Who it's for
- Employers who need a written policy for the right that began in April 2025
- HR teams updating a family leave handbook
- Employers who want to decide and record whether they enhance pay
What's included
- About this template — the 2023 Act, the 12-week maximum and the April 2025 start
- Part A — Organisation details
- Part B — The policy (9 sections): purpose, eligibility, what counts as neonatal care, how much leave, pay, interaction with other leave, notification and evidence, return to work and protection, confidentiality
- Optional enhanced pay wording
- Part C — Approval
Save with a bundle: get this plus 17 more documents in the Employment Complete Bundle for £44.99.
See what's in the bundle →Key points covered
- Leave is a day-one right; pay needs 26 weeks' continuous service and earnings at or above the lower earnings limit
- Applies where a baby born on or after 6 April 2025 starts neonatal care within 28 days of birth and stays for at least 7 continuous days
- One week of leave for each full week of neonatal care, up to 12 weeks
- Leave is taken in whole weeks within 68 weeks of the birth
- It is in addition to other family leave and must not count as sickness absence
- Protection from detriment, and redundancy protection for eligible employees
DocPilot templates are drafted from current legislation and official guidance (GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk and the relevant regulators), checked against those sources and fully re-reviewed every six months. They are not legal advice. How we make our documents →
Read the guide
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Questions
Who is eligible?
Parents and partners of babies born on or after 6 April 2025 who receive neonatal care for at least 7 continuous days, starting within 28 days of birth. Leave is a day-one right.
Is neonatal care leave paid?
Statutory neonatal care pay is available to employees with 26 weeks' service and earnings at or above the lower earnings limit. Check the current weekly rate on GOV.UK.
Can we pay more than the statutory rate?
Yes. The policy has an optional enhanced pay clause.
Is it in the Employment Complete Bundle?
Yes. The Neonatal Care Leave & Pay Policy is one of the documents in the bundle.
Neonatal Care Leave & Pay Policy
£14.99 · Word + PDF · instant download
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