Career break

We are committed to providing opportunities for employees to balance work and other aspects of their life whilst enabling us to retain employees with experience, skills and knowledge. A career break may provide an opportunity for you to take a period of unpaid leave from working within the following broad circumstances:

• to concentrate on caring responsibilities;
• to follow a period of maternity, adoption or paternity leave;
• to undertake a course of study;
• to undertake a public service or voluntary work;
• to undertake a period of travel;
• to pursue sports/hobbies.

The career break policy is available to all local government employees and teaching staff who have two years continuous service.

It is also possible for a career break to start directly after the end of your period of maternity, paternity or adoption leave (providing you meet the criteria).

The duration of career breaks can range for a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 4 years for Local Government Employees and a maximum of 5 years for Teachers. 

If you wish to apply for a career break, you should have an initial discussion with your line manager or Head Teacher. It is important to recognise that if your request is granted you may not return to your current job and level of pay.

Following verbal approval, your career break applications should be submitted through Oracle Fusion ensuring that you provide the correct start and return dates. See the guidance on how to submit your career break.

Employees should ensure that they keep in contact with their manager during their career break and complete the necessary Keeping in Touch days as detailed in the policy. If you wish to amend your return to work date you should advise your manager and change the date of your return on Oracle Fusion to ensure your pay is correct.