Maternity Support Worker

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

This job is now closed

Job summary

The primary role of the Maternity Support Worker (MSW) is to assist, support and work in collaboration with the midwife and the wider multidisciplinary team; in order to provide a safe and holistic approach to women and birthing people centred care.

The midwife is ultimately responsible for the care of the mother and her new-born(s), and it is under the direct or indirect supervision of the midwife that the MSW assists with and provides clinical care following completion of any relevant or appropriate training. The employee will be provided with appropriate training for the clinical setting in which they are working. These settings include antenatal inpatient or outpatient care, intrapartum inpatient care and postnatal inpatient and outpatient care.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake planned delegated care as part of the midwifery team, delivering high standards of clinical, physical, psychological and social aspects of care under the supervision of a registered practitioner.
• Work in partnership with women/birthing people and their families developing and maintaining positive relationships, support informed decision making and respect the woman, birthing person and their family's wishes.
• Work within limits of own competence and authority in line with the MSW's scope of practice in the national framework to inform care planning in line with national and local guidance, escalating to the multi-disciplinary team to avoid harm as required.
• Work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Promote a professional, welcoming and caring environment.
• Have a positive attitude and consistently demonstrate the Trust's values and behaviours.

Job responsibilities

• Manage own time and caseload effectively prioritising care needs of women and their babies under the direction and supervision of the associated professional.
• Escort women, birthing people and their families between clinical areas as required.
• Support women during clinical procedures and act as chaperone when requested to do so.
• Assist with the admission, orientation and discharge of women and their babies in accordance with local policy and guidance.
• Communicate effectively and clarify understanding with women and their families in all settings and be able to select appropriate methods to communicate when a disability or complexity may exist.
• Understand and gain consent before providing care.
• Undertake baseline and routine observations and measurements (and escalate any deviation from the normal range) to the named midwife or appropriate member of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Provide support to labouring women if asked to do so, and under the supervision of the midwife, this may include application of TENS machine or teaching breathing and massage techniques.
• Perform cannulation, venipuncture or capillary blood sampling in line with national standards and local policy and guidance following completion of relevant competencies training.
• Assist in the maintenance and understand the principles of good bladder care, removal of catheter and disposal of equipment following infection control policy and to accurately document fluid balance.
• Assist in the nutrition and hydration needs of women and birthing people.
• Assist women and birthing people with mobilisation following surgical procedures and removal of dressings or cannula under direction of the midwife or nurse.
• Assist with the transportation of blood products if asked to do so and have an awareness of the storage requirements.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Academic/Professional)

• NVQ Level 3 in health and social care or equivalent.
• GCSE Maths and English Grades A-C or Levels 4-9.
• Computer literacy, confident with ICT.
• Completed role required clinical skills training and competency requirements as required for clinical area e.g urinalysis, blood pressure, patient observations, supervision of patients and similar activities.
• Evidence of Professional Development.

Knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations, relevant legislation.
• Short courses to undertake patient and clinical care duties.
• Previous experience in a caring role within a health or social care setting.
• Experience of working in Maternity Services.

Communication and relationship skills

• Demonstrate clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to pass on information accurately.
• Demonstrate an approachable manner and good interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate Computer literacy & use of IT skills - e.g. e-mail.

Analytical and judgement skills

• Understand the importance of instructions and written procedures.
• Ability to recognise and report patient condition through observations and test results to a Registered Healthcare professional.
• Understanding of the role and own professional boundaries.

Physical skills

• Physically able to perform the full range of personal care and clinical nursing duties.
• Ability to undertake manual handling duties within clinical and non-clinical settings.
• Capable of using equipment within a work environment under supervision.
• The ability to perform limited range of delegated clinical care duties, relevant to the work area, for example: clinical observations, observing patients for signs of agitation or distress.
• Evidence of moving and handling training.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata