Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template
A comprehensive policy offering Neonatal Care Leave and Pay for eligible employees when their baby needs extended hospital care after birth.
- Includes Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template, plus 12 months’ access with all updates provided free of charge and notified to you.
- UK-specific accuracy.
- 661 words over 2 pages.
- Last updated 10/09/2025.
- Format: Word / plain text / email.
- Delivery: Instant download after purchase (no physical item).
- Access: Download link shown here after checkout.
- This Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template will SAVE you up to 1 hour 30 mins drafting & research. Save cost. Reduce risk.
Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy
1 Overview
1.1 This policy ensures employees whose babies require specialist hospital care after birth are treated with compassion and consistency, and are fully supported during what may be an emotional and challenging time.
1.2 It outlines statutory rights to leave and pay, sets out responsibilities for managers and employees, and provides clear processes to follow when Neonatal Care Leave is needed.
2 Scope
2.1 This policy applies to all eligible employees, regardless of role, location, or working pattern.
3 General Principles
3.1 Entitlements
3.1.1 Neonatal Care Leave
3.1.2 Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of Neonatal Care Leave, which must be used within 68 weeks of the child’s birth. Leave is split into two tiers:
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Tier 1: Leave can be taken while the baby is receiving neonatal care, or during the week following discharge. Weeks do not need to be taken consecutively.
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Tier 2: Leave can be taken at any time after the baby’s discharge, up to the 68-week limit. This must be taken in consecutive weeks.
Neonatal Care Leave can be taken in full weeks only and must not overlap with other forms of statutory leave (e.g. maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave). Employees may request
This is a 30% preview of the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template. For instant full access, purchase this item or a parent bundle.
Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template purpose
This policy supports employees whose newborns require hospital care by outlining eligibility for up to 12 weeks’ Neonatal Care Leave and Pay.
It covers who qualifies, how leave is structured, how much pay is available, and what notice is required.
By using this policy, employers can support parents with sensitivity and consistency at a critical time.
Practical application of a Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template
- Issue the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template during onboarding / after changes / planned refresher.
- Send it to appropriate internal recipients such as employees, workers, contractors etc. and request confirmation that is has been read and understood.
Compliance
Compliance
This Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template incorporates relevant UK laws and HR standards, including those listed below:
The policy ensures fairness and compliance with legislation concerning Neonatal Care Leave and Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (SNCP) introduced in April 2025.
Neonatal Care Leave and Pay workflow
Neonatal Care Leave and Pay workflow
Check which resources should be implemeted before and/or after the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template, to understand the workflow.
Neonatal Care Leave request acknowledgement letter
A clear letter template for acknowledging employee requests for Neonatal Care Leave and outlining next steps, pay eligibility, and available support.
Frequently Asked Questions about a Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template
Frequently Asked Questions about a Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template
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Can I use the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template in my small business?
Yes. The Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template is designed to be flexible and suitable for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses and charities. It follows UK employment law best practice, so even if you don't have an in-house HR team, you can confidently apply it.
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Is the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template compliant with 2026 UK employment law?
Absolutely. Like the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template, all of our templates are drafted with the latest ACAS guidance and UK employment legislation in mind. We review and update them regularly, so you can be confident they remain compliant.
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Can I customise the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template for my organisation?
Yes, we highlight the areas of the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.
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Do I get instant access to the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template?
Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template instantly. Templates are provided in editable Word or Excel format so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.
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What if I need more help, not just a Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template?
If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.
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Why should I use this Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template, and not AI to generate it?
The risk of using a free AI-generated template 'without review' includes your legal exposure, missing context, and no awareness of the wider process, whereas purchasing the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay policy template from us mitigates that risk.
