Job summary
A rare opportunity has become available; Band 3 post for an experienced Maternity Support Worker to work within one of Community Midwifery teams.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and flexible maternity support worker to work as an integral part of a team of 6-8 midwives. The team will be caring for a diverse population including vulnerable women, women with complex needs, and women from black and ethnic minority communities, teenagers, and women with low and high risk care requirements.
The Maternity Support Worker will be involved with aspects of antenatal care such as the facilitation of some elements of antenatal education sessions and also a role in supporting midwives to coordinate care, for example with the administration of clinics.
Main duties of the job
The post has a varied scope and range of activities and will include providing some of the postnatal care in clinics and at home - supporting breastfeeding and early parenting. You will be a support for ensuring that women and babies are healthy and adapting to well to family life. You will be expected to be able to escalate any concerns be vigilant for the safeguarding and open to providing equality of care to all.
You will have excellent interpersonal and organisational skills be able to deal with a diverse range of queries manage and prioritise your own workload and project a professional image You will need to have achieved the clinical competencies needed to work independently following direction from the midwifery team.
Good communication skills are essential and also a willingness to embrace change and be passionate about offering a good quality service supporting women in their choices Candidates should have recent current experience in a maternity service healthcare at band 2 or above It essential as part of the role to be a car owner and have a full drivers licence.
Our Maternity Unit currently supports 5,000 births a year serving women living in the areas of Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley and Bexley.
For more information, please contact Jo Maynard on 07735 726944
About us
We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities.
If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all of our staff are double vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and our patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Specific Responsibilities1. Clinical Responsibilities:These relate to all areas unless specifically stated.1.1 To undertake the care of mothers and their babies under the guidanceand direction of a midwife.1.2 To provide a high standard and quality of care to women and babies inaccordance with Trust clinical policies, procedures and guidelines.1.3 To attend to the physical needs of women and their babies e.g.toileting, personal hygiene and supporting women with aspects of dailycare of baby.1.4 To observe woman / baby and report to the midwife responsible forcare, any signs of discomfort, distress or cause for concern.1.5 Performing phlebotomy services as required, obtaining results oftests / investigations and informing health professional of these asnecessary.1.6 Assist midwives in Antenatal Clinics at GP surgeries, involving routineobservations, arranging relevant tests / investigations as required, aswell as arranging appointments.1.7 To assist community midwives at parentcraft classes.1.8 To prepare for midwives necessary paperwork and equipment toundertake antenatal clinics in the community.1.9 Work under own initiative with workload arranged in conjunction withcommunity midwives.1.10 Assist in basic care of women in labour at homebirths, assisting themidwife as deemed necessary.1.11 Reports to the community midwives any concerns or changes in thecondition of the client that you may have observed.1.12 To meet with any clients antenatally that are thought to need extrasupport during the postnatal period.1.13 To undertake routine maternal observations; temperature, pulse andblood pressure and report findings to midwives.1.14 To provide breast-feeding support following appropriate training andsupervision at home.1.15 To take emergency action as necessary to safeguard women andbabies, notifying the midwife of any deviations from normal as soon aspossible.1.16 Following appropriate training, to assist with clinical duties, asrequested by the midwife in charge, e.g. baby bathing, feedingdemonstrations, baby weighing.1.17 To ensure women and babies safety is maintained at all times.1.18 To communicate with women, relatives and colleagues in a courteousand helpful way.1.19 To assist in the monitoring and restocking of supplies, ensuringadequate levels (including leaflets), including photocopying whererelevant.1.20 To assist in the cleaning and storage of equipment.1.21 To maintain accurate, timely and legible records.1.22 To actively contribute to the public health agenda and targets asagreed by the Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Specific Responsibilities1. Clinical Responsibilities:These relate to all areas unless specifically stated.1.1 To undertake the care of mothers and their babies under the guidanceand direction of a midwife.1.2 To provide a high standard and quality of care to women and babies inaccordance with Trust clinical policies, procedures and guidelines.1.3 