Maternity Support Worker

Job description

Job summary

Band 3 Maternity Support Worker - 22.5 hours per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a part-time Maternity Support Worker to join a busy multidisciplinary team in the Maternity Antenatal Hub atWorcestershire Royal Hospital.

We are looking for a compassionate, motivated,and enthusiastic person to enhance the high-quality patient-centred care thatis offered. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are a necessity.

Main duties of the job

Theprimary role of the Maternity Support Worker (MSW) is to assist, support andwork in collaboration with the Midwife and the wider multidisciplinary team; inorder to provide a safe and holistic approach to women centred care.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a largeacute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acuteservices to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to alarger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services fromthree sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and ourcaring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centredcare. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people towork with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin oureveryday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewiseaccreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible workingwithin our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring aDBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in SupportingInformation section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

• Demonstrateunderstanding of the importance of working in partnership with women and theirfamilies. Develops and maintains positive relationships, supports informeddecision makers and respects the woman's and her families wishes, withparticular attention to when the family unit is separated, or mom/baby iscritically ill.
• Understandthe MSWs scope of practice and the importance of the role within nationalframework to enable working within limits of own competence and authority,escalating to the MDT to inform care planning in line with national and localguidance to avoid harm.

Administrative Duties:

• Ensurethat all clinical documentation written or electronic is accurately andconfidentially collected, updated, stored and filed in accordance with localinformation governance and record keeping policy and guidance.
• Provideadministrative support to the maternity team, both in the hospital andcommunity settings.
• Participatein tracking, obtaining, and filing clinical records as required in line withlocal policy and guidance.

Professional Attitudes and Responsibilities

• Conveyan approachable and professional manner to all mothers and their families anddemonstrates an awareness of discriminatory attitudes and challenges this behaviourto promote equality. This will appreciate protected characteristics andrecognize how to support these people from these groups. This includes age,disability, gender reassignment, Marriage and civil partnership, race, religionor belief, Sex and Sexual orientation (Equality Act 2010)
• Ensurethat knowledge of local safeguarding policy and procedure is maintained.
• Tobe vigilant of Child Protection issues and refer issues of concern in a timelymanner to registered midwife complying with legal requirements.

Training Responsibilities:

• Attendall statutory and mandatory training as and when required.
• Identifyown training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/educationas required to ensure a contemporaneous knowledge base and skill set ismaintained.
• Participatein annual individual performance review process, whereby objectives will beagreed, performance monitored, and personal development needs discussed.
• Toact as a role model and participate in training for their colleagues and peers,recognising the impact of personal behaviour on the culture and performance ofthe department, and the experience of service users.

SafeEnvironment:

• Beconversant with the local infection control policy, whilst ensuring mandatesare always adhered to.
• Actresponsibly in respect of colleagues health, safety and welfare followingsafety at work practices including lone working, whilst working in compliancewith local health and safety policy and guidance.
• Ensurethe cleanliness of equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas and assistthe midwife in appropriately preparing the birthing environment.
• Ensureadequate stock levels are maintained in all clinical settings, and equipment isavailable; escalate any depletion of stock or resources in a timely manner.
• Assistin stocking up and cleaning all home birth team equipment if required.
• Ensurethe working order of equipment, reporting any concerns, faults or breakages tothe appropriate person in a timely manner.
• Reportany incidents or concerns using the local risk management reporting system andescalate such concerns or incidents appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Participatein the audit of standards within the unit if appropriate.

Care of the Woman:

• Manageown time and caseload effectively whilst prioritising care needs for women andtheir babies under care under the direction and supervision of the midwife inantenatal, postnatal clinics, community hubs or home settings to ensure ifappropriate the principles of continuity of carer are applied.
• Escortwomen and their families between clinical areas as required
• Assistwith the admission, orientation and discharge of women and their babies inaccordance with local policy and guidance.
• Communicateeffectively and clarifies understanding with women and their families in allsettings and be able to select appropriate methods to communicate when adisability or complexity may exist.
• Understandand gains valid consent prior to action or providing care.
• Undertakebaseline/routine observations and measurements (and escalate any deviation fromthe normal range) to the named midwife or appropriate member of themulti-professional team.
• Supportwomen during clinical procedures and act as chaperone when requested to do soby the midwifery or obstetric team.
• Providesupport to labouring women if asked to do so, and under the supervision of themidwife, this may include application of TENS machine or teaching breathing andMassage techniques.
• Performvenipuncture or capillary blood sampling in line with national standards andlocal policy and guidance following completion of the appropriate competencies.
• Assistin the maintenance and understand the principles of good bladder care, removalof catheter and disposal of equipment following infection control policy and todocument accurately the fluid balance.
• Assistin the nutrition and hydration needs of women.
• Assistwomen with mobilisation following surgical procedures and remove of dressingsor cannula under direction of the midwife.
• Assistwith the transportation of blood products if asked to do so and have anawareness of the storage requirements.

