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.
- 2 pages / 661 words.
- Last updated 10/09/2025.
- Designed for United Kingdom use.
- Suitable for use in other territories; check local laws first.
- Instantly download as Word / PDF / plain text, or send by email.
- Includes 12 months’ access, with all updates to this page provided free of charge and notified to you.
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:
-
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.
-
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
You're currently viewing a limited preview. For instant full access, purchase this item or a parent bundle.
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.
Send to appropriate internal recipients such as employees, workers, contractors etc. and request confirmation that is has been read and understood.
Issue during onboarding / after changes / planned refresher.
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.
Flowchart
Flowchart
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
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Can I use this 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.
-
Is this template compliant with 2025 UK employment law?
Absolutely. 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.
-
Can I customise it for my organisation?
Yes, we highlight the areas 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.
-
Do I get instant access?
Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable Word or Excel format so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.
-
What if I need more help, not just this template?
If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include this template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.
