Maternity Support Worker

Band 3 Maternity Support Worker - 22.5 hours per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a part-time Maternity Support Worker to join a busy multidisciplinary team in the Maternity Antenatal Hub at

Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

We are looking for a compassionate, motivated,

and enthusiastic person to enhance the high-quality patient-centred care that

is offered. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are a necessity.

Main duties of the job

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.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large

acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute

services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a

larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from

three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our

caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred

care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to

work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our

everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise

accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working

within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a

DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check

(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting

Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Details

Date posted

01 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,760 to £27,476 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time,

Flexible working

Reference number

C9365-26-0783

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

• Demonstrate

understanding of the importance of working in partnership with women and their

families. Develops and maintains positive relationships, supports informed

decision makers and respects the woman's and her families wishes, with

particular attention to when the family unit is separated, or mom/baby is

critically ill.

• Understand

the MSWs scope of practice and the importance of the role within national

framework to enable working within limits of own competence and authority,

escalating to the MDT to inform care planning in line with national and local

guidance to avoid harm.

Administrative Duties:

• Ensure

that all clinical documentation written or electronic is accurately and

confidentially collected, updated, stored and filed in accordance with local

information governance and record keeping policy and guidance.

• Provide

administrative support to the maternity team, both in the hospital and

community settings.

• Participate

in tracking, obtaining, and filing clinical records as required in line with

local policy and guidance.

Professional Attitudes and Responsibilities

• Convey

an approachable and professional manner to all mothers and their families and

demonstrates an awareness of discriminatory attitudes and challenges this behaviour

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)

• Ensure

that knowledge of local safeguarding policy and procedure is maintained.

• To

be vigilant of Child Protection issues and refer issues of concern in a timely

manner to registered midwife complying with legal requirements.

Training Responsibilities:

• Attend

all statutory and mandatory training as and when required.

• Identify

own training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/education

as required to ensure a contemporaneous knowledge base and skill set is

maintained.

• Participate

in annual individual performance review process, whereby objectives will be

agreed, performance monitored, and personal development needs discussed.

• To

act as a role model and participate in training for their colleagues and peers,

recognising the impact of personal behaviour on the culture and performance of

the department, and the experience of service users.

Safe

Environment:

• Be

conversant with the local infection control policy, whilst ensuring mandates

are always adhered to.

• Act

responsibly in respect of colleagues health, safety and welfare following

safety at work practices including lone working, whilst working in compliance

with local health and safety policy and guidance.

• Ensure

the cleanliness of equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas and assist

the midwife in appropriately preparing the birthing environment.

• Ensure

adequate stock levels are maintained in all clinical settings, and equipment is

available; escalate any depletion of stock or resources in a timely manner.

• Assist

in stocking up and cleaning all home birth team equipment if required.

• Ensure

the working order of equipment, reporting any concerns, faults or breakages to

the appropriate person in a timely manner.

• Report

any incidents or concerns using the local risk management reporting system and

escalate such concerns or incidents appropriately and in a timely manner.

• Participate

in the audit of standards within the unit if appropriate.

Care of the Woman:

• Manage

own time and caseload effectively whilst prioritising care needs for women and

their babies under care under the direction and supervision of the midwife in

antenatal, postnatal clinics, community hubs or home settings to ensure if

appropriate the principles of continuity of carer are applied.

• Escort

women and their families between clinical areas as required

• 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 be able to select appropriate methods to communicate when a

disability or complexity may exist.

• Understand

and gains valid consent prior to action or providing care.

• Undertake

baseline/routine observations and measurements (and escalate any deviation from

the normal range) to the named midwife or appropriate member of the

multi-professional team.

• Support

women during clinical procedures and act as chaperone when requested to do so

by the midwifery or obstetric team.

• 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.

• Perform

venipuncture or capillary blood sampling in line with national standards and

local policy and guidance following completion of the appropriate competencies.

