Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Maternity Support Worker (B3)
The closing date is 27 August 2025
South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust seek to employdedicated Maternity Support Workers (MSW). They are required to assist,support, and collaborate with midwives and the wider multidisciplinary team toprovide a safe and holistic approach to person-centred maternity care. Thisrole is essential to ensure the well-being of women, birthing people and theirnewborns across various clinical settings, including antenatal, intrapartum,and postnatal care.
Sponsorship for skilled worker visa is not available for this vacancy.
Under direct or indirect supervision of the midwife the MSWassists with and provides personal care following completion of any relevant orappropriate training. The post is rotational, and the employee will be providedwith appropriate training for the clinical setting in which they are working.These settings include antenatal inpatient or outpatient care, intrapartum careand postnatal inpatient and outpatient care.
The post holder will be expected to undertake and complete a setof defined competencies. Support will be given to employees to further developtheir skills and explore pathways for progression where appropriate.
Main duties of the job
FamilyCare is an exciting place to work that will provide you with an opportunity togrow and develop. Many of our staff work flexibly, including part-time and weare committed to supporting flexible approaches to work wherever possible for our people.Please enquire to see how we might work flexibly with you in this role.
If you areinterested in becoming part of our fantastic team then we would welcome yourapplication.
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI,and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, wemay withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Job responsibilities
Please see attached Job description for full details
Communication:
Toestablish and maintain excellent relationships and effectively communicate withthe midwifery and multidisciplinary team birthing people and their families.
To followwritten and verbal instructions from the registered midwife in relation to thecare of the birthing person and their baby.
To clearlydocument all care provided to birthing people and their babies in accordancewith the Trusts guidelines for maintaining patient records.
To alwaysrespect patient confidentiality.
To ensurepatient complaints or concerns are escalated appropriately and in a timelymanner.
Toactively participate in team meetings.
To workcollaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, and other agencies asrequired.
ClinicalDuties:
Assessmentof Maternal and Neonatal Wellbeing
To supportand observe the birthing person and their baby through the ante/postnatal andintrapartum period, escalating any concerns to the midwife in a timely manner.
Toundertake maternal observations including, temperature, pulse, blood pressure,blood glucose, respiratory rate, oxygen saturations levels, document findingson the electronic MEOWS chart, identifying any deviations from normalparameters and escalating these to the midwife.
To performmaternal CO readings and provide Very Brief Advice (VBA) on smoking cessation,and initiate Risk Intervention (RI) where appropriate
To measurematernal height and weight, calculate BMI and provide relevant diet andexercise advice in accordance with best available evidence
Toundertake neonatal observations of temperature, respiratory rate, heart rateand oxygen saturation levels, document findings on the electronic NeoNEWSchart, identifying any deviations from normal parameters and escalating theseto the midwife.
To performneonatal blood glucose testing, as directed by the midwife.
To performneonatal SBR testing, as directed by the midwife, and supporting and advisingfamilies on how they can care for their baby receiving phototherapy.
To performGlucose tolerance tests for those birthing people identified as being at riskof developing Gestational Diabetes
InfantFeeding and Health Promotion
To assistthe birthing person with their chosen method of infant feeding, includinggiving advice and information on breast feeding to meet the UNICEFbreastfeeding standards.
Tosupport, encourage and facilitate skin to skin contact between parents andtheir baby.
Supportingparents who are experiencing difficulties initiating breast feeding and thosewhose babies are on a feeding plan, following trust/UNICEF guidance andadjusting plans of care where appropriate, under non-direct supervision fromthe midwife.
Supportingparents to express breast milk when clinically indicated, in line with UNICEFguidance.
Supportingparents to cup/syringe feed their baby when clinically indicated, in line withUNICEF guidance.
To providenew parents with public health and safety advice on safely caring for theirnewborn baby, preparing them for going home and caring for their baby at home(e.g. Safe Sleeping/ car seat safety/smoking cessation advice/ ICON).
To discussand demonstrate the principles of sterilization of infant feeding equipment anddiscuss the safe preparation of formula feeds.
OtherClinical Duties
To prepareequipment and assist with instrumental deliveries, fetal blood sampling andperineal repairs.
Toparticipate in the swab count for appropriate operative procedures and ensureadherence to safety procedures such as swab/sharp/instrument counts arecorrectly documented throughout.
To safelyand accurately perform cord blood gas analysis in accordance with trust guidance
Person Specification
Physical Skills
* Developed physical skills in order to take a manual blood pressure.
* Developed physical skills in order to undertake venepuncture.
* Developed physical skills in order to take swabs for MRSA.
* Developed physical skills in order to undertake glucose monitoring.
* Open sterile packs and assisting midwives/doctors with procedures.
* Ability to assist patients to move as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.
* Driving licence with access to a car for work purposes.
Knowledge & Skills
* Understanding of a range of work procedures and practices, some of which are non-routine, which require a base level of theoretical knowledge, gained through formal training and/or work experience.
* Evidence of breast feeding support Training/ Baby Friendly standards training.
* Ability to prioritise tasks.
* Ability to investigate information, plan, prioritise own and delegated work tasks and activities.
* Able to generate and explore ideas and problem solve.
* Able to reflect and learn from different situations.
* Able to prioritise workload, recognizing own limitations and when to seek assistance.
* Ability to communicate health related information in an understandable way to patients and colleagues, adapting communication style to meet the needs of the recipient.
* Ability to communicate messages and instructions accurately to colleagues, both verbally and in writing.
* Basic skills of empathy and reassurance.
* Basic keyboard skills.
* Ability to use basic email system and document clearly, using plain English.
* Basic understanding of health and safety requirements in a patient environment.
* General understanding of confidentiality requirements in a health care setting.
* Willing to undertake further training related to role.
* Proven knowledge of basic parenting skills.
* Knowledge and understanding of elements of assessment to enhance patient journey, following an initial assessment by a Midwife.
Qualifications
* Maths and English (GCSE 9-4 or Maths and English Functional Skills Level 2.
* Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or equivalent work experience.
* Care certificate.
Experience
* Proven prior experience of working within Maternity Service.
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 name
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
£24,937 to £26,598 a yearPRO RATA FOR PART TIME HOURS
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