Health Promotion and Screening:

• Maintainsa contemporary knowledge base about local and national antenatal and newbornscreening services and signposts women and their families to appropriatelyqualified practitioners if they are undecided or have concerns.
• Hasan understanding and can advise families about newborn blood spot screening,immunisations and can produce GROW Charts following successful completion ofthe appropriate competencies.
• Recognisesand promotes the principles of behaviour changes required in health promotionactivities including diet, food hygiene, exercise, personal hygiene and smokingcessation. (For example, assess CO levels and signposting to local serviceappropriately as per policy guidance).
• Tocomplete the relevant documentation for screening test performed in thematernity records.
• Torecognise any deterioration in mental and emotional wellbeing and respondappropriately, escalating to midwife to enable an appropriate care pathway.
• Tobe aware of and understand the current policy and service frameworks for mentalhealth (e.g. Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental HealthAct).
• Tobe aware of perinatal mental health issues and the appropriate referral pathwayand to escalate to multi-disciplinary team and concerns noted within home orhospital setting.

Infant Feeding:

• Beaware of the main constituents of human milk and their function, includingColostrum and Mature breastmilk. Appreciatethe importance and the role of human milk and breastfeeding to improve thehealth and wellbeing outcomes for infants, their mothers and the wider familyand in promoting and protecting public health
• Understandthe functional anatomy and physiology of lactation and hormonal influences onmilk production and mothering, as well as the role of the Feedback Inhibitor ofLactation (FIL)
• Beable to describe the key practices that facilitate the initiation and have theknowledge and skills to support maintenance of breastfeeding
• Understandand have an overview of circumstances which can affect lactation andbreastfeeding and be able to support mothers to overcome common challenges andmake appropriate referrals when necessary (e.g. midwife/health visitor/infantfeeding lead).
• Beable to support parents who formula feed to do so responsively and as safely aspossible including minimising the risks, to make up feeds as safely aspossible, how to sterilise equipment, how to hold a baby and pace the feeds.
• Importanceof skin-to-skin contact to support infant feeding and how to facilitate thiswithin practice promoting responsive feeding to feeding cues.
• Understandingprinciples and mechanisms of attachment and positioning for effective feedingin line with BFI standards.
• Understandshow to protect breastfeeding should supplementation be required.
• Expressionand storage of breastmilk to include hand and pump expression technique and theuse of cup feeding.
• Developan understanding of the importance of secure mother-infant attachment and theimpact this has on health and emotional wellbeing, irrespective of feedingmethod.
• Understandthe importance of the WHO International Code of Marketing of BreastmilkSubstitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions (the Code) and how it impacts onpractice.

Care of the Newborn:

• Undertakeneonatal observations under direct and indirect supervision and escalate anydeviations from the normal range appropriately and in a timely manner,following the completion of competency practical and theoretical training.
• Observethe overall wellbeing of the newborn and escalate any concerns to named midwifeor multi-professional team in a timely manner.
• Providepractical support and transition to parenthood for new parents when caring fortheir newborn, whilst promoting safety, bonding and teaching parenting skillsin both the hospital and home settings.
• Toassist or perform neonatal blood sampling including tests such as newborn bloodspot and Serum bilirubin ratio (SBR) test, following successful completion ofappropriate competency as directed by the midwife

Job description
Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

• Demonstrateunderstanding of the importance of working in partnership with women and theirfamilies. Develops and maintains positive relationships, supports informeddecision makers and respects the woman's and her families wishes, withparticular attention to when the family unit is separated, or mom/baby iscritically ill.
• Understandthe MSWs scope of practice and the importance of the role within nationalframework to enable working within limits of own competence and authority,escalating to the MDT to inform care planning in line with national and localguidance to avoid harm.