• Assist

in the maintenance and understand the principles of good bladder care, removal

of catheter and disposal of equipment following infection control policy and to

document accurately the fluid balance.

• Assist

in the nutrition and hydration needs of women.

• Assist

women with mobilisation following surgical procedures and remove of dressings

or cannula under direction of the midwife.

• Assist

with the transportation of blood products if asked to do so and have an

awareness of the storage requirements.

Health Promotion and Screening:

• Maintains

a contemporary knowledge base about local and national antenatal and newborn

screening services and signposts women and their families to appropriately

qualified practitioners if they are undecided or have concerns.

• Has

an understanding and can advise families about newborn blood spot screening,

immunisations and can produce GROW Charts following successful completion of

the appropriate competencies.

• Recognises

and promotes the principles of behaviour changes required in health promotion

activities including diet, food hygiene, exercise, personal hygiene and smoking

cessation. (For example, assess CO levels and signposting to local service

appropriately as per policy guidance).

• To

complete the relevant documentation for screening test performed in the

maternity records.

• To

recognise any deterioration in mental and emotional wellbeing and respond

appropriately, escalating to midwife to enable an appropriate care pathway.

• To

be aware of and understand the current policy and service frameworks for mental

health (e.g. Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental Health

Act).

• To

be aware of perinatal mental health issues and the appropriate referral pathway

and to escalate to multi-disciplinary team and concerns noted within home or

hospital setting.

Infant Feeding:

• Be

aware of the main constituents of human milk and their function, including

Colostrum and Mature breastmilk. Appreciate

the importance and the role of human milk and breastfeeding to improve the

health and wellbeing outcomes for infants, their mothers and the wider family

and in promoting and protecting public health

• Understand

the functional anatomy and physiology of lactation and hormonal influences on

milk production and mothering, as well as the role of the Feedback Inhibitor of

Lactation (FIL)

• Be

able to describe the key practices that facilitate the initiation and have the

knowledge and skills to support maintenance of breastfeeding

• Understand

and have an overview of circumstances which can affect lactation and

breastfeeding and be able to support mothers to overcome common challenges and

make appropriate referrals when necessary (e.g. midwife/health visitor/infant

feeding lead).

• Be

able to support parents who formula feed to do so responsively and as safely as

possible including minimising the risks, to make up feeds as safely as

possible, how to sterilise equipment, how to hold a baby and pace the feeds.

• Importance

of skin-to-skin contact to support infant feeding and how to facilitate this

within practice promoting responsive feeding to feeding cues.

• Understanding

principles and mechanisms of attachment and positioning for effective feeding

in line with BFI standards.

• Understands

how to protect breastfeeding should supplementation be required.

• Expression

and storage of breastmilk to include hand and pump expression technique and the

use of cup feeding.

• Develop

an understanding of the importance of secure mother-infant attachment and the

impact this has on health and emotional wellbeing, irrespective of feeding

method.

• Understand

the importance of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk

Substitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions (the Code) and how it impacts on

practice.

Care of the Newborn:

• Undertake

neonatal observations under direct and indirect supervision and escalate any

deviations from the normal range appropriately and in a timely manner,

following the completion of competency practical and theoretical training.

• Observe

the overall wellbeing of the newborn and escalate any concerns to named midwife

or multi-professional team in a timely manner.

• Provide

practical support and transition to parenthood for new parents when caring for

their newborn, whilst promoting safety, bonding and teaching parenting skills

in both the hospital and home settings.

• To

assist or perform neonatal blood sampling including tests such as newborn blood

spot and Serum bilirubin ratio (SBR) test, following successful completion of

appropriate competency as directed by the midwife

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

• Demonstrate

understanding of the importance of working in partnership with women and their

families. Develops and maintains positive relationships, supports informed

decision makers and respects the woman's and her families wishes, with

particular attention to when the family unit is separated, or mom/baby is

critically ill.

• Understand

the MSWs scope of practice and the importance of the role within national

framework to enable working within limits of own competence and authority,

escalating to the MDT to inform care planning in line with national and local

guidance to avoid harm.

