Maternity Support Worker

National Careers Service; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading service in the UK seeks dedicated maternity support workers to care for mothers and newborns. This role involves doing routine checks, supporting families, and ensuring the wellbeing of both mothers and babies within a demanding but rewarding environment. Candidates should have relevant qualifications in health and care, showcasing their skills in compassion and medical knowledge.

Qualifications

• GCSEs required: 2 or more for level 2 course, 4 or 5 for level 3 course.
• Intermediate and Advanced Apprenticeships in Healthcare Support.
• Relevant skills and experience in childcare or healthcare preferred.

Responsibilities

• Help care for mothers and babies.
• Do routine checks such as taking temperature or blood pressure.
• Provide support to families in labour.

Skills

Knowledge of health and medicine for newborn babies

Sensitivity and understanding

Attention to detail

Ability to work well under pressure

Thinking and reasoning skills

Patience

Ability to use initiative

Basic computer skills

Education

Level 2 Certificate in Child Development and Care

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

Job description

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• working towards this role

College

You could do a college course to become a maternity support worker.

You could do a:

• Level 2 Certificate in Child Development and Care
• Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
• Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

Most health and social care courses include a work placement so this could be a good way for you to get experience.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

You could start by doing a Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

After this, you could then do the Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. On this apprenticeship, you can choose to specialise in maternity support.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

You could start as a healthcare assistant and learn on the job. You could move into maternity work by training or applying for a promotion where you work.

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got relevant skills and experience of working in childcare or healthcare.

Employers may want you to have a qualification in a childcare or healthcare in addition to some experience.

More Information

When you apply for jobs, employers will expect you to understand how the NHS values apply in your work.

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of health and medicine for newborn babies
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• thinking and reasoning skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a maternity support worker, you might:

• help care for mothers and babies
• do routine checks such as taking temperature or blood pressure
• provide support to families in labour
• help with parenting classes and on hospital wards
• collect statistics, keep records updated and do routine admin
• report any problems to a midwife or a nurse

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience you could become a senior support worker.

You could also train to become an assistant practitioner, nursing associate, midwife or nurse.

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

• Location: The Admiral Sir Henry Leach Building, Portsmouth, Hampshire
• Wage: £14,722.50 to £23,809.50 a year Annually

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