Administrative Duties:

• Ensurethat all clinical documentation written or electronic is accurately andconfidentially collected, updated, stored and filed in accordance with localinformation governance and record keeping policy and guidance.
• Provideadministrative support to the maternity team, both in the hospital andcommunity settings.
• Participatein tracking, obtaining, and filing clinical records as required in line withlocal policy and guidance.

Professional Attitudes and Responsibilities

• Conveyan approachable and professional manner to all mothers and their families anddemonstrates an awareness of discriminatory attitudes and challenges this behaviourto promote equality. This will appreciate protected characteristics andrecognize how to support these people from these groups. This includes age,disability, gender reassignment, Marriage and civil partnership, race, religionor belief, Sex and Sexual orientation (Equality Act 2010)
• Ensurethat knowledge of local safeguarding policy and procedure is maintained.
• Tobe vigilant of Child Protection issues and refer issues of concern in a timelymanner to registered midwife complying with legal requirements.

Training Responsibilities:

• Attendall statutory and mandatory training as and when required.
• Identifyown training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/educationas required to ensure a contemporaneous knowledge base and skill set ismaintained.
• Participatein annual individual performance review process, whereby objectives will beagreed, performance monitored, and personal development needs discussed.
• Toact as a role model and participate in training for their colleagues and peers,recognising the impact of personal behaviour on the culture and performance ofthe department, and the experience of service users.

SafeEnvironment:

• Beconversant with the local infection control policy, whilst ensuring mandatesare always adhered to.
• Actresponsibly in respect of colleagues health, safety and welfare followingsafety at work practices including lone working, whilst working in compliancewith local health and safety policy and guidance.
• Ensurethe cleanliness of equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas and assistthe midwife in appropriately preparing the birthing environment.
• Ensureadequate stock levels are maintained in all clinical settings, and equipment isavailable; escalate any depletion of stock or resources in a timely manner.
• Assistin stocking up and cleaning all home birth team equipment if required.
• Ensurethe working order of equipment, reporting any concerns, faults or breakages tothe appropriate person in a timely manner.
• Reportany incidents or concerns using the local risk management reporting system andescalate such concerns or incidents appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Participatein the audit of standards within the unit if appropriate.

Care of the Woman:

• Manageown time and caseload effectively whilst prioritising care needs for women andtheir babies under care under the direction and supervision of the midwife inantenatal, postnatal clinics, community hubs or home settings to ensure ifappropriate the principles of continuity of carer are applied.
• Escortwomen and their families between clinical areas as required
• Assistwith the admission, orientation and discharge of women and their babies inaccordance with local policy and guidance.
• Communicateeffectively and clarifies understanding with women and their families in allsettings and be able to select appropriate methods to communicate when adisability or complexity may exist.
• Understandand gains valid consent prior to action or providing care.
• Undertakebaseline/routine observations and measurements (and escalate any deviation fromthe normal range) to the named midwife or appropriate member of themulti-professional team.
• Supportwomen during clinical procedures and act as chaperone when requested to do soby the midwifery or obstetric team.
• Providesupport to labouring women if asked to do so, and under the supervision of themidwife, this may include application of TENS machine or teaching breathing andMassage techniques.
• Performvenipuncture or capillary blood sampling in line with national standards andlocal policy and guidance following completion of the appropriate competencies.
• Assistin the maintenance and understand the principles of good bladder care, removalof catheter and disposal of equipment following infection control policy and todocument accurately the fluid balance.
• Assistin the nutrition and hydration needs of women.
• Assistwomen with mobilisation following surgical procedures and remove of dressingsor cannula under direction of the midwife.
• Assistwith the transportation of blood products if asked to do so and have anawareness of the storage requirements.

Health Promotion and Screening:

• Maintainsa contemporary knowledge base about local and national antenatal and newbornscreening services and signposts women and their families to appropriatelyqualified practitioners if they are undecided or have concerns.
• Hasan understanding and can advise families about newborn blood spot screening,immunisations and can produce GROW Charts following successful completion ofthe appropriate competencies.
• Recognisesand promotes the principles of behaviour changes required in health promotionactivities including diet, food hygiene, exercise, personal hygiene and smokingcessation. (For example, assess CO levels and signposting to local serviceappropriately as per policy guidance).
• Tocomplete the relevant documentation for screening test performed in thematernity records.
• Torecognise any deterioration in mental and emotional wellbeing and respondappropriately, escalating to midwife to enable an appropriate care pathway.
• Tobe aware of and understand the current policy and service frameworks for mentalhealth (e.g. Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental HealthAct).
• Tobe aware of perinatal mental health issues and the appropriate referral pathwayand to escalate to multi-disciplinary team and concerns noted within home orhospital setting.

