Maternity / Neonatal Support Worker

To undertake the care of babies under the guidance and direction of a nurse or nurse associate. To provide a high standard and quality of care to familiesand babies in accordance with Trust clinical policies, procedures and guidelines. To attend to the physical needs of families and their babies-e.g. personal hygiene and supporting family with the daily care of baby. To observe baby and report to the nurse responsible for care, any signs of discomfort, distress or concern. To assist with admission, orientation and discharge of babies in accordance with agreed procedures. To take emergency action as necessary to safeguard babies and notify the nurse of the situation as soon as possible. To bleep medical staff (and others) when requested to do so by nursing staff l. Also to answer general telephone enquiries. Encourage and support women with breastfeeding. To give advice in the postnatal period regarding the advantages to mother and baby of breastfeeding. To assist with the initiation of feeding and to support the woman post natally to continue breastfeeding. Be competent in demonstrating hand expression. Be trained in accordance with the UNICEF baby friendly best practice guidelines. To support women who have chosen to formula feed. Provide information about the different types of formula, how to sterilise equipment and prepare feeds correctly. Assist with clinical duties as requested by the nurse e.g urine testing, baby weighing, baby bathing, and deemed competent. To deal with waste and soiled linen in the appropriate way and in accordance with hospital policy. To maintain a clean and pleasant and safe clinical environment. To communicate with women, relatives and colleagues in a courteous and helpful way. To assist in the monitoring and restocking of supplies and ensure adequate levels including leaflets, in clinical areas and community. To assist in the maintenance of equipment. To take maternal blood samples following appropriate training. Check emergency equipment and report any discrepancies to nurses including action taken. Assist in the running of baby clinics. To be familiar with the discharge process of baby from hospital. To carry out any other reasonable duties as may be required, which are commensurate with the post, to meet the needs of the service. This will include cover of appropriate duties during the absences of colleagues. Communicating via a range of multi-disciplinary agencies. To maintain accurate contemporaneous legible records and statistical data as required. To assist and support the continual review, development and improvement of neonatal services. To participate in clinical incident reporting within neonatal care. To be competent in taking Blood glucose monitoring (BMs) samples on Neonates following appropriate training. To be competent in tube feeds on neonates within the environment following appropriate training.