Improving Me-NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Womens Health and Maternity Programme and the Liverpool Combined Authority Economies for Healthier Lives are delighted to announce a new toolkit for employers in Cheshire and Merseyside developed by Maternity Action on behalf of the NHS. This toolkit sits alongside a ground breaking FREE maternity legal advice service for women in Cheshire and Merseyside.

The Managing pregnancy, maternity and parental leave in the workplace toolkit provides clear, accessible and free guidance. Aimed at small and medium sized enterprises, the toolkit consists of checklists, model policies and concise information on key questions. The toolkit is focused on communicating the legal
framework, outlining precisely what employers are required to do. The aim is to give employers the information they need at the time they need it, reducing the time demands on employers and reassuring them that they are meeting all their legal obligations.

John White from the Economies for Healthier Lives team said, ’This practical resource is a very welcome addition to our Fair Employment Charter which celebrates fair employment practices where they are in place and drives-up standards elsewhere.’

Improving Me Director, Catherine McClennan added, ‘We have always had a clear focus on promoting health and wellbeing for women and babies. Both the legal advice service and employer toolkit are clear articulations of our commitment to keeping all our women and babies well. And that includes staff too.’

Improving Me has been working in partnership with Maternity Action since 2020 when they jointly developed an initial idea, designed to free up midwives time for clinical demands. This led to the launch of a free legal and financial advice project on the Wirral in 2022 for new and expectant mothers. This groundbreaking trial funded by the NHS the Cheshire and Merseyside women’s health and maternity programme, Improving Me, hit the national news. It is now being rolled out across the region. This legal advice service for women, is delivered on behalf of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Women’s Health and Maternity programme. It provides a dedicated Maternity Rights Advice Service for women, partners and families across the Cheshire and Merseyside region.