Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Foster Care
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into their home and (iii) other support.
Answered by Feryal Clark
There is no central cross-government wide policy for foster care leave.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) does offer employees who are foster carers flexible working, but not paid time off for training or settling a new child into their home. My Department provides a strong offer to all staff with respect to annual leave and hybrid working, as well as flexibility around taking unpaid time off, along with employee wellbeing support through the 24/7 service of our Employee Assistance Programme.
DSIT public bodies similarly exercise a range of flexible working policies that can support staff with caring and other responsibilities.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →