Bereavement Maternity Support Worker

Job summary

To work as part of the bereavement midwifery team and assist staff with the care of bereaved families under the supervision and direction of the Bereavement Specialist Midwife and Bereavement Midwifery Team.

To actively partake in providing both clinical and practical care needs of bereaved parents, thus enhancing the delivery of care in accordance with agreed bereavement standards and guidelines which will ensure the highest standards of bereavement care with the maternity setting.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide support to bereaved parents and their relatives by the timely processing of all statutory and Trust documentation relating to baby deaths, providing relatives with clear information on death registration, funeral arrangements and guiding them towards specialist medical, legal and counselling services when required.

The post holder is expected to work confidently and professionally with all grades of staff and external professional, financial and legal institutions to ensure the correct running of the Maternity Bereavement Service in accordance with both statutory and Trust requirements.

The post holder will be required to handle a diverse workload and demonstrate a proficiency in prioritising work schedules; liaising with colleagues to ensure a prompt response to urgent service demands. The post holder is required to work autonomously in handling enquiries but with the support and reference of senior Maternity Bereavement Midwives and colleagues.

The post holder will be expected to be able to facilitate baby viewings with bereaved parents who wish to come back to the bereavement ward to view their baby with family members. They may occasionally be required to assist the Midwifery staff in the release of the deceased deceased babies to funeral directors and to liaise with mortuary colleagues in this regard to ensure that Mortuary auditable processes are followed.

About us

Here in Oxfordshire, we offer a unique set up of our Maternity Services with around 7500 babies born annually.

We have 4 stand-alone Midwifery-Led Birth units within the county. These are based at Banbury, Chipping Norton, Wantage and Wallingford and we also offer home births to all areas. There is also an integrated Midwifery-Led birth unit, where around 10% of women and birthing people choose to go in labour. As a tertiary hospital, the John Radcliffe is composed of a Delivery Suite with 3 Maternity Theatres and a specific Maternity Recovery Ward. We work closely with specialist services such as the Fetal and Maternal Medicine Unit, Breech Team, and Maternity Bereavement Teams.

For those working with us, we have a substantial support network for staff, focusing on wellbeing and development. This includes a team of professional Midwifery Advocates, Wellbeing Champions, staff networks and a staff Maternity Psychologist. You will be supported by the Practice Development Team who provide regular study days and updates and support staff clinically. We champion diversity and strive to ensure every member of our team feels included, valued, and has the confidence to speak up and be heard.

We genuinely believe that by supporting our staff to feel happy and offering support within their work environment, we ensure the best quality of care for the women and birthing people who access our services.

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Womens Centre John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Oxford

OX3 9DU

Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Womens Centre John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Oxford

OX3 9DU

Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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