Job responsibilities
Purpose
The
primary role of the Maternity Care Assistant (MCA) 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 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 MCA 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 inpatient care and postnatal inpatient and outpatient care.The
post holder is expected to undertake a set of defined competencies. Support
will be given to employees to further develop their skills and explore pathways
for progression where appropriate. This job description is directly linked to
The Maternity Support worker Competency, Education and career Development
Framework set out by Health Education England (HEE) https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/maternity/maternity-support-workers. This may be particularly relevant to
employees who are looking to progress and prehttps://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/maternity/maternity-support-workerspare
them for entry into further study.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Develops and maintains
positive relationships, respects the womans and her families wishes, with
kindness, compassion and empathy.
Should be trustworthy,
provide woman centred care and support, and take ownership for mistakes by
reporting concerns or errors to a registered practitioner in a timely manner.
Recognises the Maternity Care Assistants scope of
practice within national frameworks and demonstrating NHS Constitution values,
asking for guidance when unsure. This will ensure they are working within their
competency, demonstrate a professional manner and guarantee care planning is in
line with national and local guidance to avoid harm.
Understands main principles of team working and can
define their own role and role of others.
Administrative Duties
Ensure and participate in
tracking, obtaining, and filing clinical records as required in line with local
information governance and in accordance with legal requirements to maintain
confidentiality and data protection
Keeps complete, clear,
accurate and timely records, utilizing digital platforms where required
Provide administrative support
to the maternity team, both in the hospital and community settings.
Professional
Attitudes and responsibilities
Convey an approachable and
professional manner to all mothers and their families
Demonstrates an awareness of
discriminatory attitudes and challenges this behavior, with particular
reference to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage, civil partnership,
pregnancy, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation. This will ensure they
promote equality.
Is aware of legal and ethical responsibilities
in relation to own role including the need to work in ways agreed by the
employer
Does not project own
experiences and values onto other and demonstrates understanding of own role
and contribution in creating inclusive, equitable care Is aware of organistional
aims, objectives, policies and values
that relate to the MCA roleRecognizes the importance of
maintaining own health, wellbeing and resilience to ensure that personal
performance and judgement is not affected by ill-healthEnsure that knowledge of local
safeguarding policy and procedure is maintained.Understands and follows
principles of safeguarding and protection and adheres to local security
procedures.
Safe Environment
Ensure
own actions promote a positive and safe environment. This includes checking the
clinical area for hazards, ensuring the working order of
equipment, reporting any concerns, faults or breakages to the appropriate
person in a timely manner.Demonstrates the ability to
respond flexibly to needs of the working environment.Demonstrates safe and evidence
based practice in all skills and procedures stated within job description.Ensure that each woman feels
safe and knows how to access support if
required. Uses a range of techniques for
infection prevention and control. Using PPE as required.Act responsibly in respect of
colleagues health, safety and welfare following safety at work guidance and
protocol.Ensure the cleanliness of
equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas and assist the midwife in
appropriately preparing the birthing environment.Ensure adequate stock levels
are maintained in all clinical settings, and equipment is available; escalate
any depletion of stock or resources in a timely manner.Assist in stocking up and
cleaning all home birth team equipment if required.Report any incidents using the
local risk management reporting system and escalate such incidents
appropriately and in a timely manner. To ensure they are following local health
and safety guidance.Understands the importance of
following standard operating procedures, protocols, policies and guidelines to
promote safety.Understands the importance of
courage and candour , recognizing and
reporting behaviours or errors that could result in poor outcomes for women and
their families
Care
of the Woman
Escort women and their
families between clinical areas as required
Assist with the admission,
orientation and discharge of women and their babies in accordance with local
policy and guidance.
Communicate respectfully,
effectively and timely manner when speaking with women and the wider MDT,
utilising verbal and non-verbal skills
Understand and gains valid
consent prior to action or providing care.
Manages delegated tasks
effectively and in a timely manner for which they have received training,
ensuring basic care needs for women and babies are met. Reports completion of
tasks and any finding to an appropriate practitioner
Assists in effective care
planning and evaluation by sharing relevant information in a timely manner with
members of the MDT
Understands the benefits of
continuity of carer and how this applies within own role
Recognizes and responds to
signs of discomfort and anxiety or concerns raised by promptly reporting them
to an appropriate practitioner
Support women during clinical
procedures and act as chaperone when requested to do so by the midwifery or
obstetric team.
Shares knowledge and teaches
skills that empower women and their families to safely and effectively care for
themselves
Provide support with personal
care to labouring women if asked to do so, and under the supervision of the
midwife.
Assist in the maintenance and
understand the principles of good bladder care, such and hydration and to
document accurately the fluid balance.
Assist women with mobilisation
following surgical procedures under direction of the midwife.
Notices vulnerability,
changing or additional needs and reports these to a suitably qualified
colleague to take forward
Obstetric and Neonatal Emergencies
Recognises and acts upon
within own parameters of competence any abnormal events or emergencies,
escalating to the multidisciplinary team through the appropriate means, in a
timely manner. Where a registered practitioner is not present, they should
initiate immediate first aid whilst awaiting arrival of appropriately qualified
practitioner
Health
Promotion and Screening
Directs
queries regarding local and national services to support women and their
families to aa suitably qualified colleague to take forward
Assists in the preparation of
the woman and her family for screening activities and immunisations
To seek support from a
qualified practitioner when a women shows a desire to make changes to health
behaviors
To be aware of and understand
the current policy and service frameworks for mental health (e.g. Capacity Act,
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental Health Act).
Understands the aims and
principles of health promotion, protection and improvement. This will include;
social and cultural influences, individual circumstances, capabilities,
behaviours and lifestyle choices that impact health outcomes
Appreciates the importance of
recognizing and supporting physical and emotional health and wellbeing and
actively encourages women and their families to talk about health and wellbeing and escalate to midwife to enable appropriate
care pathway
Infant Feeding
Be able to describe the key practices that facilitate
the initiation and have the knowledge and skills to support maintenance of
breastfeeding
Understand and have an overview of circumstances which
can affect lactation and breastfeeding and be able to support mothers to
overcome common challenges and make appropriate referrals when necessary (e.g.
midwife/health
visitor/infant feeding lead)
Be able to support
parents who formula feed to do so responsively and as safely as possible
including minimising the risks, to make up feeds as safely as possible, how to
sterilise equipment, how to hold a baby and pace the feeds.
Importance of skin-to-skin contact to support infant
feeding and how to facilitate this within practice promoting responsive feeding
to feeding cues
Understanding principles and mechanisms of attachment
and positioning for effective feeding in line with BFI standards
Understands how to protect breastfeeding should
supplementation be required
Expression and storage of breastmilk to include hand
and pump expression technique and the use of cup feeding
Care
of the Newborn
Observe the overall wellbeing
of the newborn and escalate any concerns to named midwife or multi-professional
team in a timely manner.
Provide practical support and
transition to parenthood for new parents when caring for their newborn, whilst
promoting safety, bonding and teaching parenting skills.
