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Welcoming a child however for many parents getting everything ready for a new arrival can be a stressful experience too, with so much to plan and organise it is perfectly natural to feel a little overwhelmed. The Childcare Support Service are on hand to help you through the practical considerations such as how maternity/adoption/paternity rights and pay work and how to approach childcare when you are ready to return to work.
Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Policy Overview
We appreciate reading through your Trusts policy is a lengthy task therefore we have put together a presentation slide to highlight some key areas of information which you may find useful covering pay and rights, leave, flexible working and salary sacrifice information which is all available in the below PDF.
We would always recommend all expectant parents attend one of our Virtual Maternity/Paternity Workshops to ensure all information is covered. Further information on the virtual workshops can be found below.
Virtual Maternity/Paternity Workshops
These sessions are aimed at staff who have not yet commenced maternity/paternity and cover topics such as pay, rights, returning to work, finding and funding childcare, or anything else you might need support with. They are also attended by guest speakers including the Parent Education Midwife and our workplace nursery provider.
2023 session dates:
2024 session dates:
All sessions run from 10am-11.30am.
Email childcare.coordinator@bdct.nhs.uk to book onto any of the sessions and an MS Teams link will be sent to you.
Informal NHS Parents Peer Support Forum
These sessions are aimed at staff who are parents, carers, or grandparents. Whether you are brand new to parenthood or experienced, all are welcome. There will be an opportunity to meet other parents, share experiences and spend some time socialising with people who will be experiencing similar ups and downs and challenges. You will meet other parents in a virtual environment and be able to offer peer support, a listening ear or even just vent about some of the things that you might be struggling with. You can also share your successes and milestones and build a small support network. As everyone will have experience navigating life with children, these will be non-judgmental groups where babies, children, teenagers are welcome, and no one will mind if you have not had chance to brush your hair or sat in your dressing gown.
2024 session dates which run from 11am-12:00
Email childcare.coordinator@bdct.nhs.uk to book onto a session and an MS Teams link will be sent to you.
Bradford Antenatal Classes and Information – We have partnership working with Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust which allows staff, whether you are birthing in Bradford or not, access to their wide range of parent education classes. This includes classes on hypnobirthing, breastfeeding, birthing and labour, when nature needs a helping hand and much more. Visit their website link below for further information and to book onto a session. You can also access a huge library of pre recorded sessions.
Parent Education Team – Bradford Royal Infirmary Events | Eventbrite
You can follow Bradford antenatal Facebook pages for lots of information and support from pregnancy, birth and beyond @bthftmaternity
Below are some quick links to the maternity services provided at some of our other local hospitals trusts;
Perinatal Support and Workshops
Expecting a baby and becoming a parent can be a time filled with happiness and joy but it is also emotionally and physically challenging and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. IAPT and Little Minds Matter offer tailored support to people in the Perinatal period (when you are expecting a baby, up until the child’s 1st birthday).
At Bradford District and Craven Talking Therapies, we offer free, confidential talking therapy for people who have a range of emotional difficulties during the perinatal period. We also “fast track” people within the Perinatal period and therefore you will be assessed and access therapy quicker. Support with low mood, sadness and tearfulness. We can offer:
This is a family friendly service, and your therapy can be completed via telephone or video call, if this is easier. We also have face to face appointments available in venues with baby change facilities and pram accessible rooms. Additionally we have a fully online course via SilverCloud which is tailored to the Perinatal period, this can be accessed 24/7 and you do not need to attend appointments.
Part of our Perinatal offer is access to our Perinatal Workshops which are online sessions focusing on: Sleep for you and baby and bonding with baby/bump. You can find out more on our courses and workshops page.
There are three ways that you can refer to Bradford District and Craven Talking Therapies:
The perinatal period can come with additional risks as pregnancy and being a new parent can be such a challenging time.
If you are expecting a baby, or have a little one under 1, and answer ‘Yes’ to any of the questions above, please seek support from First Response, available for people of all ages living in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale or Craven. Call 0800 952 1181 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Pregnancy & Birth – Useful links
Here are some great websites, guides and information to look for around pregnancy and birth
Wellbeing & Development – Useful links
As always if you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact the team directly who will be happy to help.
Bradford District Care Trust is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the linked websites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Listing shall not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We can not guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of linked page.