Administrative Duties:

• Ensure

that all clinical documentation written or electronic is accurately and

confidentially collected, updated, stored and filed in accordance with local

information governance and record keeping policy and guidance.

• Provide

administrative support to the maternity team, both in the hospital and

community settings.

• Participate

in tracking, obtaining, and filing clinical records as required in line with

local policy and guidance.

Professional Attitudes and Responsibilities

• Convey

an approachable and professional manner to all mothers and their families and

demonstrates an awareness of discriminatory attitudes and challenges this behaviour

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)

• Ensure

that knowledge of local safeguarding policy and procedure is maintained.

• To

be vigilant of Child Protection issues and refer issues of concern in a timely

manner to registered midwife complying with legal requirements.

Training Responsibilities:

• Attend

all statutory and mandatory training as and when required.

• Identify

own training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/education

as required to ensure a contemporaneous knowledge base and skill set is

maintained.

• Participate

in annual individual performance review process, whereby objectives will be

agreed, performance monitored, and personal development needs discussed.

• To

act as a role model and participate in training for their colleagues and peers,

recognising the impact of personal behaviour on the culture and performance of

the department, and the experience of service users.

Safe

Environment:

• Be

conversant with the local infection control policy, whilst ensuring mandates

are always adhered to.

• Act

responsibly in respect of colleagues health, safety and welfare following

safety at work practices including lone working, whilst working in compliance

with local health and safety policy and guidance.

• Ensure

the cleanliness of equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas and assist

the midwife in appropriately preparing the birthing environment.

• Ensure

adequate stock levels are maintained in all clinical settings, and equipment is

available; escalate any depletion of stock or resources in a timely manner.

• Assist

in stocking up and cleaning all home birth team equipment if required.

• Ensure

the working order of equipment, reporting any concerns, faults or breakages to

the appropriate person in a timely manner.

• Report

any incidents or concerns using the local risk management reporting system and

escalate such concerns or incidents appropriately and in a timely manner.

• Participate

in the audit of standards within the unit if appropriate.

Care of the Woman:

• Manage

own time and caseload effectively whilst prioritising care needs for women and

their babies under care under the direction and supervision of the midwife in

antenatal, postnatal clinics, community hubs or home settings to ensure if

appropriate the principles of continuity of carer are applied.

• Escort

women and their families between clinical areas as required

• 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 be able to select appropriate methods to communicate when a

disability or complexity may exist.

• Understand

and gains valid consent prior to action or providing care.

• Undertake

baseline/routine observations and measurements (and escalate any deviation from

the normal range) to the named midwife or appropriate member of the

multi-professional team.

• Support

women during clinical procedures and act as chaperone when requested to do so

by the midwifery or obstetric team.

• 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.

• Perform

venipuncture or capillary blood sampling in line with national standards and

local policy and guidance following completion of the appropriate competencies.

• Assist

in the maintenance and understand the principles of good bladder care, removal

of catheter and disposal of equipment following infection control policy and to

document accurately the fluid balance.

• Assist

in the nutrition and hydration needs of women.

• Assist

women with mobilisation following surgical procedures and remove of dressings

or cannula under direction of the midwife.

• Assist

with the transportation of blood products if asked to do so and have an

awareness of the storage requirements.

Health Promotion and Screening:

• Maintains

a contemporary knowledge base about local and national antenatal and newborn

screening services and signposts women and their families to appropriately

qualified practitioners if they are undecided or have concerns.

• Has

an understanding and can advise families about newborn blood spot screening,

immunisations and can produce GROW Charts following successful completion of

the appropriate competencies.

• Recognises

and promotes the principles of behaviour changes required in health promotion

activities including diet, food hygiene, exercise, personal hygiene and smoking

cessation. (For example, assess CO levels and signposting to local service

appropriately as per policy guidance).

• To

complete the relevant documentation for screening test performed in the

maternity records.

