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List of IoN and UCL resources available to support the needs of working parents and carers (staff and students).
- IoN Pregnancy and Parental Leave Handbook to support line managers and members of staff
This handbook has been produced to provide information and procedures to help managers and individuals who are planning on taking leave to have or adopt a child.
The aims of this handbook are:
- to help those with managing responsibilities
- To improve the experience of those taking leave before, during and following the leave period.
We would welcome feedback regarding this handbook and will endeavor to improve and develop the content for future versions. Contact person: IoN HR Manager, Laura Allum (l.allum@ucl.ac.uk).
- Checklist for structured conversation with line manager prior to taking leave
Prior to commencing a period of extended leave as above, the employee should meet their line manager to discuss the forthcoming leave. Consideration needs to be given to any issues that may arise during the period of leave, so that contingency plans can be identified. This is a discussion; the employee is not expected to provide an answer to each question as these may be a decision for the line manager or point of discussion / negotiation for both parties.
This checklist has been compiled to prompt areas of discussion and is not exhaustive, but meant to be a helpful guide.
- Risks associated with Pregnancy in our lab spaces and Risk Assessment
We compiled a list of potential hazards a pregnant worker can encounter in our lab spaces. This list was compiled with the support and collaboration of several members of staff accross IoN, but it may not be an exhaustive list! If you are aware of any other hazardous elements that should be included in this list please contact our IoN Lab Operations Manager (Stephanie Czieso: s.czieso@ucl.ac.uk) or the IoN HR Manager (Laura Allum: l.allum@ucl.ac.uk).
- UCL Resources for Parents
UCL Resources which may be helpful:
1. UCL Day Nursery- The UCL Day Nursery provides high quality childcare and nursery education, giving priority to the development needs and happiness of our children and their families in a safe, nurturing and stimulating care environment.
2. Parents and Carers Network, UCL - volunteer-led grassroots network that was established in May 2014 to raise awareness of the needs of working parents and carers. It aims to support UCL staff members who are balancing ongoing caring responsibilities with work. It is a peer support group led by network members for members so new ideas and activities are always welcomed and encouraged.
3. Breastfeeding and Returning to work information to supporting parents who wish to Breastfeed on their return to work and to identify suitable facilities to do so.
4. UCL Parental Leave Toolkit, designed to assist employees through the application and management of maternity leave, paternity/partner leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave at UCL. See also IoN Pregnancy and Parental Handbook.
- Brain Sciences Carers Fund
Being able to work or study whilst dealing with parental and other caring responsibilities is essential for a healthy working culture, where everyone can achieve their full potential. To support this, the Faculty of Brain Sciences is launching a Carers Fund to enable all staff and PhD students with caring responsibilities to attend meetings, conferences, workshops and work events outside normal working patterns.
Staff, PhD students and Professional Doctorate students can apply for up to £500, and applications will be accepted throughout the year. Read more about it and apply here.