the right to Parental Leave if he or she has one year's continuous employment (not necessarily with the same employer).

Parents of disabled children can take their leave up to the child's 18th birthday and have the right to take up to 18 weeks Parental Leave

Women Returners Scheme

The University of Bristol Women Returners Scheme applies to Lecturers/Senior Lecturers/Professors within the Faculties of Engineering, Science and Medical and Veterinary Sciences. The scheme provides for a period of protected research time for such women returning from maternity leave. The period will be for a maximum of six months, during which time the woman will have no teaching or administrative duties. Funding is provided by the Faculty.

Flexible Working Policy

The Flexible Working Policy details a range of flexible working arrangements such as job share, part time working, and term time only contracts of employment.

Caring for a relative or friend with a disability, chronic or terminal illness

Caring can have a significant impact on your working life. It can be physically and emotionally demanding, sometimes leaving careers struggling to cope. There are a number of charitable, local and national organisations that can help and the staff counselling service is available to support you at work. Colleagues might also be interested in attending the University Family Life events specifically aimed at staff with caring responsibilities.

Other useful sources of information

Early years Childcare

The University has its own very popular Nursery.  Details of this together with information on the admissions process can be found on the Nursery web site.

Alternatively there are a number of other early years childcare providers registered with Bristol City Council. This information is also available for Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset Councils.

Child Tax Credit

From April 2003 a new tax credits scheme came into force that altered the social security and tax credits systems. Child Tax Credit is a means tested benefit paid to families with children and income of up to around £58,000. However if your child is under one year old, the limit rises to approximately £66,000.

More information on the Bristol City Council web site.

How to Claim

By the claim form available at Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres or the Inland Revenue helpline 0845 300 3900. On-line via the Inland Revenue website

National Nursery Education Grants

From April 2000 many parents of three and four year old children in Bristol have been able to benefit from government funding. The Nursery Education Grant enables all three and four year old who are not in a Maintained Nursery School or Class, but who attend a Pre-School or Day Nursery, which meet the criteria and is registered to provide early education, to get free part-time nursery education.

The Nursery Education Grant has a value of £7.85 per session, up to five sessions per week, for eleven weeks starting at the beginning of September, January and after Easter holidays. Each session is two and half hours long.

More details are available on this leaflet from Bristol City Council.

Registered childcare providers under the Bristol City Council Early Years and Development Plan.

Children and young peoples services in Bristol

Bristol City Council have developed this excellent web site that offers a 'one stop shop' of everything you could want to know about early years education and registered childcare, help with costs, schools and admissions processes and even the National Curriculum. Included is the 1Big Database an on-line directory of services, organisations and groups for children and young people aged 0 to 19 and their parents and carers in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Children's information service for Bristol
A local, independent, helpline service providing parents and carers with free impartial information and guidance on the full range of childcare and children's services and resources across the City of Bristol.

Working Families

A whole range of useful information for working families on employment rights, childcare and flexible working.