• To

recognise any deterioration in mental and emotional wellbeing and respond

appropriately, escalating to midwife to enable an appropriate care pathway.

• To

be aware of and understand the current policy and service frameworks for mental

health (e.g. Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental Health

Act).

• To

be aware of perinatal mental health issues and the appropriate referral pathway

and to escalate to multi-disciplinary team and concerns noted within home or

hospital setting.

Infant Feeding:

• Be

aware of the main constituents of human milk and their function, including

Colostrum and Mature breastmilk. Appreciate

the importance and the role of human milk and breastfeeding to improve the

health and wellbeing outcomes for infants, their mothers and the wider family

and in promoting and protecting public health

• Understand

the functional anatomy and physiology of lactation and hormonal influences on

milk production and mothering, as well as the role of the Feedback Inhibitor of

Lactation (FIL)

• Be

able to describe the key practices that facilitate the initiation and have the

knowledge and skills to support maintenance of breastfeeding

• Understand

and have an overview of circumstances which can affect lactation and

breastfeeding and be able to support mothers to overcome common challenges and

make appropriate referrals when necessary (e.g. midwife/health visitor/infant

feeding lead).

• Be

able to support parents who formula feed to do so responsively and as safely as

possible including minimising the risks, to make up feeds as safely as

possible, how to sterilise equipment, how to hold a baby and pace the feeds.

• Importance

of skin-to-skin contact to support infant feeding and how to facilitate this

within practice promoting responsive feeding to feeding cues.

• Understanding

principles and mechanisms of attachment and positioning for effective feeding

in line with BFI standards.

• Understands

how to protect breastfeeding should supplementation be required.

• Expression

and storage of breastmilk to include hand and pump expression technique and the

use of cup feeding.

• Develop

an understanding of the importance of secure mother-infant attachment and the

impact this has on health and emotional wellbeing, irrespective of feeding

method.

• Understand

the importance of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk

Substitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions (the Code) and how it impacts on

practice.

Care of the Newborn:

• Undertake

neonatal observations under direct and indirect supervision and escalate any

deviations from the normal range appropriately and in a timely manner,

following the completion of competency practical and theoretical training.

• Observe

the overall wellbeing of the newborn and escalate any concerns to named midwife

or multi-professional team in a timely manner.

• Provide

practical support and transition to parenthood for new parents when caring for

their newborn, whilst promoting safety, bonding and teaching parenting skills

in both the hospital and home settings.

• To

assist or perform neonatal blood sampling including tests such as newborn blood

spot and Serum bilirubin ratio (SBR) test, following successful completion of

appropriate competency as directed by the midwife

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Maths Grades A-C, Levels 4-9, Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent
• NVQ Level 3 in Health care or equivalent experience
• Care certificate

Desirable

• Commit to undertake in-house training
• Foundation Degree Maternity Pathway

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working with members of the public

Desirable

• One years formal maternity care experience in a hospital/birth centre
• Experience of using hospital patient record system
• Experience of working in an acute hospital setting
• Experience of providing high quality care

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Understanding of Safeguarding issues
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues
• Knowledge and understanding of data protection confidentially
• Approachable manner with good interpersonal skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to work without direct supervision
• Understanding of the role and own professional boundaries
• Able to identify when to escalate issues/concerns
• Ability to work as part of team and to liaise with colleagues in other disciplines
• Demonstrate attention to detail
• IT / computer skills

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Maths Grades A-C, Levels 4-9, Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent
• NVQ Level 3 in Health care or equivalent experience
• Care certificate

Desirable

• Commit to undertake in-house training
• Foundation Degree Maternity Pathway

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working with members of the public

Desirable

• One years formal maternity care experience in a hospital/birth centre
• Experience of using hospital patient record system
• Experience of working in an acute hospital setting
• Experience of providing high quality care

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Understanding of Safeguarding issues
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues
• Knowledge and understanding of data protection confidentially
• Approachable manner with good interpersonal skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to work without direct supervision
• Understanding of the role and own professional boundaries
• Able to identify when to escalate issues/concerns
• Ability to work as part of team and to liaise with colleagues in other disciplines
• Demonstrate attention to detail
• IT / computer skills

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

• Demonstrate

understanding of the importance of working in partnership with women and their

families. Develops and maintains positive relationships, supports informed

decision makers and respects the woman's and her families wishes, with

particular attention to when the family unit is separated, or mom/baby is

critically ill.

