Medical Women's Federation Home Page

Top Tips

-You need to be PROACTIVE (plan well ahead)

-Contact the local trust Childcare coordinator

-Health Visitors can also be a useful source of local information regarding childcare

-Network locally to find help

-If advertising locally it is vital to take up references and check qualifications etc.

-Ask employer about Working Tax Credit

- You may have to pay out a large part of your income on childcare in the early years (particularly if you have more than one child) but this can be a long term investment in your career

-If possible work as a team with your partner & other family members

-If possible try to live near to family members e.g. grandparents, particularly if they are keen, willing and able to help out. Mothers and Mothers in law can really save the day!

REMEMBER, you will need BACK UP

Childcare

When returning to work after having had a baby finding the right childcare is
crucial. The child’s happiness, safety and welfare depend on it, as does the
happiness, stress levels and career fulfillment of the parents.

How MWF Can Help?
As a member of MWF you will be able to ask for help and advice on childcare
from other women doctors many of whom will have experienced similar
challenges to you. Why not join our mentoring scheme? (see link). Please
contact Central Office (see contact us) for details.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION
-Childcare Coordinator (all local healthcare trusts should have one of these). They can be contacted through switchboard to obtain local childcare information

-“So you want to be a medical mum?” by Dr. Emma Hill Oxford University Press ISBN 978-0-19-923758-6. This book has an excellent chapter on Childcare.

-BMA website (you do not have to be a member to access the information) www.bma.org.uk. Search for Childcare which will take you to A-Z of childcare support. The sections on – General Information / Access to childcare / Case studies are particularly helpful

-Five things to ask every babysitter article
Click here to read a copy>>

PARENTAL LEAVE
At present several weeks of parental leave (unpaid) is available to parents within the NHS.

This can provide a significant help to doctors with children who may struggle with childcare. It can help you spend more time with your child and strike a better balance between your work and family commitments.

What is it?
Parental leave is designed to give parents more time with their young children. It entitles you to take 13 weeks leave per parent per child, usually unpaid up to a certain age (this age seems to vary between Trusts i.e. sometimes up to 5 years and sometimes up to as much as 14 years)

Parents of disabled children are entitled to 18 weeks’ leave, to be taken before the child is 18. For parental leave, a ‘disabled child’ is a child on Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
It is also available for adoptive parents, in which case you can take it either within five years of the placement for adoption or before the child’s 18th birthday, whichever is earlier.

For further information on your employers Parental Leave arrangements please contact you local Human Resources Dept (HR) or Childcare Coordinator

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