Maternity Support Worker

Job summary

ABand 3 Maternity Support Worker (MSW)plays a vital role in supporting midwives and the wider maternity team to provide safe, compassionate, and high-quality care to women, birthing people, newborns, and families. The role combines clinical support, practical assistance, and excellent communication to ensure a positive experience throughout the maternity journey.

key Purpose of the role

1. To assist midwives and registered professionals in delivering antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care within hospital maternity settings.

2. To provide high-quality, person-centred support to women, birthing people, and families.

3. To help maintain a safe, clean, and efficient clinical environment.

4. To contribute to the smooth running of the maternity unit by undertaking delegated duties within the scope of competence.

Main duties of the job

1. Clinical Support- Assist in providing basic clinical monitoring (e.g., maternal observations, neonatal observations) under midwife supervision and within training competence. Support with infant feeding: breastfeeding support, formula-feeding preparation guidance.

Perform tasks such as: Observations, support mobility and comfort, assist with personal care

2. Emotional Support and communication- compassionate and non judgmental support to women and birthing people and families. Clearly communicate with multidisciplinary team to escalate concerns promptly. Maintain privacy, dignity, and cultural sensitivity at all times.

3. Documentation and record keeping- Accurately document delegated tasks in maternity records. Report concerns or changes in condition to a midwife immediately. Maintain confidentiality in line with Trust policies.

4. Professionalism & development- Work within Trust policies and the boundaries of the Band 3 MSW role. Participate in mandatory training (e.g., infant feeding, safeguarding, manual handling). Reflect and contribute to continuous service improvement .Uphold values of safety, compassion, and respect.

About us

We operatefrom three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, andUlverstonCommunity Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies,daycase and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Our Community Service for adults are provided in people's homes ,community centres, clinics, GP Practices, community hospitals. Our aim is to work with people to help them remain independent , improve their health and manage their conditions through high quality care , advice and support.

Job responsibilities

For further details on the advertised position and the principal job duties/responsibilities, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification found under the supporting documents section. Additional information about the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay can be accessed on our website.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Care Certificate with Evidence of completion of MSW Level 2 and level 3 competencies or willingness to work towards level 3.

Desirable

• Experience of working with new-born infants Experience of working shift patterns Customer care experience

education and qualifications

Essential

• 5 GCSE's Grade C/5 including English and Maths or equivalent qualification

Desirable

• NVQ 3

Skills, ability and knowledge

Essential

• Basic computer /IT skills Ability to perform physiological observations on adults. Have a sympathetic/sensitive approach and be able to speak effectively to staff, colleagues and patients. Able to listen effectively Ability to present factual information and refer questions to others where appropriate. Ability to use own initiative requiring minimum supervisionAbility to work within a multidisciplinary team Ability to prioritise Carry out clinical interventions as delegated by the multi professional team and as agreed by local protocols Able to perform a wide range of duties Able to understand and comply with detailed procedures Ability to deal competently with conflict and complaints Able to deal with and manage confidential information

Desirable

• Competent in venepuncture Knowledge of NHS/ hospital systems Understanding of how to follow a care plan. Understand the rationale for risk assessments