• Understand

the MSWs scope of practice and the importance of the role within national

framework to enable working within limits of own competence and authority,

escalating to the MDT to inform care planning in line with national and local

guidance to avoid harm.

Administrative Duties:

• Ensure

that all clinical documentation written or electronic is accurately and

confidentially collected, updated, stored and filed in accordance with local

information governance and record keeping policy and guidance.

• Provide

administrative support to the maternity team, both in the hospital and

community settings.

• Participate

in tracking, obtaining, and filing clinical records as required in line with

local policy and guidance.

Professional Attitudes and Responsibilities

• Convey

an approachable and professional manner to all mothers and their families and

demonstrates an awareness of discriminatory attitudes and challenges this behaviour

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)

• Ensure

that knowledge of local safeguarding policy and procedure is maintained.

• To

be vigilant of Child Protection issues and refer issues of concern in a timely

manner to registered midwife complying with legal requirements.

Training Responsibilities:

• Attend

all statutory and mandatory training as and when required.

• Identify

own training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/education

as required to ensure a contemporaneous knowledge base and skill set is

maintained.

• Participate

in annual individual performance review process, whereby objectives will be

agreed, performance monitored, and personal development needs discussed.

• To

act as a role model and participate in training for their colleagues and peers,

recognising the impact of personal behaviour on the culture and performance of

the department, and the experience of service users.

Safe

Environment:

• Be

conversant with the local infection control policy, whilst ensuring mandates

are always adhered to.

• Act

responsibly in respect of colleagues health, safety and welfare following

safety at work practices including lone working, whilst working in compliance

with local health and safety policy and guidance.

• Ensure

the cleanliness of equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas and assist

the midwife in appropriately preparing the birthing environment.

• Ensure

adequate stock levels are maintained in all clinical settings, and equipment is

available; escalate any depletion of stock or resources in a timely manner.

• Assist

in stocking up and cleaning all home birth team equipment if required.

• Ensure

the working order of equipment, reporting any concerns, faults or breakages to

the appropriate person in a timely manner.

• Report

any incidents or concerns using the local risk management reporting system and

escalate such concerns or incidents appropriately and in a timely manner.

• Participate

in the audit of standards within the unit if appropriate.

Care of the Woman:

• Manage

own time and caseload effectively whilst prioritising care needs for women and

their babies under care under the direction and supervision of the midwife in

antenatal, postnatal clinics, community hubs or home settings to ensure if

appropriate the principles of continuity of carer are applied.

• Escort

women and their families between clinical areas as required

• 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 be able to select appropriate methods to communicate when a

disability or complexity may exist.

• Understand

and gains valid consent prior to action or providing care.

• Undertake

baseline/routine observations and measurements (and escalate any deviation from

the normal range) to the named midwife or appropriate member of the

multi-professional team.

• Support

women during clinical procedures and act as chaperone when requested to do so

by the midwifery or obstetric team.

• 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.

• Perform

venipuncture or capillary blood sampling in line with national standards and

local policy and guidance following completion of the appropriate competencies.

• Assist

in the maintenance and understand the principles of good bladder care, removal

of catheter and disposal of equipment following infection control policy and to

document accurately the fluid balance.

• Assist

in the nutrition and hydration needs of women.

• Assist

women with mobilisation following surgical procedures and remove of dressings

or cannula under direction of the midwife.

• Assist

with the transportation of blood products if asked to do so and have an

awareness of the storage requirements.

