Overview of chart structure

Chart begins with an employee and their manager having an initial early conversation about a career break. Then the employee submits their career break application form and meets with their manager to discuss the request.

If the career break request is agreed upon, the employee and their manager complete an agreement.

The employee and their manager discuss return to work arrangements.

If the employee is returning to work on the agreed date and their career break is less than 12 months, they will return to work. If the career break is longer than 12 months, they will return to their substantive post, if available, otherwise, they will be added to the redeployment register. They will then follow their Board’s local redeployment process and the process ends.

If the employee is not returning to work on the agreed date, then they inform their manager of a request to amend the date. If the request is accepted, then the manager confirms the outcome in writing. The employee can appeal the outcome if the request is not accepted.

If the employee is not returning to NHS employment, they must provide written notice in line with contract terms and conditions.

Career Break Policy flowchart

Chart begins with the employee and the manager having an initial early conversation. Then the employee submits their career break application form, then the manager and employee meet to discuss the request. Then the question is asked, career break request agreed?

If the answer is yes to the question, career break request agreed, then the flow connects to the step, career break agreement completed by manager and employee. To go to this step, follow the next link otherwise skip the next link. Jump to the step, career break agreement completed by manager and employee.

If the answer is no to the question, career break request agreed, then the manager confirms outcome of request in writing. Then the question is asked, employee appealed decision?

If the answer is no to the question, employee appealed decision, then the process ends.

If the answer is yes to the question, employee appealed decision, then the question is asked, appeal upheld?

If the answer is no to the question, appeal upheld, then the process ends.

If the answer is yes to the question, appeal upheld, then the outcome is changed.

Then the career break agreement is completed by manager and employee.

Then the manager and employee discuss return to work arrangements, then the question is asked, employee returning to work on agreed date?

If the answer is yes to the question, employee returning to work on agreed date, then the question is asked, career break more than 12 months?

If the answer is no to the question, career break more than 12 months, then the employee returns to work, then the process ends.

If the answer is yes to the question, career break more than 12 months, then the flow connects to the question, substantive post available to return to? To go to this question, follow the next link otherwise skip the next link. Jump to question, substantive post available to return to?

If the answer is no to the question, employee returning to work on agreed date, then the question is asked, employee returning to work in the NHS?

If the answer is no to the question, employee returning to work in the NHS, then the employee provides written notice in line with contract terms and conditions, then the process ends.

If the answer is yes to the question, employee returning to work in the NHS, then the employee informs manager of request to amend return to work date. Then the manager confirms outcome of request in writing, then the question is asked, request agreed?

If the answer is yes to the question, request agreed, then the flow connects with the question, career break more than 12 months? To go to this question, follow the next link otherwise skip the next link. Jump to question, career break more than 12 months?

If the answer is no to the question, request agreed, then the question is asked, employee appealed decision?

If the answer is no to the question, employee appealed decision, then then the flow connects with the question, career break more than 12 months. To go to this question, follow the next link otherwise skip the next link. Jump to question, career break more than 12 months?

If the answer is yes to the question, employee appealed decision, then the question is asked, appeal upheld?

If the answer is no to the question, appeal upheld, then the process ends.

If the answer is yes to the question, appeal upheld, then outcome changed. Then the flow connects to the question, career break more than 12 months? To go to this question, follow the next link otherwise skip the next link. Jump to question, career break more than 12 months?

The question is asked, career break more than 12 months?

If the answer is no to the question, career break more than 12 months, then the employee returns to work, then the process ends.

If the answer is yes to the question, career break more than 12 months, then the question is asked substantive post available to return to?

If the answer is yes to the question, substantive post available to return to, then the employee returns to work, then the process ends.

If the answer is no to the question, substantive post available to return to, then the employee is added to the redeployment register. Then follow the board’s local redeployment policy, then the process ends.