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You can share maternity leave with your partner following the birth or adoption of a child - this is available to servicewomen giving birth, and those adopting or entering a surrogacy arrangement.
Shared Parental Leave gives you more flexibility in considering how best to share the care of your child in the first year following birth or adoption.
It can only be used by the child’s two parents. To qualify:
one parent must be the mother, adopter or Parental Order parent in a surrogacy arrangement, and the other parent must be the father of the child or the spouse, civil partner or partner of the child’s mother, adopter or Parental Order parent
the parents must share the main responsibility for the care of the child at the time of the birth or placement for adoption
the Service person needs to satisfy the Continuity of Employment Test and the other parent needs to satisfy the Employment and Earnings Test to qualify
You have been in the Armed Forces for a minimum of 26 weeks continuous service at the end of the qualifying week (the 15th week before the week your child is due to be born or adopted) and are still serving at the start of each Shared Parental Leave period
In the 66 weeks before your child is due to be born or adopted, the other parent must have worked for at least 26 weeks (not necessarily continuously) and have earned at least an average of £30 per week in any 13 weeks of the 66-week period.
If you, as a Service person, wish to take Shared Parental Leave, you must also meet each of the following criteria:
The mother or primary adopter must have an entitlement to the Armed Forces Maternity Scheme or the Armed Forces Occupational Leave Scheme, or to Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay.
You must have ended or given notice to reduce any maternity or adoption leave entitlements.
You must still be serving in the Armed Forces at the start of each period of Shared Parental Leave.
You must correctly notify your Commanding Officer of your eligibility for Shared Parental Leave and provide the necessary evidence.
Speak to your Unit HR to confirm that you are entitled to take Shared Parental Leave.
Complete Parts A to E of the Application for Shared Parental leave, JPA Form R007 which can be found at JPA forms (on defnet) and submit it to your Line Manager by email.
Arrange an informal discussion with your line manager/Commanding Officer to talk through the process and identify the potential effects, both on yourself and your Unit.
Once agreed by your line manager, book your leave by completing part F of JPA Form R007 - (on defnet) which can and submitting it to your Line Manager by email, giving at least 15 weeks notice (or 8 weeks if you’re in the Army) of the start of the leave period.
Page last updated: 12 February 2025
Read JSP 760 chapter 27 for more information about shared parental leave
A guide to support Service Personnel and Managers during pregnancy, maternity, paternity, assisted conception, adoption, pregnancy loss and childcare support in the Royal Navy.
A hub of information and guidance to help you and your line manager navigate parenthood policies and processes, and access available support.
A guide to support Service Personnel and the Chain of Command during pregnancy, including pregnancy loss, maternity, breastfeeding and returning to work within the British Army.
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