Maternity Care Assistant/Support Worker

The primary role of the Maternity Support Worker (MSW) 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 MSW assists with and provides clinical care following completion of any relevant or appropriate training.
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.
Work with and support Maternity Care assistants and maternity support workers in the clinical environment thereby assisting them with achieving their skills.
The post holder should:

• Work as an effective team member. Understands the importance of team working in the delivery of high quality care. Demonstrates excellent two-way communication with women, their families and the maternity team
• Actively promotes diversity, including race diversity, and to maintaining an environment where there is equal opportunity and commitment to anti-discriminatory, anti-racist and anti-stereotyping practices
• Works with team to maintain high standards of cleanliness in the clinical area. Assist with non-clinical activities to ensure the smooth running of the service
• Understands and can define their own role and those of others within the multidisciplinary team

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.
The CQC recently rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.
Develops and maintains positive relationships, respects the woman’s and her families’ wishes, with kindness, compassion and empathy
Should be trustworthy and takes ownership for mistakes by reporting concerns or errors to a registered practitioner in a timely manner
Convey an approachable and professional manner to all mothers and their families and demonstrates an awareness of discriminatory attitudes and challenges this behavior to promote equality. This will appreciate protected characteristics and recognize how to support these people from these groups. This includes: age, disability, gender reassignment, Marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, Sex and Sexual orientation (Equality Act 2010)
Manage own time and caseload effectively whilst prioritising care needs for women and their babies under the direction and supervision of the midwife
Undertakes all roles as outlined in Core competency document and HEE framework for a Band 2 and Band 3 Maternity Support Worker
Assist with the admission, orientation and discharge of women and their babies in accordance with local policy and guidance.
Communicate effectively and clarifies understanding with women and their families in all settings and is able to select appropriate methods to communicate when a disability or complexity may exist.
Provide support to labouring women if asked to do so, and under the supervision of the midwife, this may include application of TENS machine or teaching breathing and Massage techniques
Assist in the preparation of instrumental deliveries and counts swabs and needles
Adopts the role of the second person in the room in order to assist the midwife during vaginal deliveries
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.
Assist the Midwife with neonatal resuscitation where required, this may include collecting and/or passing equipment
To be vigilant of Child Protection issues and refer issues of concern in a timely manner to registered midwife complying with legal requirements
Keeps complete, clear, accurate and timely records
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
Demonstrates an awareness of child protection and domestic abuse care pathways and policies with an awareness of factors that might alert him/her to the possibility of a child protection or domestic abuse issue and able to cite appropriate response to these concerns
Provide bereavement care by supporting bereaved parents. Providing newborn care by weighing, taking handprints, dressing and making memory boxes