Primary role: Assist, support, and collaborate with the midwife and the multidisciplinary team to provide safe, holistic, woman‑centred care.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
* Develop and maintain positive relationships, respecting the woman’s and her family’s wishes, with kindness, compassion and empathy.
* Exhibit trustworthy behaviour, providing woman‑centred care, and taking ownership of mistakes by reporting concerns or errors to a registered practitioner in a timely manner.
* Recognise the scope of practice within national frameworks and demonstrate NHS Constitution values, seeking guidance when unsure to work within competency and ensure care planning aligns with national and local guidance.
* Understand main principles of team working and clearly define one’s own role and that of others.
Administrative Duties
* Track, obtain, and file clinical records in line with local information governance and legal requirements, maintaining confidentiality and data protection.
* Keep complete, clear, accurate and timely records, utilising digital platforms where required.
* Provide administrative support to the maternity team in the hospital setting.
Professional Attitudes and Responsibilities
* Project an approachable and professional manner to all mothers and their families.
* Demonstrate awareness of discriminatory attitudes and challenge such behaviour, promoting equality across age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation.
* Understand legal and ethical responsibilities in relation to the role and work in ways agreed by the employer.
* Maintain knowledge of local safeguarding policy and procedure, following principles of safeguarding and protecting patients.
* Maintain personal health, wellbeing and resilience to ensure effective performance.
Safe Environment
* Ensure own actions promote a safe environment, checking clinical areas for hazards, ensuring equipment is in working order, and reporting concerns, faults or breakages promptly.
* Respond flexibly to needs of the working environment.
* Practice evidence‑based safety and infection prevention, using PPE as required.
* Act responsibly regarding colleague health, safety and welfare following safety protocols.
* Maintain cleanliness of equipment and assist the midwife in preparing the birthing environment.
* Ensure adequate stock levels and report depletion of resources in a timely manner.
* Report incidents using the local risk‑management system and escalate appropriately.
* Follow standard operating procedures, protocols, policies and guidelines to promote safety.
* Recognise and report behaviours or errors that could result in poor outcomes for women and families.
Care of the Woman
* Escort women and families between clinical areas as required.
* Assist with admission, orientation and discharge of women and babies following local policy and guidance.
* Communicate respectfully, effectively and timely when speaking with women and the MDT, using verbal and non‑verbal skills.
* Obtain valid consent prior to action or providing care.
* Manage delegated tasks effectively, reporting completion and findings to an appropriate practitioner.
* Assist in effective care planning and evaluation through timely information sharing with the MDT.
* Recognise signs of discomfort, anxiety or concerns and report promptly.
* Support women during clinical procedures and act as chaperone when requested.
* Teach skills that empower women and families to care for themselves.
* Provide support with personal care to labouring women under midwife supervision.
* Assist with bladder care and document fluid balance accurately.
* Assist women with mobilisation following surgical procedures under the midwife’s direction.
* Report vulnerabilities or changing needs to qualified colleagues.
Obstetric and Neonatal Emergencies
Recognise and act upon abnormal events or emergencies within own competence, escalating to the multidisciplinary team promptly. Where no registered practitioner is present, initiate immediate first aid while awaiting qualified staff.
Health Promotion and Screening
* Provide referrals to local and national services, directing women and families to suitable professionals.
* Assist in preparing women and families for screening activities and immunisations.
* Seek support from a qualified practitioner when a woman wishes to change health behaviours.
* Understand current mental health policies and frameworks.
* Promote health via social, cultural, individual and lifestyle influences, and encourage discussion of wellbeing and escalation to midwife when needed.
Infant Feeding
* Explain key practices that facilitate initiation and who support maintenance of breastfeeding.
* Recognise circumstances affecting lactation and support mothers to overcome challenges, referring as necessary.
* Support formula‑feeding parents responsively and safely, including feeding technique and equipment sterilisation.
* Promote skin‑to‑skin contact and responsive feeding cues.
* Understand attachment and positioning principles for effective feeding in line with BFI standards.
* Protect breastfeeding when supplementation is required.
* Store and express breastmilk safely, using hand and pump techniques and cup feeding.
Care of the Newborn
Observe overall wellbeing of the newborn and promptly report concerns to the named midwife or multidisciplinary team. Provide practical support and transition assistance to new parents, promoting safety, bonding and parenting skills.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* GCSE Maths and English A‑C, Levels 4‑9, Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent.
* NVQ Level 2 in Health Care or equivalent experience.
* Commitment to undertake in‑house training.
Desirable Qualifications
* Care Certificate.
Experience
* Previous experience working with members of the public.
* Optional: One year formal maternity care experience in a hospital or birth centre.
* Optional: Experience using hospital patient record systems.
* Optional: Experience working in an acute hospital setting.
* Optional: Experience providing high‑quality care.
Essential Skills and Knowledge
* Awareness of health and safety issues.
* Knowledge of data protection and confidentiality.
* Approachable manner with strong interpersonal skills.
* Effective written and verbal communication.
* Prioritise workload.
* Work independently without direct supervision.
* Identify when to escalated concerns.
* Team‑working ability.
* Attention to detail.
* IT/computer skills.
Desirable Skills and Knowledge
* Understanding of safeguarding issues.
* Understanding of role and professional boundaries.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: The post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires an application for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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