A WARRINGTON organisation has been named as a finalist for an award praising its support to working fathers.

The Comet Men at Work Employer of the Year award honours organisations that support male employees who also have caring responsibilities.

The Five Borough Partnership NHS Trust was praised for demonstrating a commitment to working men that wanted to take an active role as a father, grandfather or carer in the home.

Men can now have two weeks' paternity leave with full pay following the birth of a child, as well as support and information on custody matters and parenting.

The scheme has led to an improved level of morale among the staff, as well as having a positive impact on recruitment.

The trust appointed a Work-Life Balance manager Gail Nicholas, to help implement the scheme.

She said: "Since the introduction of paid paternity leave by the Government in 2003, we have processed 25 applications for such leave.

"Moreover, we are increasingly seeing men across the trust willingly putting themselves forward as champions of improving working lives and working-life balance"

The award ceremony will be held on December 10 at a gala lunch in London.

Working Families chief executive Sarah Jackson said: "It is exciting and inspiring to see organisations like the Five Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust taking work-life balance seriously and demonstrating the business benefits it can bring.

The trust employs around 2,500 people across Warrington, Halton, Knowsley, Wigan, St Helens and Leigh.