Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Rejected
Paragraph: 80
Adoptive parents and their children have faced uniquely challenging situations without the access to the...
Recommendation
Adoptive parents and their children have faced uniquely challenging situations without the access to the professional and informal support that they need. These children are among the most vulnerable in society. In the most serious situations, we’ve heard that the negative impacts of Covid-19 could lead to an increase in adoption breakdown which would be devastating for parents and children. The 60 The impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave extension of adoption leave with pay would give these new parents the opportunity to access some of the support they’ve missed out on as lockdown restrictions are eased. It will also give them valuable time to establish important routines and to bond with their children, as well as time to settle their children into new childcare or schools and introduce them to their wider adoptive families. The Government should extend adoption leave and pay for adoptive parents who have been affected by the pandemic for three months.
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation to extend adoption leave and pay, stating that existing entitlements of 52 weeks leave and 39 weeks pay, along with other flexible working options, are already generous and sufficient for new parents.
Paragraph Reference:
80
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government recognises that self-employed adopters are not entitled to a dedicated benefit (an “Adoption Allowance”) in the same way that the majority of self- employed mothers are eligible for Maternity Allowance. This is because maternity entitlements are provided to enable women to take time off work to prepare for, and recover from, birth and bond with their child. These health and safety considerations do not apply in the same way to prospective adopters. However we recognise that it is crucial to the success of an adoption placement that an adopter takes time off work to care for and bond with their child or children and this is why employed adoptive parents have broadly the same rights and protections as birth parents. Adoption Leave is a “day one” right for employees—in line with Maternity Leave. Statutory Adoption Pay is enhanced in the first 6 weeks for eligible primary adoptive The impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave: Government Response 15 parents: qualifying adopters are entitled to 90% of their average earnings (with no upper limit) in this period—in line with Statutory Maternity Pay. So far, the Government has mainly focused on supporting employed adoptive parents as they do not generally have the same level of flexibility and autonomy over the work that they do and when they do it or over the time they take off work as self-employed adoptive parents do. However, we recognise that affordability may limit the time away from work that some self-employed adopters can take. This is why statutory adoption guidance says that Local Authorities should consider making a payment—equivalent to Maternity Allowance—in cases where adopters do not qualify for any statutory payment because of their self-employment. This payment is discretionary and means-tested to ensure that resources are targeted at those adopters who need it most, as part of a package of post-adoption support. Prospective adopters and the child or children that they intend to adopt are also entitled to an assessment of their family’s needs. This includes a range of support including discretionary means-tested financial support, advice, information and counselling, and support services.