The Additional Paternity Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010

Notice and evidential requirements for leave under regulation 14 in the event of the death of the adopter

22.—(1) As soon as reasonably practicable after the date of A’s death, and in any event, on or before the relevant date, P must give P’s employer (“E”), in writing—

(a) a leave notice; and

(b) an employee declaration.

(2) In this regulation—

(a) “a leave notice” means a written notice specifying—

(i) the date on which A was notified or, as the case may be, A and P jointly were notified of having been matched with C;

(ii) the date on which C was placed with A or, as the case may be, with A and P jointly;

(iii) the dates P has chosen in accordance with regulation 21 as the start date and end date for the period of leave.

(b) “an employee declaration” means a written declaration signed by P, stating—

(i) that the purpose of the period of leave will be to care for C;

(ii) that P satisfies the conditions in regulation 14(2)(c) and (d), as modified by regulation 20;

(iii) A’s name and last address;

(iv) the date of A’s death; and

(v) A’s National Insurance number.

(c) “the relevant date” is eight weeks after the date of A’s death.

(3) Where E makes a request within 28 days of receiving P’s leave notice, P must, within 28 days of E’s request, give E such of the following as E may request—

(a) evidence, in the form of one or more documents issued by the adoption agency that matched A or, as the case may be, A and P jointly with C, of—

(i) the name and address of the agency;

(ii) the date on which A or, as the case may be, A and P jointly were notified of having been matched with C;

(iii) the date on which the agency expected to place C for adoption with A or, as the case may be, with A and P jointly; and

(b) the name and address of A’s last employer (or, if A was self-employed, A’s business address).

(4) If P takes leave before the relevant date, P shall be taken to have complied with the requirements of paragraph (1), if P, as soon as reasonably practicable, informs E of A’s death and, before the relevant date, gives leave notice and the employee declaration.

(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), P may give E leave notice and the employee declaration after the relevant date, provided that P gives E written notice at least six weeks before the start date chosen by P for the period of leave.

(6) If P, after giving leave notice, no longer satisfies the conditions in regulation 14(2)(c) or (d) as modified by regulation 20, P must give E written notice (“withdrawal notice”) as soon as reasonably practicable.

(7) E may require that P take a period of leave where—

(a) P has given E withdrawal notice—

(i) less than six weeks before the start date specified in P’s leave notice, or, where applicable, last varied in accordance with regulation 23, and

(ii) after the relevant date, and

(b) it is not reasonably practicable for E to accommodate the change in P’s arrangements.

(8) Leave that E may require P to take under paragraph (7)—

(a) shall be treated as additional paternity leave for the purpose of these Regulations;

(b) shall start on the start date specified in P’s leave notice, or, where applicable, last varied in accordance with regulation 23; and

(c) shall end no later than—

(i) six weeks after the date on which withdrawal notice was given to E, or

(ii) the end date specified in P’s leave notice, or, where applicable, last varied in accordance with regulation 23,

whichever is the earlier.

(9) E may require P to remain on leave where—

(a) P has given E withdrawal notice—

(i) after P’s period of additional paternity leave has begun, and

(ii) after the relevant date, and

(b) it is not reasonably practicable for E to accommodate the change in P’s arrangements.

(10) The period for which E may require P to remain on leave under regulation (9)—

(a) shall end no later than the earlier of—

(i) six weeks after the date on which P gave E withdrawal notice, or

(ii) the end date specified in P’s leave notice, or, where applicable, last varied in accordance with regulation 23; and

(b) shall be treated as additional paternity leave for the purpose of these Regulations.