PART 2FAMILY ABSENCE FOR MEMBERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
I128Parental absence
1
This section applies to a member of a local authority who satisfies prescribed conditions as to—
a
having responsibility for a child, or
b
expecting to have responsibility for a child.
2
The member is entitled to a period of absence (“parental absence”) for the purpose of caring for the child.
3
Regulations must include provision for determining—
a
the extent of a member's entitlement to parental absence in respect of a child;
b
when parental absence may be taken.
4
Regulations must not provide for parental absence in respect of a child to exceed a period, or a total period, of three months.
5
Provision under subsection (3)(b) may (amongst other things) refer to—
a
a child's age, or
b
a prescribed period of time starting from a prescribed event.
6
Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a member of a local authority, or the local authority, may—
a
bring a period of parental absence to an end, or
b
cancel a period of parental absence.
7
Regulations may—
a
(for the purpose of subsection (2)) prescribe things which are, or are not, to be taken as done for the purpose of caring for a child;
b
require parental absence to be taken as a single period of absence in all cases or in prescribed cases;
c
require parental absence to be taken as a series of periods of absence in all cases or in prescribed cases;
d
require all or prescribed parts of a period of parental absence to be taken at or by prescribed times;
e
allow a member to choose, subject to prescribed restrictions, the date on which a period of parental absence starts;
f
make provision about the postponement by a local authority of a period of parental absence which a member wishes to take;
g
prescribe a minimum or maximum period of absence which may be taken as part of a period of parental absence;
h
prescribe a maximum aggregate of periods of parental absence which may be taken during a prescribed period of time.