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Because you pay Class 1 national insurance contributions, you are normally eligible to receive paid leave if you have a baby or adopt a child.

Under the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Directions 2010, office holders are entitled to maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave for the same periods and subject to the same conditions as apply in the case of an employee under the Employment Rights Act 1996, or any regulations made under that Act that have effect at the time when the Directions came into force on 1 January 2011. This includes additional paternity leave (APL) and additional statutory paternity pay (ASPP). Clergy on contracts of employment also have an entitlement to APL and ASPP as provided by their employer.

When contemplating taking parental leave do please remember to liaise with your diocesan office about the particular policies for your diocese. 

There are four types of payment available:

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)

SMP is payable to expectant mothers to help them take time off work around the time of birth. It lasts for up to 39 weeks. if you are expecting a baby, you must obtain a Maternity Certificate (MAT B1 or equivalent) from your doctor or midwife. You must then send this Cerificate to us via your diocesan office together with a note of the date when you wish to stop working.

Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP)

SAP is payable to an individual, or one member of a couple, adopting a child to enable him or her to take time off work around the time the child is placed. It lasts for up to 39 weeks.

If you are adopting a child and wish to claim SAP, you must obtain a Matching Certificate (or equivalent) from the adoption agency. You must send this Certificate to us via your diocesan office, together with a note of the date when you wish to stop working.

Ordinary Statutory Paternity Pay (OSPP)

OSPP is payable to the father of a newly-born baby, to enable him to support the mother in the first few weeks after the birth. It is also payable to the second member of a couple adopting a child. It lasts for one or two consecutive weeks and must be taken any time up to eight weeks after the date of birth or the child is placed with the adopter. To make a claim for OSPP use one of the following forms:

Form SC3 Becoming a parent
Form SC4 Becoming an adoptive parent

Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (ASPP)

ASPP was introduced for qualifying parents for babies due to be born on or after 3 April 2011 and for children matched for adoption on or after 3 April 2011 when their spouse or partner has had a baby or they and their spouse or they and their partner are jointly adopting a child.

ASPP is given to eligible fathers where there is entitlement to SMP, SAP or Maternity Allowance (MA) and that payment has been brought to an end by the mother or adopter returning to work.

The earliest start date for ASPP is 20 weeks after the child's birth or 20 weeks after the child was placed with the adopter. There must be at least 2 weeks SMP, MA or SAP remaining.

To make a claim for ASPP use one of the following forms:

Form SC7 Additional Statutory Paternity Pay/Additional Paternity Leave - becoming a parent
Form SC8 Additional Statutory Paternity Pay/Additional Paternity Leave - becoming an adoptive parent
Form SC9 Additional Statutory Paternity Pay/Additional Paternity Leave - adopting a child from abroad
Form SC10 Additional Statutory Paternity Pay/Additional Paternity Leave - death of the mother/adopter

Administering your claim 

As soon as we receive your claim, we will check your eligibility and notify you of your entitlement. If for any reason you do not qualify, we will advise you what other help may be available.

Please note that SMP, SAP, OSPP and ASPP represent the statutory minimum entitlement to pay while you are not working. It may be the policy of the body funding your stipend to provide more generous arrangements for paid leave, as well as a period of unpaid leave. For more details consult the body funding your stipend.

In all cases, if your spouse is employed, the appropriate claim should also be made to his or her employer.

Childcare Voucher Scheme

If you use a registered or approved childcare provider our Childcare Voucher Scheme may help you with your childcare costs [more details]