Maternity Support Worker

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay has a firm commitment to strengthening the diversity of our workforce, and therefore welcome and encourage applications from likeminded people who can support our ambition to become effortlessly inclusive. We are particularly keen to hear from protected groups – including BAME, LGBT+ and people with a disability.

ABand 3 Maternity Support Worker (MSW) plays a vital role in supporting midwives and the wider maternity team to provide safe, compassionate, and high‑quality care to women, birthing people, newborns, and families. The role combines clinical support, practical assistance, and excellent communication to ensure a positive experience throughout the maternity journey.

Key Purpose of the role:

• To assist midwives and registered professionals in delivering antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care within hospital maternity settings.
• To provide high‑quality, person‑centred support to women, birthing people, and families.
• To help maintain a safe, clean, and efficient clinical environment.
• To contribute to the smooth running of the maternity unit by undertaking delegated duties within the scope of competence.

Main duties of the job:

• Clinical Support: Assist in providing basic clinical monitoring (e.g., maternal observations, neonatal observations) under midwife supervision and within training competence. Support with infant feeding: breastfeeding support, formula‑feeding preparation guidance. Perform tasks such as: Observations, support mobility and comfort, assist with personal care.
• Emotional Support and Communication: Provide compassionate and non-judgmental support to women, birthing people, and families. Clearly communicate with the multidisciplinary team to elevate concerns promptly. Maintain privacy, dignity, and cultural sensitivity at all times.
• Documentation and Record Keeping: Accurately document delegated tasks in maternity records. Report concerns or changes in condition to a midwife immediately. Maintain confidentiality in line with Trust policies.
• Professionalism & Development: Work within Trust policies and the boundaries of the Band 3 MSW role. Participate in mandatory training (e.g., infant feeding, safeguarding, manual handling). Reflect and contribute to continuous service improvement. Uphold values of safety, compassion, and respect.

We operate from three main hospitals - Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre. FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services. WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses. All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, daycase and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay. Our Community Service for adults is provided in people's homes, community centres, clinics, GP Practices, and community hospitals. Our aim is to work with people to help them remain independent, improve their health, and manage their conditions through high quality care, advice, and support.

Person Specification:

• Education and qualifications: Care Certificate with Evidence of completion of MSW Level 2 and level 3 competencies or willingness to work towards level 3.
• Experience of working with new-born infants.
• Experience of working shift patterns.
• Customer care experience.
• 5 GCSE’s Grade C/5 including English and Maths or equivalent qualification NVQ 3.

Skills, Ability and Knowledge:

• Basic computer / IT skills.
• Ability to perform physiological observations on adults.
• Have a sympathetic/sensitive approach and be able to speak effectively to staff, colleagues, and patients.
• Able to listen effectively.
• Ability to present factual information and refer questions to others where appropriate.
• Ability to use own initiative requiring minimum supervision.
• Able to work within a multidisciplinary team.
• Able to prioritise.
• Carry out clinical interventions as delegated by the multi-professional team and as agreed by local protocols.
• Able to perform a wide range of duties.
• Able to understand and comply with detailed procedures.
• Ability to deal competently with conflict and complaints.
• Able to deal with and manage confidential information.
• Competent in venepuncture.
• Knowledge of NHS/hospital systems.
• Understanding of how to follow a care plan.
• Understand the rationale for risk assessments.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL. The Trust promotes flexible working opportunities wherever possible to enable staff to balance their work and home life. We are committed to Equal Opportunities and aim to be Effortlessly Inclusive. The trust operates a No Smoking Policy. Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our Person Specification will be shortlisted for Interview. We reserve the right to close a job advert early where sufficient applications have been received. The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert. If the post is subject to Disclosure & Barring Service checking, (formally CRB) a charge of £49.50 for Enhanced and £21.50 for Standard clearance and additional to this a £4.90 administration fee will be made to the successful candidate(s). This currently only applies to roles Band 6 and above and Medical & Dental posts. Anyone newly appointed to the trust under the Agenda For Change contract will be subject to the completion of a satisfactory 6 month probationary period. This will give the new staff member an opportunity to become familiar with the role and working environment.

We have introduced a new system called Pre-Onboarding, specifically to support you right the way through to your first few months in your new role with us at UHMB. This bespoke site has lots of useful information to help you settle into your new role with us at UHMB. This site includes: what to expect from the recruitment clearances process, where to get a uniform, when you'll get paid etc. As well as information on a number of our services i.e. Infection Prevention, Anti-fraud, Inclusion and Diversity, Care Certificates and much more.