Merseyside charity Autism Together recognised for supporting staff with premature babies

A Merseyside-based social care charity, Autism Together, has received national recognition for going above and beyond in supporting employees whose babies are born prematurely.

Autism Together has been awarded the prestigious Employer with Heart charter mark from The Smallest Things, a volunteer-run organisation that champions the needs of families affected by premature birth.

The Smallest Things support families, raise awareness, and instigate change to help create a better world for those affected by premature birth.

Autism Together employs over 800 staff to support more than 400 autistic adults across residential care homes, supported living properties, and day service locations throughout Wirral.

The Bromborough-based charity last year won the prestigious Care Home Employer award for the North West region, at the Great British Care Awards, with the judges impressed by the enhanced benefits and family-friendly policies the organisation provides its staff.

Helen Bilton, Autism Together’s Director of People and Culture, said:

“I am so pleased that Autism Together has been awarded The Smallest Things charter mark.

“This reinforces our charity’s continued commitment to our staff, recognising the important roles they play in looking after their own families, along with the people we support.”

To receive the Employer with Heart 2.0 charter mark, companies must have policies that meet the following criteria:

• Extend leave for parents and partners who have a premature baby (before 37 weeks’ gestation) by the number of days a baby is born prior to their due date. This extended leave will be at full pay.
• Support parents and partners returning to work following the birth of a premature baby. Babies born too soon can have ongoing medical needs, requiring regular hospital appointments and check-ups. Employers must consider formal and informal flexible working patterns and offer additional paid or unpaid leave.

Catriona Ogilvy, Chair and Founder of The Smallest Things said:

“We are delighted Autism Together has signed up to our Employer with Heart 2.0 charter, giving staff whose babies are born prematurely the extra time they need to be with their baby in hospital, and parents the time they need to recover and bond with their baby when they come home.

“These changes will mean so much to staff at Autism Together, giving them the emotional and financial support they need at a time of great stress and trauma. No parent should be sitting next to an incubator or neonatal cot worrying about work and pay.

“The Smallest Things have long campaigned for extended leave for neonatal parents and we hope that more employers follow Autism Together’s lead by going above and beyond new statutory entitlements as part of the new Neonatal Care Leave and Pay Bill.”

Helen Bilton continued:

“Whilst Autism Together welcomes the imminent changes the government is making to neonatal leave, as an employer we wanted to fully support any of our staff experiencing these challenging moments as a parent – beyond the legislative requirements – in order that they may spend more time with their loved ones, without enduring any additional financial concerns.

“Our Family Friendly policies now provide an extended offering to all our staff, to help them in supporting their own loved ones on becoming parents. We also provide all new mums in our employment with a baby basket filled with useful items, and we have extended our pay provision for parents too.”

Find out more about Autism Together, their staff, and services at the charity’s website.

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