South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Maternity Support Worker (B3)

The closing date is 27 August 2025

Job summary

South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust seek to employ dedicated Maternity Support Workers (MSW). They are required to assist, support, and collaborate with midwives and the wider multidisciplinary team to provide a safe and holistic approach to person-centred maternity care. This role is essential to ensure the well-being of women, birthing people and their newborns across various clinical settings, including antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care.

Sponsorship for skilled worker visa is not available for this vacancy.

Under direct or indirect supervision of the midwife the MSW assists with and provides personal care following completion of any relevant or appropriate training. The post is rotational, and 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 care and postnatal inpatient and outpatient care.

The post holder will be expected to undertake and complete a set of defined competencies. Support will be given to employees to further develop their skills and explore pathways for progression where appropriate.

Main duties of the job

Family Care is an exciting place to work that will provide you with an opportunity to grow and develop. Many of our staff work flexibly, including part-time and we are committed to supporting flexible approaches to work wherever possible for our people. Please enquire to see how we might work flexibly with you in this role.

If you are interested in becoming part of our fantastic team then we would welcome your application.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Date posted

13 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year PRO RATA FOR PART TIME HOURS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

C9155-FCNM-0825-16

Job locations

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Kayll Road

Sunderland

SR4 7TP

South Tyneside Nhs Foundation Trust

Harton Lane

South Shields

Tyne And Wear

NE34 0PL

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job description for full details

Communication:

To establish and maintain excellent relationships and effectively communicate with the midwifery and multidisciplinary team birthing people and their families.

To follow written and verbal instructions from the registered midwife in relation to the care of the birthing person and their baby.

To clearly document all care provided to birthing people and their babies in accordance with the Trusts guidelines for maintaining patient records.

To always respect patient confidentiality.

To ensure patient complaints or concerns are escalated appropriately and in a timely manner.

To actively participate in team meetings.

To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, and other agencies as required.

Clinical Duties:

Assessment of Maternal and Neonatal Wellbeing

To support and observe the birthing person and their baby through the ante/postnatal and intrapartum period, escalating any concerns to the midwife in a timely manner.

To undertake maternal observations including, temperature, pulse, blood pressure, blood glucose, respiratory rate, oxygen saturations levels, document findings on the electronic MEOWS chart, identifying any deviations from normal parameters and escalating these to the midwife.

To perform maternal CO readings and provide Very Brief Advice (VBA) on smoking cessation, and initiate Risk Intervention (RI) where appropriate

To measure maternal height and weight, calculate BMI and provide relevant diet and exercise advice in accordance with best available evidence

To undertake neonatal observations of temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate and oxygen saturation levels, document findings on the electronic NeoNEWS chart, identifying any deviations from normal parameters and escalating these to the midwife.

To perform neonatal blood glucose testing, as directed by the midwife.

To perform neonatal SBR testing, as directed by the midwife, and supporting and advising families on how they can care for their baby receiving phototherapy.

To perform Glucose tolerance tests for those birthing people identified as being at risk of developing Gestational Diabetes

Infant Feeding and Health Promotion

To assist the birthing person with their chosen method of infant feeding, including giving advice and information on breast feeding to meet the UNICEF breastfeeding standards.

To support, encourage and facilitate skin to skin contact between parents and their baby.

Supporting parents who are experiencing difficulties initiating breast feeding and those whose babies are on a feeding plan, following trust/UNICEF guidance and adjusting plans of care where appropriate, under non-direct supervision from the midwife.

Supporting parents to express breast milk when clinically indicated, in line with UNICEF guidance.

Supporting parents to cup/syringe feed their baby when clinically indicated, in line with UNICEF guidance.

To provide new parents with public health and safety advice on safely caring for their newborn baby, preparing them for going home and caring for their baby at home (e.g. Safe Sleeping/ car seat safety/smoking cessation advice/ ICON).

To discuss and demonstrate the principles of sterilization of infant feeding equipment and discuss the safe preparation of formula feeds.

Other Clinical Duties

To prepare equipment and assist with instrumental deliveries, fetal blood sampling and perineal repairs.

To participate in the swab count for appropriate operative procedures and ensure adherence to safety procedures such as swab/sharp/instrument counts are correctly documented throughout.

To safely and accurately perform cord blood gas analysis in accordance with trust guidance

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job description for full details

Communication:

To establish and maintain excellent relationships and effectively communicate with the midwifery and multidisciplinary team birthing people and their families.

To follow written and verbal instructions from the registered midwife in relation to the care of the birthing person and their baby.

To clearly document all care provided to birthing people and their babies in accordance with the Trusts guidelines for maintaining patient records.

To always respect patient confidentiality.

To ensure patient complaints or concerns are escalated appropriately and in a timely manner.

To actively participate in team meetings.

To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, and other agencies as required.

