New policy provides support for parents with babies in neonatal care

4 July 2025

Parents of babies who need neonatal care will now be eligible for special care leave and full pay for up to 12 weeks under a new Force policy.

The Force provisions within the Neonatal Care Policy are above and beyond the statutory position.

Jess Davies, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, has welcomed the move.

“Having a newborn baby in a neonatal unit can be incredibly stressful and puts new parents under enormous pressure, it is pleasing to see the Force recognise this, and do what it can to support officers and staff who find themselves in this situation,” says Jess, “The last thing they need is to be worrying about their leave or their finances.”

She added: “This policy shows the Force is committed to being an employer of choice.”

Premature

Neonatal Care Leave and Pay (eligible from 6 April 2025) has been introduced for all eligible officers and staff whose babies are born prematurely or need extended hospital care after birth. They will be able to access this leave in addition to other family leave entitlements, such as maternity, shared parental, maternity support leave or adoption leave.

The leave applies to both parents, and will provide extra time off for them and allow them to be by their baby’s side at a crucial time. It will apply for every full week that their baby is in neonatal care.

A Force spokesperson said: “We’ve introduced this policy after feedback from colleagues. We recognise the significant impact that this experience has upon parents trying to balance work and parenting.”

All supervisors, particularly those who have may have expectant parents on their teams, are being asked to familiarise themselves with the new policy.

Read the new policy.