16.3 CARER'S LEAVE

16.3.1 Paid Carer's Leave

(a)A member is entitled to use up to a maximum of ten days per annum of any current or accrued sick leave entitlement provided for in the Police Service Regulations 2003 for absences to provide care and support for members of their immediate family or household who need their care and support when they are ill; or who require care due to unforseen circumstances, and no other reasonable care is available.

 (b) Use of this leave may be subject to the day to day approval by the Controlling Authority.

(c) Leave may be taken for part of a single day.

 (d) A member may, with the approval of the Controlling Authority access an additional amount of their current or accrued sick leave for the purpose specified in clause (a), beyond the limit set out in clause (a). 

(e) If required the member must establish, either by production of a medical certificate or statutory declaration, the illness of the person concerned and that the illness is such as to require care by the member, or the nature of the unforseen circumstance requiring care by the member.

(f) Where practicable the member must give the Controlling Authority notice prior to the absence of the intention to take leave, the name of the person requiring care and the person's relationship to the member, the reasons for taking such leave and the estimated length of absence. If it is not practicable to give prior notice of absence, the member shall notify the Controlling Authority by telephone of such absence at the first opportunity on the day of absence.

(g) In normal circumstances a member must not take carer's leave under this clause where another person has taken leave to care for the same person.

16.3.2 Unpaid Carer's Leave

A member may elect, with the approval of the Controlling Authority, to take unpaid leave for the purpose of providing care to a family or household member who is ill.