The closing date is 22nd Feb 2026
Anticipated Interview date(s) week commencing
Job summary
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a compassionate and motivated Maternity Support Worker (MSW) to join our dedicated Midwifery Team at Yeovil District Hospital. As an essential member of the multidisciplinary maternity team, you will play a key role in providing safe, high-quality, individualised care to women, their babies, and their families within the hospital and ward setting.
Working under the direction of Registered Midwives, you will carry out a defined range of delegated clinical and nonclinical duties. You will often work with minimal supervision, using your initiative to contribute to the planning, delivery, evaluation, and implementation of care. You will be a positive role model for junior MSWs and student midwives, promoting excellent standards of care and professional conduct at all times.
Main duties, tasks & skills required
* Support the Midwifery Team in delivering highquality, safe and compassionate care to women and babies.
* Provide direct clinical care, including assisting with observations, collecting specimens, supporting feeding, and newborn care.
* Report any changes or concerns about women or babies promptly to the Registered Midwife.
* Assist with admissions, discharges, wound care, medication administration (within competencies), and preparation for procedures.
* Maintain excellent communication with women, families, and the wider multidisciplinary team.
* Support health promotion activities including breastfeeding, safety advice, smoking cessation and new born wellbeing.
* Once accepted levels of competency have been achieved, support team members new into post through observation and documentation of practice
* Help maintain clean, safe, and well organised ward environments, ensuring equipment and supplies are in good order.
* Accurately document care and update electronic maternity systems.
* Work flexibly across a full range of shift patterns to meet service needs.
There will be an expectation of a flexible approach to shifts patterns with a commitment to participate in the on call service after appropriate training.
Please be advised - this vacancy may close early if we reach a sufficient amount of applications.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
* Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
* NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
* Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
* A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Clinical Care
* Carry out maternal observations (e.g., temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respirations, urinalysis) and escalate abnormalities.
* Support feeding choices, promote and teach breastfeeding skills, and participate in breastfeeding support groups.
* Provide new born care including weighing, routine blood sugar monitoring, neonatal observations, and obtaining specimens (e.g., urine, heel prick for New born Blood Spot).
* Assist with parenting skills education and provide emotional reassurance to women and families.
* Escort or transfer women and babies as required, following Trust policies.
Communication & Relationships
* Establish effective, compassionate relationships with women, families, and colleagues across midwifery, obstetrics, anaesthetics, neonatology, health visiting, safeguarding and social care teams.
* Demonstrate empathy, sensitivity and professionalism, including when communicating challenging or distressing information under midwife guidance.
* Act as an advocate for women, supporting informed choices and addressing barriers to communication.
Organisation & Teamwork
* Prioritise workload effectively to support the smooth running of the maternity unit.
* Maintain tidy, safe ward areas and ensure equipment is clean and functioning correctly.
* Order and organise clinical supplies, ensuring appropriate stock rotation.
* Attend daily handovers, team meetings and support multi professional collaboration.
Professional Standards & Development
* Work in accordance with Trust policies including infection control, safeguarding, confidentiality and uniform standards.
* Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and follow universal precautions.
* Participate in mandatory training, ongoing professional development and competency-based assessments (e.g., venepuncture, newborn observations).
* Use Trust IT systems for documentation, data entry and accessing results.
Health & Safety / Working Conditions
* Be aware of responsibilities in emergency situations, including cardiac/respiratory arrest procedures and fire evacuation.
* Work in a physically and emotionally demanding environment, with exposure to bodily fluids and distressing situations.
* Manage challenging behaviours calmly and professionally.
Leadership & Supervision
* Support new staff through guidance and demonstration once competencies are achieved.
* Contribute to a positive team culture based on kindness, respect and teamwork.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential
GCSE Maths and English or Functional Skills Maths and English, level 1 or equivalent
Desirable
NVQ3 in Healthcare, OR, prepared to undertake a level 3 NVQ in Healthcare and complete within 1 year (to achieve KSF Foundation Gateway)
Basic Life Support training
Experience
Desirable
Previous experience in maternity or healthcare setting
Training in breastfeeding support
Additional Criteria
Essential
Access to a means of travel to work
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.
For help with your application, contact:
Amelia Ludewig
Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
Band
Band 3
Salary
£ to £ Yearly
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-Time, Full-Time
Reference number
184-OL-GR-4286
Job locations
Yeovil District Hospital
Higher Kingston
Yeovil
Somerset
BA21 4AT