Infant Feeding:

• Beaware of the main constituents of human milk and their function, includingColostrum and Mature breastmilk. Appreciatethe importance and the role of human milk and breastfeeding to improve thehealth and wellbeing outcomes for infants, their mothers and the wider familyand in promoting and protecting public health
• Understandthe functional anatomy and physiology of lactation and hormonal influences onmilk production and mothering, as well as the role of the Feedback Inhibitor ofLactation (FIL)
• Beable to describe the key practices that facilitate the initiation and have theknowledge and skills to support maintenance of breastfeeding
• Understandand have an overview of circumstances which can affect lactation andbreastfeeding and be able to support mothers to overcome common challenges andmake appropriate referrals when necessary (e.g. midwife/health visitor/infantfeeding lead).
• Beable to support parents who formula feed to do so responsively and as safely aspossible including minimising the risks, to make up feeds as safely aspossible, how to sterilise equipment, how to hold a baby and pace the feeds.
• Importanceof skin-to-skin contact to support infant feeding and how to facilitate thiswithin practice promoting responsive feeding to feeding cues.
• Understandingprinciples and mechanisms of attachment and positioning for effective feedingin line with BFI standards.
• Understandshow to protect breastfeeding should supplementation be required.
• Expressionand storage of breastmilk to include hand and pump expression technique and theuse of cup feeding.
• Developan understanding of the importance of secure mother-infant attachment and theimpact this has on health and emotional wellbeing, irrespective of feedingmethod.
• Understandthe importance of the WHO International Code of Marketing of BreastmilkSubstitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions (the Code) and how it impacts onpractice.

Care of the Newborn:

• Undertakeneonatal observations under direct and indirect supervision and escalate anydeviations from the normal range appropriately and in a timely manner,following the completion of competency practical and theoretical training.
• Observethe overall wellbeing of the newborn and escalate any concerns to named midwifeor multi-professional team in a timely manner.
• Providepractical support and transition to parenthood for new parents when caring fortheir newborn, whilst promoting safety, bonding and teaching parenting skillsin both the hospital and home settings.
• Toassist or perform neonatal blood sampling including tests such as newborn bloodspot and Serum bilirubin ratio (SBR) test, following successful completion ofappropriate competency as directed by the midwife

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Maths Grades A-C, Levels 4-9, Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent
• NVQ Level 3 in Health care or equivalent experience
• Care certificate

Desirable

• Commit to undertake in-house training
• Foundation Degree Maternity Pathway

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working with members of the public

Desirable

• One years formal maternity care experience in a hospital/birth centre
• Experience of using hospital patient record system
• Experience of working in an acute hospital setting
• Experience of providing high quality care

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Understanding of Safeguarding issues
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues
• Knowledge and understanding of data protection confidentially
• Approachable manner with good interpersonal skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to work without direct supervision
• Understanding of the role and own professional boundaries
• Able to identify when to escalate issues/concerns
• Ability to work as part of team and to liaise with colleagues in other disciplines
• Demonstrate attention to detail
• IT / computer skills

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development

Person Specification
Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Maths Grades A-C, Levels 4-9, Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent
• NVQ Level 3 in Health care or equivalent experience
• Care certificate

Desirable

• Commit to undertake in-house training
• Foundation Degree Maternity Pathway

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working with members of the public

Desirable

• One years formal maternity care experience in a hospital/birth centre
• Experience of using hospital patient record system
• Experience of working in an acute hospital setting
• Experience of providing high quality care

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Understanding of Safeguarding issues
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues
• Knowledge and understanding of data protection confidentially
• Approachable manner with good interpersonal skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to work without direct supervision
• Understanding of the role and own professional boundaries
• Able to identify when to escalate issues/concerns
• Ability to work as part of team and to liaise with colleagues in other disciplines
• Demonstrate attention to detail
• IT / computer skills

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development

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 details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

United Kingdom

Employer's website