Maternity Support Worker

at  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Would you like to work in a developing and progressive team, with a specific commitment to high quality care, offering choice to women and families, embracing change and development in our Maternity Services?
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual with good inter-personal skills who is willing to work flexibly, and support the Maternity Assessment Suite which is an acute clinical area for women and families to attend with urgent concerns relating to their pregnancy.
If you have a passion for providing high quality care then come and join our team of like minded experienced staff and contribute to the excellent service we provide for women and families. We value our staff and understand the need for support and job satisfaction in your role.
This post is a Band 3 post however we are willing to consider band 2 candidates with progression to Band 3 upon completion/demonstration of the competencies required of a Band 3 Maternity support worker.
Under the guidance and supervision of the midwifery team you will be responsible for competently providing personalised care for women and families including a range of clinical duties, providing information and support in an agreed timely and appropriate manner, and to accurately record and collate information ensuring the best experience possible of the Maternity Service.
You will be required to act at all times in a manner that upholds the Trust values working as part of the team to ensure that women and their families receive excellent care with compassion and must ensure that any concerns are escalated to the midwife.
You will support the maternity service primarily within the Maternity Assessment Suite, but may be required to support other areas of the service such as the maternity wards, community and intrapartum areas. The focus will be on providing support and clinical care to women accessing the Maternity Assessment Suite throughout their pregnancy and in the postpartum period.
You will work under the supervision of the midwives, supporting them with clinical, domestic and administrative duties.
A specific training package has been developed and concentrates on skill development focused around the needs of the mother, her baby and the family. The midwifery team will work closely with you to achieve the required skills to deliver high quality care.
You must have completed the care certificate, must have GCSE Maths and English at grade C/5 or above and an NVQ level 2 in care or equivalent. Evidence of completion of Band 2 MSW competencies will be required to commence in post as Band 3. You will be asked to provide the certificates if appointed.
Proactively engages with patients and others in order to build and maintain positive relationships. Ensures all women and babies requirements are met with respect, privacy, dignity, sensitivity, empathy and recognising diversity at all times
Provide good quality personalised care in accordance with agreed local and national standards
Understands and gains valid consent prior to action or providing care. Has the knowledge to document this promptly and clearly
Recognises changes in either mother or baby’s condition and understands to report any concerns including those expressed by the women (or their families) to the midwife
Ensures own clinical practice is safe and appropriate at all times.
Assists in the implementation of direct clinical care performing a range of relevant clinical skills
Act within the limits of your competence and authority and adhere to local protocols and procedures
Make use of supervision. Participate in regular supervision in line with local guidelines in order to continually improve your performance and gain support
Demonstrates an understanding of and uses care plans during shift identifying and reporting women’s needs not included in the individualised care plan to the midwife in charge
Communicate and work as an effective team member of the clinical team in order to achieve desired outcomes that promote the well-being of mothers and babies
Have awareness of safeguarding issues and report any concerns to the midwife in charge immediately
Demonstrates compassion by recognising the responding to individual needs in a warm, thoughtful, sensitive and helpful way.
Is able to maintain professionalism when dealing with aggressive, abusive or distressed patients or relatives
Understands the importance of providing smoking cessation intervention training and sign-posting patients appropriately.
Understands the importance of both the physical and mental well-being of the woman and her family. Knows how to refer woman to appropriate interventions
Competent in advising women and their families about Safe Sleeping.
Ensure personal fitness for work presenting a positive image of self and the organisation, Maintain professional conduct including appearance at all times
Competent in the collection of red blood spot sample for new-born screening
Competent to support women in their chosen method of feeding giving clear and consistent information on infant feeding and following and revising feeding plans as appropriate
Is able to recognise when to escalate feeding difficulties to midwifery staff
Take responsibility for the self-development of skills and competencies through participation in training and development activities maintaining up-to-date technical and professional knowledge relevant to the post
Is able to manage and prioritise own workload as appropriate.
Is competent to perform maternal and neonatal observations and other aspects of clinical care following appropriate training and / or until relevant competencies are achieved
Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations ensuring the patient receives appropriate care and notifying the midwife in charge as soon as possible
Maintain confidentiality with regard to the Data Protection Act for all information received
Comply with legal requirements for maintaining confidentiality by maintaining strict confidentiality of all issues concerned with the service. Adhere to requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984, information governance and Caldicott Principles
Recognises the importance of documenting all care appropriately and contemporaneously
Is able to communicate effectively with staff, colleagues, patients and their families with sympathy and sensitivity where appropriate
Actively participates in the appraisal process undertaking identified learning and development opportunities as agreed with the manager.
Takes personal responsibility to ensure own mandatory training is fully compliant
Undertakes training and practice of agreed clinical competencies for designated area keeping up-to-date with changes in clinical practice and the effect of these changes on your role
Act as an effective role model for new members of staff
Provide support to the training of new members of staff
Undertake coaching or mentoring with new staff to support them
Support Trust values by ensuring that effective channels are used to canvas the views and concerns of all patients and their families
Understand the importance of following all local and Trust policies and guidelines to ensure patient safety and well-being is not compromised
Ensures awareness of when and how to report untoward incident and how to respond appropriately to patients or their families
Understands to report accidents, incidents or losses as they occur to the midwife in charge
Understands the importance of maintaining infection control standards and hygiene
Make sure your actions reduce risks to health and safety by maintaining a tidy environment at all times, cleaning equipment before use and supporting the maintenance of equipment by reporting any faults as per local procedures. Adhere to health and safety policies and report incidents and risks identified through incident reporting or via line manager
Ability to contribute to service development, participating in audit to measure that standards are achieved
Recognises the importance of addressing and reporting behaviour that undermines equality and diversity
Foster people’s equality, diversity and rights by being proactive against discrimination
To have an understanding of different cultures, religions, etc and recognising any barriers to communication taking action appropriately to respect individual rights
Full job description available in attachments

Please refer the Job description for details