Health Promotion and Screening:

• Maintains

a contemporary knowledge base about local and national antenatal and newborn

screening services and signposts women and their families to appropriately

qualified practitioners if they are undecided or have concerns.

• Has

an understanding and can advise families about newborn blood spot screening,

immunisations and can produce GROW Charts following successful completion of

the appropriate competencies.

• Recognises

and promotes the principles of behaviour changes required in health promotion

activities including diet, food hygiene, exercise, personal hygiene and smoking

cessation. (For example, assess CO levels and signposting to local service

appropriately as per policy guidance).

• To

complete the relevant documentation for screening test performed in the

maternity records.

• To

recognise any deterioration in mental and emotional wellbeing and respond

appropriately, escalating to midwife to enable an appropriate care pathway.

• To

be aware of and understand the current policy and service frameworks for mental

health (e.g. Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental Health

Act).

• To

be aware of perinatal mental health issues and the appropriate referral pathway

and to escalate to multi-disciplinary team and concerns noted within home or

hospital setting.

Infant Feeding:

• Be

aware of the main constituents of human milk and their function, including

Colostrum and Mature breastmilk. Appreciate

the importance and the role of human milk and breastfeeding to improve the

health and wellbeing outcomes for infants, their mothers and the wider family

and in promoting and protecting public health

• Understand

the functional anatomy and physiology of lactation and hormonal influences on

milk production and mothering, as well as the role of the Feedback Inhibitor of

Lactation (FIL)

• Be

able to describe the key practices that facilitate the initiation and have the

knowledge and skills to support maintenance of breastfeeding

• Understand

and have an overview of circumstances which can affect lactation and

breastfeeding and be able to support mothers to overcome common challenges and

make appropriate referrals when necessary (e.g. midwife/health visitor/infant

feeding lead).

• Be

able to support parents who formula feed to do so responsively and as safely as

possible including minimising the risks, to make up feeds as safely as

possible, how to sterilise equipment, how to hold a baby and pace the feeds.

• Importance

of skin-to-skin contact to support infant feeding and how to facilitate this

within practice promoting responsive feeding to feeding cues.

• Understanding

principles and mechanisms of attachment and positioning for effective feeding

in line with BFI standards.

• Understands

how to protect breastfeeding should supplementation be required.

• Expression

and storage of breastmilk to include hand and pump expression technique and the

use of cup feeding.

• Develop

an understanding of the importance of secure mother-infant attachment and the

impact this has on health and emotional wellbeing, irrespective of feeding

method.

• Understand

the importance of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk

Substitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions (the Code) and how it impacts on

practice.

Care of the Newborn:

• Undertake

neonatal observations under direct and indirect supervision and escalate any

deviations from the normal range appropriately and in a timely manner,

following the completion of competency practical and theoretical training.

• Observe

the overall wellbeing of the newborn and escalate any concerns to named midwife

or multi-professional team in a timely manner.

• Provide

practical support and transition to parenthood for new parents when caring for

their newborn, whilst promoting safety, bonding and teaching parenting skills

in both the hospital and home settings.

• To

assist or perform neonatal blood sampling including tests such as newborn blood

spot and Serum bilirubin ratio (SBR) test, following successful completion of

appropriate competency as directed by the midwife

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Maths Grades A-C, Levels 4-9, Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent
• NVQ Level 3 in Health care or equivalent experience
• Care certificate

Desirable

• Commit to undertake in-house training
• Foundation Degree Maternity Pathway

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working with members of the public

Desirable

• One years formal maternity care experience in a hospital/birth centre
• Experience of using hospital patient record system
• Experience of working in an acute hospital setting
• Experience of providing high quality care

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Understanding of Safeguarding issues
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues
• Knowledge and understanding of data protection confidentially
• Approachable manner with good interpersonal skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to work without direct supervision
• Understanding of the role and own professional boundaries
• Able to identify when to escalate issues/concerns
• Ability to work as part of team and to liaise with colleagues in other disciplines
• Demonstrate attention to detail
• IT / computer skills

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development