Maternity Support Worker London, England
Job description
We are looking for Maternity support workers to join our team to support our midwifery staff and new parents. Experience is not required but will be an advantage. Training in the role will be given within work time, this role includes working in maternity theatres and all aspects of maternity care within a private maternity setting.
The Kensington Wing at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital prides itself in high quality patient care, and a 5* patient experience.
We have a welcoming atmosphere and are progressive in our clinical care and thinking. We are known for our focus on Midwifery Led Care and work closely with our Consultant colleagues to provide this along-side Consultant Led Care.
Maternity Support Workers (MSWs) are a vital part of the team that supports midwives, doctors, mothers and their newborn babies (and their families) in the Kensington Wing. Working under the direction of qualified midwifery staff, MSWs carry out a wide range of duties to care for, support, and provide information to patients and their families and the role can be very varied depending upon the area in which the person is employed. They also carry out a range of housekeeping duties, as well as performing basic medical checks, such as taking a patient’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rate.
Suitable candidates for the role are friendly, caring and sensitive individuals, who are able to offer social stimulation as well as care to the patients they tend.
The post is rotational and the employee will be expected to work day and night duty.
The post holder is expected to undertake a set of defined competencies; including the ‘care certificate’. This certificate ensures the minimum standards for the role are met, and can further be incorporated into a ‘skills passport. Support will be given to employees to further develop their skills and explore pathways for progression where appropriate.
Please see attached Job Description, however please be aware that some of the duties outlined may be subject to change as part of the wider commitment to the development of Band 2 support workers into Band 3 roles at the Trust.
We provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.
We have over 6,000 members of staff that arePROUD to Carefor nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children’s, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We’re one of the safest and best performing Trusts in the country. We’re also one of the top trusts to work for – our staff say they’re engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
In 2023 Trust was rated by the Care Quality Commission as Outstanding in the well-led and use of resources domains and Good in the safe, effective, caring, and responsive domains. The Trust as a whole was Good, but the Chelsea site was Outstanding.
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing around £10 million a year in our estate. We are currently spending £25 million on expanding our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and redevelopment of our children’s unit at West Middlesex – in partnership with our charity, CW+ and generous donors.
Clinical Support Role
- Under direct supervision assist with the delivery of care plan as described by the Registered Midwife / Obstetric Nurse
- Assist women with their care needs as required reporting any change in the woman’s condition to the registered midwife / obstetric nurse
- Support the Midwife / Obstetric Nurse and other health professionals with the mobilisation or transfer of women and babies
- Develop awareness of women in pain and discomfort and report any changes in the woman’s condition to the Midwife / Obstetric Nurse
- Support women and their partners in looking after their babies’ i.e. changing nappies and daily baby care
- To be confident in supporting and helping women with the feeding of their baby, however they have chosen to feed
- To be up to date with the requisite skills and knowledge regarding breast feeding, from initiation until transfer home
- Have an awareness of women’s dietary needs, delivering meals, providing women with drinks where necessary and providing assistance with eating and drinking if required
- Demonstrate an understanding of the different needs of individual women and their families
- Develop an awareness of vulnerable women and their safe guarding needs
- Take and record the woman’s observations (e.g. temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respirations) as required, complete the MEWSS chart and inform the registered midwife / obstetric nurse of any changes in the woman’s condition
- Document any care given to the women and her baby in the postnatal care plan. Ensure women’s confidentiality and details are maintained at all times
- Redirect all women’s enquiries to the Registered Midwife / Obstetric Nurse
- Ensure that all information is accurately recorded and files updated and that all documentation is accurately filed as directed
- Support the women with their bladder care, recording quantities and frequency on the relevant documentation charts as prescribed by the Registered Midwife / Obstetric Nurse
- Develop an awareness of effective pressure area care and skin assessment supporting the women to maintain their skin integrity
- To undertake relevant theatre training to become a competent circulating assistant in the maternity theatre setting
- Support the Registered Midwife / Obstetric Nurse and other health professionals to provide the women and their families with safe, excellent, respectful and kind care
- Work with the Registered Midwife / Obstetric Nurse to engage with women and communicate with them about their experiences during their stay, for example providing women with the Friends and Family Test questionnaire
- To work with the Registered Midwife / Obstetric Nurse to support the safe discharge/ transfer of women from the clinical area
- Will ensure the environment is clean, comfortable, safe, and welcoming to women, relatives and all health care workers
- Will be aware of and understand; basic infection control techniques, the disposal of sharps and universal safety techniques with regard to spillages
- Clean and maintain equipment and make ready for use with the relevant labelling
- Report any faulty or broken equipment to the Registered Midwife / Obstetric Nurse and label appropriately
- Deliver specimens, test requests, notes or any charts as requested
- Escort women and their babies to other departments
- To have an awareness of monitoring and maintaining, where required, stock levels
- Keep all storage areas clean and tidy and in good order
- Deal with all enquiries politely and effectively in any circumstances
- To be aware of and operate within hospital policies and procedures regarding complaints, fire & major incidents etc.
- To participate in own Personal development plan, developing and actioning a Personal Development Review (PDR)
- To attend appropriate educational programmes to develop his/her self and team in accordance with the needs of the service and complete all e-learning as appropriate
- Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward
- Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health condition.
