Policies and procedures

We’re committed to supporting the wellbeing of our colleagues, this includes developing a working environment that encourages a healthy work-life balance. 

Special leave is leave, either paid or unpaid, given in addition to your annual leave to respond to emergency situations and to help you balance your commitments outside of work. 

We have the following enhancements:

• Leave for dependants: Along with reasonable unpaid time off we offer six days' paid leave to deal with unplanned or emergency situations involving your dependants. 
• Carers leave: If you're a carer, you're entitled to six days paid leave and up to a week’s unpaid leave to provide or arrange care for your dependants. 
• Planned healthcare for children under five: In the first five years of your child's life, you can take up to five days' paid leave and five days' unpaid leave to cover doctors appoints for developmental checks up and inoculations. 
• Prospective foster/kinship carers: We offer up to five days' paid leave to cover the preparation and assessment process involved in registering as carers.
• Active foster/kinship carers: We offer one day's paid leave and up to four days' unpaid leave each year to support you with being a carer. 
• Compassionate leave: In the event of a bereavement, your line manager can grant up to five working days’ paid leave
• Parental bereavement leave: You're entitled to up to two weeks' paid leave to support you following the loss of a child. This leave is also available to parents who experience pregnancy or baby loss. 
• Fertility treatment: We'll support you with paid leave to attend appointments through one course of fertility treatment. 
• Volunteering leave: We offer one day's paid leave to volunteering activities where it aligns with the Council Business Plan and contributes to one of the three priorities. 
• Leave to take part in sporting events: We offer reasonable paid leave where you've been selected to represent your nation or country in a competitive sporting event.