Clinical Duties:

Assessment of Maternal and Neonatal Wellbeing

To support and observe the birthing person and their baby through the ante/postnatal and intrapartum period, escalating any concerns to the midwife in a timely manner.

To perform maternal CO readings and provide Very Brief Advice (VBA) on smoking cessation, and initiate Risk Intervention (RI) where appropriate

To measure maternal height and weight, calculate BMI and provide relevant diet and exercise advice in accordance with best available evidence

To perform neonatal blood glucose testing, as directed by the midwife.

To perform neonatal SBR testing, as directed by the midwife, and supporting and advising families on how they can care for their baby receiving phototherapy.

To perform Glucose tolerance tests for those birthing people identified as being at risk of developing Gestational Diabetes

Infant Feeding and Health Promotion

To assist the birthing person with their chosen method of infant feeding, including giving advice and information on breast feeding to meet the UNICEF breastfeeding standards.

To support, encourage and facilitate skin to skin contact between parents and their baby.

Supporting parents to express breast milk when clinically indicated, in line with UNICEF guidance.

Supporting parents to cup/syringe feed their baby when clinically indicated, in line with UNICEF guidance.

To discuss and demonstrate the principles of sterilization of infant feeding equipment and discuss the safe preparation of formula feeds.

Other Clinical Duties

To prepare equipment and assist with instrumental deliveries, fetal blood sampling and perineal repairs.

To participate in the swab count for appropriate operative procedures and ensure adherence to safety procedures such as swab/sharp/instrument counts are correctly documented throughout.

To safely and accurately perform cord blood gas analysis in accordance with trust guidance

Person Specification

Physical Skills

Essential

Developed physical skills in order to take a manual blood pressure.
Developed physical skills in order to undertake venepuncture.
Developed physical skills in order to take swabs for MRSA.
Developed physical skills in order to undertake glucose monitoring.
Open sterile packs and assisting midwives/doctors with procedures.
Ability to assist patients to move as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.
Driving licence with access to a car for work purposes.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Understanding of a range of work procedures and practices, some of which are non-routine, which require a base level of theoretical knowledge, gained through formal training and/or work experience.
Evidence of breast feeding support Training/ Baby Friendly standards training.
Ability to prioritise tasks.
Ability to investigate information, plan, prioritise own and delegated work tasks and activities.
Able to generate and explore ideas and problem solve.
Able to reflect and learn from different situations.
Able to prioritise workload, recognizing own limitations and when to seek assistance.
Ability to communicate health related information in an understandable way to patients and colleagues, adapting communication style to meet the needs of the recipient.
Ability to communicate messages and instructions accurately to colleagues, both verbally and in writing.
Basic skills of empathy and reassurance.
Basic keyboard skills.
Ability to use basic email system and document clearly, using plain English.
Basic understanding of health and safety requirements in a patient environment.
General understanding of confidentiality requirements in a health care setting.
Willing to undertake further training related to role.

Desirable

Proven knowledge of basic parenting skills.
Knowledge and understanding of elements of assessment to enhance patient journey, following an initial assessment by a Midwife.

Qualifications

Essential

Maths and English (GCSE 9-4 or Maths and English Functional Skills Level 2.
Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or equivalent work experience.
Care certificate.

Experience

Essential

Proven prior experience of working within Maternity Service.

Person Specification

Physical Skills

Essential

Developed physical skills in order to take a manual blood pressure.
Developed physical skills in order to undertake venepuncture.
Developed physical skills in order to take swabs for MRSA.
Developed physical skills in order to undertake glucose monitoring.
Open sterile packs and assisting midwives/doctors with procedures.
Ability to assist patients to move as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.
Driving licence with access to a car for work purposes.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Understanding of a range of work procedures and practices, some of which are non-routine, which require a base level of theoretical knowledge, gained through formal training and/or work experience.
Evidence of breast feeding support Training/ Baby Friendly standards training.
Ability to prioritise tasks.
Ability to investigate information, plan, prioritise own and delegated work tasks and activities.
Able to generate and explore ideas and problem solve.
Able to reflect and learn from different situations.
Able to prioritise workload, recognizing own limitations and when to seek assistance.
Ability to communicate health related information in an understandable way to patients and colleagues, adapting communication style to meet the needs of the recipient.
Ability to communicate messages and instructions accurately to colleagues, both verbally and in writing.
Basic skills of empathy and reassurance.
Basic keyboard skills.
Ability to use basic email system and document clearly, using plain English.
Basic understanding of health and safety requirements in a patient environment.
General understanding of confidentiality requirements in a health care setting.
Willing to undertake further training related to role.

Desirable

Proven knowledge of basic parenting skills.
Knowledge and understanding of elements of assessment to enhance patient journey, following an initial assessment by a Midwife.

Qualifications

Essential

Maths and English (GCSE 9-4 or Maths and English Functional Skills Level 2.
Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or equivalent work experience.
Care certificate.

Experience

Essential

Proven prior experience of working within Maternity Service.

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.