To attend to the physical needs of women and their babies e.g.toileting, personal hygiene and supporting women with aspects of dailycare of baby.1.4 To observe woman / baby and report to the midwife responsible forcare, any signs of discomfort, distress or cause for concern.1.5 Performing phlebotomy services as required, obtaining results oftests / investigations and informing health professional of these asnecessary.1.6 Assist midwives in Antenatal Clinics at GP surgeries, involving routineobservations, arranging relevant tests / investigations as required, aswell as arranging appointments.1.7 To assist community midwives at parentcraft classes.1.8 To prepare for midwives necessary paperwork and equipment toundertake antenatal clinics in the community.1.9 Work under own initiative with workload arranged in conjunction withcommunity midwives.1.10 Assist in basic care of women in labour at homebirths, assisting themidwife as deemed necessary.1.11 Reports to the community midwives any concerns or changes in thecondition of the client that you may have observed.1.12 To meet with any clients antenatally that are thought to need extrasupport during the postnatal period.1.13 To undertake routine maternal observations; temperature, pulse andblood pressure and report findings to midwives.1.14 To provide breast-feeding support following appropriate training andsupervision at home.1.15 To take emergency action as necessary to safeguard women andbabies, notifying the midwife of any deviations from normal as soon aspossible.1.16 Following appropriate training, to assist with clinical duties, asrequested by the midwife in charge, e.g. baby bathing, feedingdemonstrations, baby weighing.1.17 To ensure women and babies safety is maintained at all times.1.18 To communicate with women, relatives and colleagues in a courteousand helpful way.1.19 To assist in the monitoring and restocking of supplies, ensuringadequate levels (including leaflets), including photocopying whererelevant.1.20 To assist in the cleaning and storage of equipment.1.21 To maintain accurate, timely and legible records.1.22 To actively contribute to the public health agenda and targets asagreed by the Trust.
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Have or working towards NVQ level 3 in health care, or have RCM "maternity support worker course- Preparation to care: Fit for Practice.
Desirable
- Documented evidence of continued appropriate studies.
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates knowledge and an understanding of current professional issues and initiatives and the ability to work towards achieving their recommendations
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of handling differing cultural and religious needs.
- Knowledge of child protection, domestic violence, substance misuse and working with women with special needs.
- Use appropriate moving and manual handling techniques, as part of daily activities assisting women during birth, and during postnatal period
Experience
Essential
- Good communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
- Able to function as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to work with minimum supervision and on own initiative.
Desirable
- Ability to perform venepuncture.
- Have updated knowledge in Breastfeeding support.
- Previous experience of working within a maternity setting
Peresonal Atributes
Essential
- Polite, pleasant and competent manner.
- Ability to adapt to meet changing needs and to work under pressure.
- Able to act as the clients advocate.
Desirable
- Must be adaptable to work within all areas of maternity, including high risk and community settings.
- Able to travel to required locations in a timely manner
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Have or working towards NVQ level 3 in health care, or have RCM "maternity support worker course- Preparation to care: Fit for Practice.
Desirable
- Documented evidence of continued appropriate studies.
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates knowledge and an understanding of current professional issues and initiatives and the ability to work towards achieving their recommendations
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of handling differing cultural and religious needs.
- Knowledge of child protection, domestic violence, substance misuse and working with women with special needs.
- Use appropriate moving and manual handling techniques, as part of daily activities assisting women during birth, and during postnatal period
Experience
Essential
- Good communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
- Able to function as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to work with minimum supervision and on own initiative.
Desirable
- Ability to perform venepuncture.
- Have updated knowledge in Breastfeeding support.
- Previous experience of working within a maternity setting
Peresonal Atributes
Essential
- Polite, pleasant and competent manner.
- Ability to adapt to meet changing needs and to work under pressure.
- Able to act as the clients advocate.
Desirable
- Must be adaptable to work within all areas of maternity, including high risk and community settings.
- Able to travel to required locations in a timely manner
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.
